Page 86 of When Morning Comes Around

“Are you going to be okay by yourself?” Sadie asked Jake as she closed the computer down.

He wiped his hands on his overalls. “I am, thanks. The way you’ve set everything up is awesome. You’re the best, Sadie.”

“I have to tell you that I’m enjoying myself. I know this place is going to be a big success, and I like that I can help you set up your systems from the start. I didn’t know what I was doing when Dale and I started the business. I made a lot of mistakes in the early years, and it took forever to work out the kinks. It’s going to be so much better for you to have everything straightforward and logical from the beginning.”

He nodded happily. “I appreciate it more than you know. I knew that I’d be fine with the actual work. I have no worries there, but getting the office set up, and systems…” He shook his head. “I was worried about it.”

“Well, you’ve got no worries now. I’m happy to be able to help. This way, when you get to the point that you need someone full-time – and I think that’ll be before you know it – you’ll be able to show them exactly how everything works, step-by-step.” She stopped when she saw the way that he was frowning. “I’ll stay for as long as you need me, if that’s what you’re worried about, but I’m not really interested in a full-time, longer-term job – we already talked about that.”

“No, I know that. That’s not what I’m worried about.”

“What then?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know for sure yet how everything works myself. The thought of training someone to take over…” He smiled at her. “But that’s not your problem.”

She patted his arm. “Don’t worry, I won’t leave you in the lurch. If you want, when you’re ready, I’ll help you to find the right person. We can interview them together, if you want. I’m used to doing that. And I’ll stick around to train them, too.”

Jake grinned at her. “Thanks, Sadie. You’re awesome. I can see why Uncle Dom loves you so much.”

Her heart thudded to a stop. He loved her? No. It was just a figure of speech. She made herself smile. “I’m not so bad, for an old bird, am I?” she joked.

Jake laughed. “You’re no such thing.” He jerked his chin toward the window, where she could see Dom, pulling up outside. “And I wouldn’t let him hear you say things like that about yourself. You’re not an old bird or anything of the sort. You know what he’s like; he won’t let you get down on yourself.”

She nodded slowly; he was right. She hadn’t registered it before, but whenever she said anything that didn’t paint herself in the best light, he didn’t hesitate to call her out on it.

They both smiled when the door opened, and he came in. A rush of warmth filled her chest when he smiled back at her. It caught her off guard, every time it hit her that they were together. It was early days yet, but there was no denying the bond that they shared – the bond that grew stronger, if not every day, every time they saw each other.

“Hi. Are you all done?” He turned to Jake. “Is it okay if I steal her away?”

“It is. Although, you can’t keep her, I need her back tomorrow.”

Dom chuckled. “If she wants to come to work tomorrow, then fine. But don’t go telling me that I can’t keep her.”

Sadie’s eyebrows shot up. She hoped that he meant that in the way it sounded, but she needed to get a grip – if he meant it that way, he’d be saying it to her first, not Jake.

Jake was laughing as he said, “Okay, we both get to keep her.” He turned to Sadie. “If you’re okay with that?”

She nodded happily. “It sounds good to me. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Dom took her hand as they walked out to his SUV. “How was your day?”

“It was good. We’re getting him set up on the right track. I know I won’t be here forever, or even all that long, but I want to make sure that whoever he brings in to run the office for him will walk into a good situation. What’s wrong?” she asked when she saw the look on his face.

He shook his head. “Sorry, it just hit me wrong when you said that you won’t be here forever or even all that long. When you said here, you meant at the garage, working for Jake, right?”

“I did; what did you think I meant?”

He shuddered and curled both his arms around her waist. “For one horrible moment, I thought you meant here, in Summer Lake. That maybe you were thinking about leaving.”

She hugged him tight. “No. Why would I go and do something like that? My dad’s here. My… most of my life’s here now – except Josh.”

She couldn’t read the expression on his face as he looked down at her.

“You know that I want to be part of your life, right?”

A thrill ran through her veins as she nodded. She wouldn’t have said that she knew it – not for certain – but she’d been hoping.

She had to laugh when he added, “A big part.”

---