Page 69 of Sugar Coated Secrets

“You could have texted and asked me. I would have let you use it. I trust you.” I don’t think I’ve said that to any woman before. Maybe because I haven’t trusted anyone until her.

“I didn’t want to bother you.” She removes the picture of another book cover and sighs. “The color isn’t right. I think it’s the printer, but I need to be sure before sending the proofs to her. I hate when a cover doesn’t match the digital image.”

She hasn’t looked at me since her initial glance at my arrival.

“Sadie. Take a break and come back to it. I’ll help you.”

She balls up the paper and tosses it in a pile. She’s making herself crazy.

Having been down this rabbit hole before and knowing how frustrating it can be, I make my tone gentle. “Sadiecakes. Baby. Let me get you something to eat. Please.”

The please catches her attention. She stares at me, and the reason why her eyes are so green registers. They’re bloodshot and the red veins make the green stand out.

“We don’t have any food. I haven’t bought groceries yet,” she says, stressed.

“I brought food home from the farm,” I mention, thankful I thought to bring us dinner before leaving. “Millie made us ham and three cheese croissant sandwiches with pecan butter.”

It’s my favorite butter. Nothing overpowering, but it adds something to the croissant that makes the sandwich next level.

“She made them for us?” Her brows pull together from where she sits on her heels, her knees bent. That can’t be comfortable.

“I had her make them for us.” I chuckle. “I had a feeling you’d be hungry.”

“You did?” She turns toward me.

I shrug.

She takes in my clothes. “Did you have another meeting?”

“With Daire and the bourbon company.”

“How’d it go?” She stands and stretches.

I love that she asks. Even with her busy day, she still cares enough to show interest.

“It went really well. We were busy, but that’s expected. It’s good, in fact, because we’re moving forward and at a quick pace.”

A tired but genuine smile forms on her lips. “Sounds like Daire knows a good thing when it’s presented to him.”

“Who’d have thought?” I shrug. “Not me. I expected the worst. I don’t know what changed his mind. I’m not about to question him about it, though. I’ll take what I can get.”

“Not what you can get. What you worked for. What you deserve.” The glow of pride in her eyes matches her tone.

Warmth spreads through my chest. I’ve half a mind to toss her over my shoulder and show her how much I appreciate her consistent praise.

I hold out my hand. “Come take a break.”

She glances at the papers on the floor, at her laptop, and tucks stray strands of her hair behind her ears. “I guess I could eat quickly.”

“When is this due?”

“I said Wednesday, but I’d rather have it ready by Monday.”

It’s Friday. “You have the whole weekend.” I hoped to have her time and attention the entire weekend, but I’ll settle for the evenings if she’ll grant them to me.

“I stress when I’m on a deadline. It’s not my best quality.” She maneuvers toward me, careful not to step on any of the printed papers with her bare feet. She could have stacked them together but seems to want to keep them where they lay. “I haven’t even showered today,” she says when she’s almost to me.

I take her hand and help her up the last few steps. “You showered last night. Right?”

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