Page 58 of Stuck with my Boss Daddies

Sadie frowned. “Gossip?”

I let out a dry laugh. “Come on, you’ve met the people around here. You really think something like that wouldn’t get people talking? It was a long time ago, though. Things like that are definitely more normalized now.”

She knew exactly what I meant.

“So she left?” she asked.

I nodded. “Yeah. Didn’t want to be the subject of every conversation in town. Can’t say I blame her.”

Sadie was quiet for a moment, fingers trailing along the countertop. Then, almost too softly, she said, “Butyoustayed.”

My heart tightened in my chest.

“Yeah,” I admitted. “Guess I like the town more than I like running.”

Sadie’s eyes met mine, and I saw it then—that flicker of something I couldn’t quite place.

Curiosity.

Intrigue.

It was dangerous.

“So…” she started slowly, choosing her words carefully, “it’s something you’d do again?”

I smirked, leaning in just enough to watch the pink creep up her neck. “That depends.”

She swallowed. “On what?”

I held her gaze, letting the moment stretch between us.

“On whether it’s worth the risk.”

And judging by the way she looked at me just then—like she was considering it,reallyconsidering it—I had a feeling things were about to get very, very interesting.

For a moment, neither of us moved.

The air between us felt heavier, charged, like a live wire sparking at both ends.

Sadie didn’t step back, and neither did I.

Her gaze dipped to my mouth, just for a second… so quick, I almost convinced myself I imagined it.

But I didn’t.

I knew that look.

My fingers twitched at my sides. If I reached for her now, would she let me, after what I just shared with her?

Would she close that last bit of space between us?

I leaned in just slightly, testing the waters.

Her breath hitched.

Fuck.

Then…

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