Page 27 of Stuck with my Boss Daddies

“That,” I said, giving her a lazy grin, “says ‘don’t be an idiot’ in my mom’s handwriting.”

She blinked, then burst out laughing. “Seriously?”

I placed a hand over my heart. “Swear on my butcher’s knife. She wrote it in a birthday card once, and I figured it was solid life advice.”

Sadie shook her head, still smiling. “I can’t tell if you’re messing with me or not.”

“Guess you’ll have to stick around and find out.”

Her fingers lingered on my arm, just for a second, before she pulled back. But that one second? Enough to make me crave more.

And just like that, I knew one thing for sure.

Sadie Collins was going to be dangerous.

And I loved to run head first into danger.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Sadie

The Foundry wasalive in a way that caught me off guard.

I’d expected steady business—Medford had never been the kind of place where people let a good meal go to waste—but this?

This lunch time was a full-on rush. Tables packed, the low hum of conversation mixing with the clatter of plates, the sizzle from the grill, the scent of warm spices and grilled meats filling the air.

I took a long breath, adjusting my grip on the tray in my hands.

I liked this.

The pace, the movement, the way I could get lost in the rhythm of it all.

It kept my thoughts from wandering too far, from lingering on the life that had tossed me callously aside.

“Collins.” Adam’s voice cut through the noise, warm and teasing as he slid past me, a plate balanced effortlessly in one hand. “Still standing? I’m impressed.”

I rolled my eyes, sidestepping Samuel as he raced by. “What, you thought I’d fall apart after one shift?”

He grinned. “Not fall apart, no. But maybe need a minute to catch your breath. The Foundry’s got a way of keeping people on their toes.”

I huffed out a breath, surveying the dining area. “Yeah, no kidding. When did Medford get so busy?”

Adam let out a short laugh, setting a plate down at a nearby table before turning back to me. “I know, I’m surprised too. We’ve been lucky with the support from the town.”

I glanced toward the kitchen, where Samuel was focused on the grill, barking out orders, his movements precise and efficient.

Kai was at the bar, pouring a drink next to his latest cake creation.

And Adam…

I turned back to find him watching me, amusement flickering in his dark eyes.

“What?” I asked.

“Nothing,” he said, a slow grin spreading across his face. “Just wondering what’s going on in that head of yours.”

I shook my head, shifting my tray to one hand as I moved toward the next table. “Nothing you need to worry about, Reid.”

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