Page 25 of Stuck with my Boss Daddies

Very interesting.

I leaned against the counter, arms crossed over my chest, watching the way Sadie squared her shoulders, trying to play it cool.

“Well, well, Collins,” I said, a slow grin spreading across my face. “Ready to enter the lions’ den?”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m ready. You don’t need to worry about that.”

I pushed off the counter, grabbing a folded uniform and holding it out to her. “Looks about your size.”

She arched a brow but took it without comment.

I caught the briefest flicker of amusement in her eyes before she turned away. This was going to be fun.

A few minutes later, she stepped out of the back room, dressed in the uniform.

And I forgot how to breathe for a second.

The simple black tee fit snug against her curves, and the apron tied neatly around her waist somehow made her look both effortlessly cute and ridiculously attractive. She’d pulled her hair up, a few loose strands framing her face, and damn if I wasn’t staring.

I leaned against the counter, arms crossed, trying for casual. “Well, would you look at that.”

Sadie glanced up, brow raised. “Look at what?”

I gave a little nod in her direction, like it should be obvious. “You. Looking all official in that apron. Gotta say, it’s a good look on you.”

She scoffed, but I caught the way her lips twitched, like she was fighting a smile. “You flatter all the new hires like this?”

“Only the ones who pull off ‘baking professional’ with style,” I said, tilting my head as if I were seriously considering it. “And you, Collins, are really committing to the look.”

She rolled her eyes, adjusting the apron’s strap. “Well, glad to know I meet The Foundry’s strict fashion standards.”

I grinned. “Exceed, actually.”

She shook her head, but I didn’t miss the way her cheeks turned just the faintest shade of pink.

I leaned in just a little, like I was letting her in on a secret. “Careful, Collins. Keep looking at me like that, and I’ll start thinking you actually like working with me.”

She tilted her head, eyes glinting. “And what if I do?”

My grin widened. “Then I’d say we’re off to a pretty great start.”

As we worked, I pushed, prodded, tried to peel back the layers Sadie clearly so stubbornly kept wrapped around herself.

Sadie was a puzzle, and damn if I didn’t love a good challenge.

I felt like she was going to keep me on my damn toes.

“So,” I drawled, leaning in just close enough that she’d feel the heat of me at her back as soon as she finished assisting Kai with his latest cake creation. “You gonna tell me what the deal is?”

She didn’t even glance up from the cutting board she was wiping down. “What deal?”

“Oh, you know.” I let my gaze drag over her, slow and lazy. “Why you’re back in Medford?”

Her hand stilled for just a second… so quick that someone else might’ve missed it.

But I wasn’t someone else.

Bingo.

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