Page 125 of The Sadist and the Brat

“I love you, too.” Jennifer skimmed her fingers over Sadie’s cheek before gathering her in for a hug. “My beautiful child.”

Sadie laid her head on her mother’s shoulder with a sigh. “My beautiful mom.”

“You deserve to be loved,” Jennifer said fiercely, holding on just a little tighter, then eased back to cup her daughter’s face in her hands. “Don’t deprive yourself of that, okay?”

Sadie nodded. “I’ll try.”

“Try hard.” Jennifer patted her cheek. “So?”

Understanding the question, Sadie pushed off the stool. “I’m going to go talk to him.”

“That’s my girl.” Jennifer rose to her feet and untied her apron. “And you’ll tell him what you want?”

“After I apologize,” Sadie said with a wince.

“Apologize?” Jennifer began, confused, then her eyes narrowed. “Sadie Lynn Bloom, what did you do?”

Sadie tried to look innocent. “Just a little sabotage.”

“If it’s bad enough to bring out the big eyes, you better save them for him,” her mother said and sighed. “Well, if he forgives you, bring him to Sunday dinner next week.”

“We’ll see.” Sadie leaned in for one last hug. “I gotta go.”

“I have to go, too,” Jennifer said, raising her voice slightly. “I need to check the tracking on the sex toys I bought last week. I want to make sure nobody’s home when they get here, so your father and I can break them in properly.”

“God, why?” Brian wailed from the hall, followed by the sound of running footsteps.

“You’re terrible,” Sadie accused, laughing.

“Where do you think you get it from?” Jennifer winked. “Good luck, darling girl.”

Chapter Eighteen

She could use the luck. Standing outside Jack’s door, her palms sweating and her heart pounding, Sadie wished she’d raided her mother’s liquor cabinet for a shot or two of liquid courage. Then she remembered what she’d done to Jack’s liquor and winced. She wasn’t sure what she should apologize for first, running out of the party without telling him or poisoning his booze.

Knowing the longer she stood there, the harder it would be, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and rapped her knuckles on the door. When it opened almost immediately, she took an instinctive step back.

He wore jeans and a black sweater, his hair loose and his feet bare, and his expression was set to Resting Dick Face. It surprised her, and she realized she hadn’t seen him look like that since the demo a month ago.

God, had it only been a month?

“Hello, Sadie,” he said, and she winced at his formal tone.

“Jack,” she replied, and swallowed her pride. “Can I come in?”

He stepped back wordlessly and waved a hand, gesturing her inside. She stepped forward, moving carefully past him, her heart rate picking up speed as the scent of his shampoo tickled her nose.

He closed the door behind her, the click of the latch like a gunshot to her anxious ears, and stepped around her. “Would you like to sit?”

“Thank you,” she said, and moved into the living area. She perched on one of the chairs, her purse on her lap, and waited for him to take the chair opposite her before she spoke. “I owe you an apology.”

“More than one, by my count,” he drawled, anger creeping into his tone, and she nearly sagged with relief because that awful formality was gone from his voice.

“I know.”

“And an explanation,” he continued.

“I’m not sure where to start,” she admitted. “Did Sam…?”

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