Page 87 of Stuck with my Boss Daddies

Customers sat at their tables, sipping coffee, completely oblivious to what had just happened behind the counter.

Work. Right. We wereat work.

I cleared my throat, stepping back. “I… um…”

Kai smirked, just a little. “Don’t panic, S.” His voice was amused, but laced with desire. “We’ll pick this up later.”

I swallowed hard, nodding quickly before turning toward the espresso machine like my life depended on it.

My hands were shaking. I needed tofocus.

But even as I forced myself back into the rhythm of work—pouring coffee, ringing up customers, wiping down counters—I felt Kai’s gaze on me.

And I knew this wasn’t over.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Samuel

“You look tired,”Mom commented over her freshly Brewed Bean coffee.

I huffed a quiet laugh, reaching across the table for my own coffee. “Good morning to you, too.”

She gave me a knowing look, the kind only a mother could pull off. “Long night?”

I took a sip of the dark roast before answering. “Not really.”

“Mmhmm.” She set down her spoon and rested her chin on her hand. “You thinking about her?”

I stilled, but only for a second.

Of course, she knew.

There was no hiding anything from Alicia Thompson.

She’d raised me on her own, worked her ass off to make sure I had everything I needed, and somehow still managed to be involved in every part of my life.

I sighed, leaning back in my chair. “Yeah. I am.”

She smiled, but it wasn’t teasing. It was warm, patient. “So there really is something there with Sadie, then? Is that not complicated, with her working for you?”

I sighed.

That wasn’t the only thing complicating matters.

I nodded. “It’s… well, yeah, I guess so.”

Mom hummed like that didn’t surprise her. “I see.”

I exhaled, running a hand through my hair. “She’s been through a lot. And I get the feeling she doesn’t let people in easily. But when she does…”

I trailed off, trying to put it into words. Mom watched me, waiting.

“She’sreal,” I finally said. “She doesn’t pretend to be something she’s not. She challenges me. Makes me think. And she’s tough, but sometimes I catch these little glimpses of something softer, like she wants to let go but doesn’t know how.”

Mom’s expression softened. “That sounds like a challenge for you… in a good way.”

I let out a breathy chuckle. “Yeah. But I’m not the only one who thinks that.”

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