Page 10 of Stuck with my Boss Daddies

The low hum of music played from the speakers—Kai’s usual early-morning mix of old blues and acoustic rock.

He was already at the back counter, his sleeves pushed up, forearms dusted with flour, kneading a mound of dough with practiced ease.

He didn’t glance up when he spoke.

“You’re late.”

I smirked, stepping inside and grabbing an apron from the hook. “I own the place. Can’t be late.”

Kai snorted, finally glancing up, his storm-gray eyes sharp.

“You can when you’re supposed to be in before me.” He paused, then gave me a once-over, his brow arching. “You look like shit.”

I chuckled, tying the apron around my waist. “Feel fucking fantastic, actually.”

His eyes narrowed, then flicked back down to the dough. “Uh-huh. That wouldn’t have anything to do with the woman you left Lucky’s with, would it?”

“Hot damn, you weren’t even there?—”

Kai rolled his eyes. “This is Medford. Gossip spreads fast. A new woman in town, Samuel all gooey-eyed for her?—”

I grabbed a fresh baguette from the cooling rack, tearing off a piece. “Maybe.”

Kai just shook his head, muttering something under his breath. Probably a little comment about me being reckless, but I let it slide.

He might be the biggest grump in the damn county, but he cared. More than he liked to admit.

I leaned against the counter, watching him work. “Busy morning?”

“Always.” He pulled the dough into a tight ball, setting it aside before grabbing another. “Cake orders are already coming in. We got a few big ones for the weekend, and the new supplier fucked up our flour shipment again.”

I groaned. “You’re kidding.”

“Wish I was. Adam’s dealing with it. Said he’d call in a favor.”

Adam. Our business partner, the smooth-talker, the one who could charm his way out of—or into—just about anything.

If anyone could fix it, it was him.

Kai exhaled through his nose, rolling out another section of dough.

“You ever think about how big this place has gotten?” He gestured around the shop at the polished counters, the racks of fresh bread, the line of orders pinned up. “Feels like we blinked and suddenly The Foundry is half the damn town’s morning ritual.”

I glanced out toward the front, where the first few customers of the morning were gathering. People who had been coming here since we opened, who knew us, trusted us.

The Foundry wasn’t just a bakery, a butchery, or a kitchen. It had become a cornerstone of Medford, something people relied on.

“It’s what we wanted, isn’t it?” I said, looking back at Kai. “We built this. We made it matter.”

Kai let out a low hum, thoughtful. “Yeah. We did.”

I smirked, tossing the baguette end at him. “And look at you, getting all sentimental before the sun’s even fully up. I’m proud of you.”

He scowled, batting the bread away. “Fuck off, Samuel.”

I laughed, stepping behind the counter to start my prep.

This was home. The rush, the heat, the scent of cinnamon and coffee filling the air.

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