Page 52 of Sugar Coated Secrets

“I’m prepared to hit him over the head with one of Everleigh’s baking sheets if he doesn’t get it. But I don’t see how he couldn’t. It’s a no-brainer fit.” She strolls to me, her gaze holding mine. She fixes my collar and cups my cheeks in her dainty hands.

I stop breathing as she draws me down to her level.

She plants a tender kiss on my cheek. “For luck. Not that you need it.”

This flirty dance between us has me all out of sorts. I consider turning my head and claiming those sultry lips again, but then she lowers her hands and takes a step back.

“I’ll be here when you get home.”

That promise stirs warmth in my chest. No one has ever waited for me after something important, certainly not at my house. I like knowing someone will be here and how that someone is Sadie. No one else would do.

“Thanks.” I straighten my spine, comforted in so many ways—ways that are strange and new. She’s rooting for me. She wants me to succeed, not only for me but because she believes in what I’m doing and the idea I’m selling to Daire.

“Want any coffee before you go?” She turns toward the built-in coffee machine.

“I had some upstairs.”

Her brows pucker, and she glances at the second-floor landing.

“I have an espresso maker in my room, in the office section. It’s two separate spaces.” She wouldn’t know because she hasn’t seen it. Few people have.

“That’s convenient.” She returns to the counter and her coffee.

“What do you have planned for today?” I ask, curious.

“Work. For my stepdad and my cover business.”

This is why I grilled her about following her dream. She often refers to her day job as that or work for her stepdad. She never calls it her job. She doesn’t hold passion for it. Her eyes don’t light up the way they do when she talks about book covers. Sure, she’s good at it. It’s easy for her, but she deserves to do something creative. With her skills and talent, I’m certain she’ll be a success.

“Want to go out later? To celebrate.” I didn’t plan to ask her that, but I would like to celebrate, if all goes according to plan, and I think she’d like to get out of the house and go beyond the farm and the estate.

She frowns. “I’d love to, but we have dinner with Everleigh and Daire tonight. Remember? She texted me during the photo shoot?”

“Maybe.”

I don’t remember. I was too distracted by Sadie. She kept touching me, posing me, undressing me, and dressing me in different outfits. She didn’t realize how many times she touched my stomach or pecs, her hand lingering on my skin. She’d have apologized or been embarrassed. But she likes touching me. It’s more than obvious to me. To her? Not so much.

“We can do something after dinner, though, if you want?”

The flirty smile on her face has my mind going to places I doubt she’s thinking. I wouldn’t mind celebrating between her legs.

“What did you have in mind?”

“A bar? There’s a sports bar in Honeycomb that’s pretty popular.” She wipes a drip of coffee from the counter.

“Would that be fun for you?” My guess is she’s used to having to answer that way, never choosing something that interests her.

“This isn’t about me. It’s for you. I can have fun anywhere.”

I believe that. But she shouldn’t have to have fun for other people. “What would you choose if we were celebrating your new start with your business?”

She glances at the wall of windows to the backyard. “Maybe get a bottle of wine and explore that tiny house floating in the middle of the lake. By boat, of course.”

No one would dare swim in this water during November.

“Now that sounds like a fun night.” Would it end with her sharing some of her body with me?

“Really?”

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