Page 59 of Stuck with my Boss Daddies

The doors to The Foundry slammed open, the sound cutting through the moment like a gunshot.

“Adam!”

I almost groaned. My mother had theworsttiming.

“You didn’t tell me you were working today.”

I rolled my eyes as I wiped my hands on a dish towel, forcing myself to turn away from Sadie. “Ma, I work here full time. I’m always working.”

She waved a hand like that was a technicality. “Well, you could still call your mother once in a while.”

Behind her, my dad walked in at his usual unhurried pace, surveying the place like he was assessing the foundation of a house he was about to build.

Richard Reid was a man of few words, but when he did speak, you listened.

“Everything looks good,” he said gruffly, nodding toward the polished wood countertops. “You fix that shelf in the back like I told you to?”

“Yeah, Dad,” I said, grinning. “Did it last week.”

He gave a small, approving grunt, which in Richard Reid's language might as well have been a full round of applause.

Sadie started wiping down a table nearby, trying and failing not to eavesdrop, and I saw her glance between my parents with amusement.

Marlene’s sharp eyes caught her instantly.

“Well, now, you must be Sadie,” she said, beaming as she stepped forward. “Adam’s mentioned you.”

Sadie’s eyebrows lifted, shooting me a quick look.

I shrugged. I wasn’t about to tell her that “mentioning” probably meant my mother had wrung her name out of me during one of her interrogations.

“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Reid,” Sadie said, offering a polite smile.

“Oh, please, call me Marlene.” She took Sadie’s hands in hers before stepping back to size her up like a baker checking if her dough had proofed enough. “You’re even prettier than I expected.”

Sadie blinked, clearly thrown. “Uh… thank you?”

I groaned. “Ma.”

“What?” Marlene shot me an innocent look. “It’s true.”

Sadie laughed, shaking her head, and I could see some of her tension ease.

Marlene Reid was a force of nature, and Sadie was getting the full experience.

“I see why my son’s been so distracted lately,” Marlene added, giving me a knowing look that made me sigh.

Sadie’s lips twitched. “Distracted, huh?”

“Completely useless,” Marlene said dramatically. “Honestly, if I didn’t know better, I’d think he was sweet on you.”

I groaned, scrubbing a hand over my face. “Ma, I swear to God…”

But Sadie? She just smirked.

“Oh, that’s interesting,” she mused, tapping her chin like she was deep in thought. “Because I thought Adam was completely focused when he was working.”

Marlene gasped, delighted, and my dad, who rarely showed much emotion, let out a low chuckle.

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