Page 27 of Sugar Coated Secrets

“Yeah,” I say in all seriousness.

We ride in silence for the rest of the way.

Chapter 9

Sadie

I message Everleigh that we’re almost at the farm. We’ve been texting for the last hour, ever since Easton said what he said and didn’t follow his comment with a joke.

Easton flirts. It’s as natural to him as breathing. He loves to tease me, too. I love it just as much, even though I get a little frustrated at times. But when I teased him about being too much of a temptation and his reply was a serious, ‘yeah,’ I didn’t know how to react. Silence followed his comment, and the look of turmoil on his face confused me even more. So badly, I wanted to know what he was thinking. I couldn’t ask. What if it had nothing to do with me and I took his comment all wrong?

So I texted Everleigh for a distraction. She just finished meeting with the designer for the nursery. She’d wanted to decorate the room herself, but Daire encouraged her to hire someone who can bring her vision to life and help lighten her already busy schedule. I kept up the messages asking about the color scheme and style for the room. Eventually, Everleigh caught on and wanted to know if Easton had upset me. I told her things were fine, and I was just bored. I’m not sure she bought it.

Thick woods hug either side of the road, the leaves fluttering with varying shades of crimson, ginger, gold, and mint. Soon, the colorful trees are replaced by a rustic stone wall on one side. The structure surrounds the property of the estate. The entrance won’t be far away.

“Everleigh wants us to stop by when we get here,” I say quickly.

Everleigh said his lake house has a separate entrance. I’d hate to make him backtrack if it’s farther down the road.

“Is that who you’ve been texting?” he asks, a bit annoyed.

“Yeah. Sorry, she asked if we’d stop by a moment ago.”

“Is Daire there?”

“I think so. I don’t know, actually. I can ask.” Why is he so moody? Maybe driving for two hours makes him tired or cranky.

He hits the blinker and pulls up to the call box. He enters a code, and the gate opens. We drive through and follow the long road to the estate.

From here, the house looks the same, apart from a new entrance to the left side with its own portico and horseshoe driveway. The entrance to the inn, I assume. A few worker trucks and vans line the driveway on that side.

Easton parks under the large covered entrance parallel to the front doors.

“Thanks for driving,” I tell him.

He nods then opens his door and gets out of the car.

I climb out, too, eager to stretch my legs and spine. Detective Pickles’s waits for me on the seat. I get his cage and carry it up the steps.

Everleigh opens the front door before I ring the bell.

Her skin glows, her ebony hair shines, and her cobalt eyes soften with a warm smile. “You’re here. And you brought Detective Pickles.” She raises her arms to hug me.

I move the cage to the side and throw one arm around her shoulder.

Her belly, hidden beneath a long black jersey dress and a sweater, bumps my hip. She giggles. “Sorry. It gets in the way.” She releases me. “I’m so happy you’re here.”

“Me, too.” I hadn’t realized how tense I was until now.

The estate, surrounded by moss-draped oak trees, a gentle breeze, and chirping birds, would put anyone at peace. The scent of nature infuses my senses. I breathe it in and feel myself relax more.

“You look thin,” Everleigh says, taking in my leggings, cropped t-shirt, and long open sweater.

“I’ve been busy,” I say, unaware that I’d lost weight. If she’s pointing it out, it must be true. It used to be the opposite with us. Everleigh was constantly overworked and underweight as a result.

She’s a much healthier version of who she was a year ago. But then, a happy marriage to a handsome, caring man will do that.

“You look incredible.” I rub her small-for-five-months belly. “How’s the little guy doing?”

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