Page 43 of Sugar Coated Lies
“In that case, yes. I’ll have whatever you’re having.” I nod at her drink.
“Good choice,” she says.
Carlos hands me a flute filled with bubbly. Delicious, chilled champagne meets my tongue. “Mmm. This is good.”
A big hand touches the small of my back. I flinch and glance over my shoulder to see who it is.
Daire bends to my ear. “I’m glad you made it.”
His close proximity and the intimate way his hand lingers at my back send shivers racing over my skin. It’s a glimpse of what it would be like to be Daire’s date, to have him close, his presence cocooning me in a way only a confident man of his stature could do. My mind drifts to a place I haven’t dared to let it go. It would only lead to trouble and possible awkward exchanges between us. Crushing on Daire or imagining what a life with him would be like is useless. Still, I allow it for this one moment—allow his nearness, his warmth, and his enticing masculine scent to wrap around me like a cashmere shawl.
In my ear, he whispers, “I spotted you the moment you walked in. That red dress suits you.”
As if his close proximity wasn’t already messing with me, he has to go and say that. I gulp my champagne and hiccup—to my embarrassment.
“Excuse me.” I duck my head.
Daire giggles and orders a bourbon. “Mind if I steal her, Millie. I want to introduce her to my parents.”
“Not at all.” Millie nods.
“It was nice meeting you,” I say to Carlos and let my boss lead me away.
Chapter12
Everleigh
Daire,with his hand still at my back, guides me out the back doors and onto an equally impressive patio. Perhaps terrace is a more appropriate word. Tables, more seating areas, another bar, a fountain, and potted flowers decorate the outdoor space. Stairs on either end lead to a pool area. Wicker lanterns hang from the branches of surrounding oaks, adding a magical feel to the yard.
“This is lovely. You grew up here?”
He nods and glances around as if unable to see the magic that I see.
“You’re very lucky.”
“Daire,” a soft voice says, and a beautiful, polished yet conservatively dressed woman waltzes over.
Daire kisses her cheek. “Mother. I was coming to find you.” He straightens and gestures to me. “This is Everleigh Reed, the new baker for the café.”
Her gentle smile is the kind that makes you want to earn her approval. “Hello, my dear. It’s lovely to meet you. You are quite a vision, if you don’t mind me saying.” She takes my hand and sandwiches it between both of hers. “I hope you’re having a wonderful time and finding your footing among the farm and the other employees.”
“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this and to work for such an amazing company. The farm is as magical as this home and property. I feel very blessed to be a part of it.”
She covers her heart with one hand and a hint of tears glisten in her eyes. “It makes me very happy to hear that. Our goal is to make all our employees feel like family and to know they’re valued. The farm is nothing without everyone here.” She waves toward the guests scattered about the terrace and inside the great room.
Daire says, “Everleigh is studying business administration and hospitality.”
“How wonderful.” Her eyes sparkle like crystal blue gems. “I hope you consider staying with the farm after earning your degree. We have a tuition reimbursement program to help entice employees to maintain a future with us.”
“I didn’t know.”
She raises a brow at Daire.
“She just started a week ago, Mother. We were getting to that part.”
“Well, now she knows.” She smiles fondly at her son.
It seems they have a playful relationship. The kind I had with my grandmother and that I suspect I’d have with my parents if they were still alive.
