Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Daniel
Knowing Sadie was safely inside the motel, he shoved his crowbar between two boards and yanked, then quickly got out of the way as the last two walls of the ancient shed tumbled down. A fresh burst of ammonia wafted from the fallen structure, making him grimace.
He didn’t know if the odor was from animals, or from the meth. Either way, it was enough to make him gag and wish for a respirator. The surgical mask wasn’t cutting it, but demolishing the dilapidated structure was surprisingly satisfying.
Laughing softly, he shook his head and started tossing the debris into a construction dumpster. Tearing down a drug lab was arguably more hazardous than shoveling a pile of shit into a trash bag. He’d bet good money Sadie wouldn’t bat an eye at the work. Hell, for all he knew, she’d done it before.
Best of all, the physical activity helped him organize his thoughts and plan what he wanted to say to her.
After sweeping the ground with a magnet for loose nails, he wiped his forehead with a rag and crossed the property to the rear service entrance near the Horsemen’s apartment where he’d be sleeping for the next few days.
God, he couldn’t wait until his house was done. He was tired of couch-surfing, and it didn’t sit right to take advantage of his friends, even if he was helping them out. He grabbed a quick shower and changed, hoping Jake would have something for supper.
Lost in thought, he made his way to the diner and nearly slammed into Sadie, making her drop the bottle of water she was carrying.
“Sorry.” He picked up the bottle and held it for her. “I wasn’t paying attention.”
“What are you doing here?” Giving him a distrustful glare, she snatched the water and took a step back. “Come to chase me off another job?”
She wasn’t wearing coveralls anymore, and he forced himself to look at her face instead of the strip of bare skin between the hem of her t-shirt and the waistband of her cutoff jeans. A crystal winked at him from her navel and his mouth watered for a taste.
“No, and I shouldn’t have chased you off mine either.” Despite wanting to pull her into his arms, he let her keep her distance. “Can I get a do-over on that conversation?”
“Hmm.” Her lips twitched into an almost-smile, and she folded her arms across her chest. “How did you want that conversation to go?”
He cleared his throat and tried to keep his expression serious. “Sadie, let me help you handle your shit. I think I have bleach in the garage.”
Smiling fully, she nodded. “Thank you, Daniel. I’d love to have your help. Put on gloves and hold the bag for me? I have hand sanitizer in my truck.”
“Perfect.” Taking a chance, he stepped closer and took her hand. “But I would love it if you could delay work on my house until I get some security in place.”
Daniel chose not to mention what he planned for the asshat targeting her. The damage to his house was annoying, but less important than her safety.
“I could do that,” she murmured, moving close enough to let him inhale the scent of her floral perfume mixed with a touch of sawdust. “There’s plenty to keep us busy at The Majestic, and it would keep my crew safer.”
He let out a breath of relief. “I’m so sorry I overreacted. I was out of line.”
“Why did you?” Thankfully, she didn’t remove her hand from his. “What set you off?”
Chuckling softly, he met her curious gaze. “Let me ask you this. Would you have gotten angry with Beatriz if she cleaned it up herself?”
She blinked and pressed her lips together in a scowl. “Way to call me out there, sport.”
“Uh huh.” He winked and kissed her callused fingertips. “Pot, meet kettle, Ms. Mama Bear. Then mix it with a clear threat to you. I am sorry I lost my temper though. I still want to keep you safe, but I should have stayed calm and explained myself instead of starting a fight over something stupid.”
“Guess that makes you Daddy Bear.” Shaking her head, she chuckled softly. “Are you apologizing because you couldn’t find another contractor?”
If only she knew exactly how right she was about his Daddy tendencies.
“No.” He curled her hand around his elbow and escorted her toward the open plan diner. “I’m apologizing because you deserve it.”
“And you couldn’t find another contractor.”
“I didn’t bother looking. If you don’t come back, I’ll do the work myself.”
“Without construction experience?”
“I didn’t say I’d be good at it,” he countered, making her burst out laughing.
She snorted, her eyes twinkling with mirth. “I suppose we could come back.”
“Are you sure?” Although he loved the sound of her laughter, he wanted to make certain working for him was what she really wanted.
“Historic renovations aren’t for the faint of heart, but I love them, and I really want to finish yours. We were less than a week from done anyway.” She shrugged, her smile fading. “The cleanup will add a day or two though.”
“I don’t mind. Besides, I got pretty good at stucco, remember?”
“You did.” She chuckled and bumped him with her shoulder. “And it was a huge help.”
His mouth watered at the scent of smoky barbecue and spices emanating from the work area behind the counter where Jake was stirring a large pot of something.
The diner’s aged vinyl booths had been replaced with freestanding tables pushed together to accommodate the Horsemen and Sadie’s crew. Streaks of paint samples decorated the far wall surrounding a floor to ceiling opening covered with plywood. He almost questioned it, then remembered Jake mentioning setting up for outdoor seating. The old-fashioned counter had gotten a new top too, and the dated chrome stools were gone.
Conversation stopped when they walked in, and he didn’t miss the glares directed his way by her team. Apparently, Sadie wasn’t the only one he needed to charm.
“What’s going on, Sadie?” Lourdes asked, giving him a dark scowl. “Didn’t Lieutenant Dan fire us?”
“He apologized, so he’s off the naughty list.” She took a chair at the end next to Sean while Daniel sat across from her. “What’s for supper?”
Jasmine giggled and winked at him. “Bet he’s on the naughty list for other things.”
Daniel hid a smile when Sadie blushed. She was so damned pretty, but he doubted she recognized how appealing she was. And that pink staining her cheeks…
He wanted to set her on his lap and keep her there.
“ You are on the naughty list, young lady,” she replied tartly. “Behave, bitches.”
“Where’s the fun in behaving?”
Everyone laughed as Jake set the pot on the counter alongside more food in steel serving pans.
“We’re having spicy pumpkin soup to start, followed by smoked tofu that tastes like burnt ends, jacket potatoes, and creamed spinach. I’m using you as guinea pigs for a vegan menu, so be honest with your critique.”
Sadie
She ate her last bite of limoncello pound cake and tried not to moan, wishing she’d worn pants with an elastic waistband. The rumors about Jake’s cooking were very, very true, and she had the food baby to prove it.
“Someone get a wheelbarrow from the supply trailer,” Lourdes said as she closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair. “I don’t think I can walk.”
“I’m not even vegetarian,” Jasmine replied. “And I’m seriously not straight, but I’m going to kidnap Jake and marry him.”
Drowsy laughter followed her words as Daniel helped clear the table before returning to finish his dessert.
“We need to get on the road,” Sadie said, trying to ignore the way his tight jeans cupped his ass. “It’s a long drive to Flagstaff, and we’ll be back bright and early tomorrow.”
“Nah.” Beatriz folded her arms on the table and put her head down. “Sleeping right here.”
“I assume that means the vegan menu was a hit?” Jake asked.
“Out of the park,” Sadie said. “There’s going to be a line out the door when you open.”
“Especially if he keeps serving this cake,” Daniel replied after licking tart glaze off his fork.
“We have enough beds to keep you tonight, but you’ll have to double up on the bathrooms,” Mark said, giving the tired ladies a long, speculative glance. “Don’t like the idea of you driving home so late.”
Neither did Sadie, but she didn’t feel right making her crew stay either—especially without prior notice. They really should have left earlier, but she and her crew had lost track of time.
“Thank you for the generous offer.” Sadie shook her head. “But?—”
Sean held up a hand, cutting her off. “We especially don’t like the idea of Sadie being by herself when we know someone is targeting her.”
She folded her arms over her chest and glared at Daniel, who smirked as he filled her water glass. “Did Daniel put you up to this?”
“No,” Daniel replied. “But I was going to mention it. Mark and Sean just beat me to it.”
“I don’t know about you, but I’m going to find one of those beds and fall into it,” Beatriz said. “Thanks for letting us stay.”
“My kids are with their abuela tonight for a slumber party with their cousins.” Lourdes glanced at the other women. “I packed a change of clothes like usual, but I don’t have toiletries.”
“We have you covered,” Ryan replied. “There’s a stash of product samples in housekeeping, and it would be great if you could tell us which ones you like.”
Knowing she’d lost the battle, Sadie gave up her protests. Hell, it wasn’t really a fight she wanted to win in the first place. “Are you guys okay with staying?”
When everyone nodded, Ryan said, “I guess it’s settled. Housekeeping and laundry are at the end of the hall. We don’t have staff yet, so you’ll have to make your own beds.”
“Why do I have a sneaking suspicion we got set up?” Sadie asked of no one in particular.
“You weren’t.” Daniel shook his head. “But I agree with the Horsemen. It’s way too late for you to be driving home, and I don’t like the thought of you being by yourself.”
“It was just spray paint,” she muttered, still wondering why she was wasting time arguing about it. “I doubt the asshole will do anything, and he has no idea where I live.”
“Sadie, come with me, please.” Without waiting for her to reply, Daniel took her arm and led her from the diner, well out of earshot of her team as they followed Ryan to the laundry.
“Hey! What?—”
“That red pickup with your logo is distinctive.” Gently, he pushed her against the wall, caging her with his large body. “I’m also betting the vandal knew you’d be coming here to work, and it wouldn’t be hard to follow you.”
“And?” She tilted up her chin and tried to ignore the flutter in her core from his protective stance. “I can take care of myself.”
He moved closer, nearly scorching her with his body heat. His breath wafted over her, sweet with the fragrance of lemons from Jake’s cake. Determined to hold her ground, she locked her knees and didn’t let her gaze leave his face.
“First, I promise I won’t lose my temper again. We’re going to discuss this like grownups, okay?”
“There’s nothing to discuss. I’ll be fine.”
A muscle twitched in his cheek, and he paused, making her think he was counting to ten before he spoke. “Sadie, did you want your staff driving home? You’ve all been full steam ahead for well over eight hours already.”
“No, but I?—”
“Would you care to tell me why you’re arguing over this when you’re too overprotective to let someone else clean up a pile of poop?”
Well, shit. She pressed her lips together and tried to look away, but he cupped her chin in one large hand, forcing her to keep her eyes on his face.
“You say that like being overprotective is a bad thing.”
“It’s not. And you being a Mama Bear is part of the reason I like you.” He kissed her forehead, the gentle brush of his lips making tears well in her eyes.
“Only part?” Her face heated and she tried to pull her emotions together. Sadie Windham did not cry—especially not in public.
“Are you fishing for compliments?”
She laughed, thankful for the out. “Hardly.”
“Okay, so when was the last time someone took care of you like you take care of them?”
That would be never—not even when she actually needed it.
Except… Having Daniel see inside her like that…
“Damn you.” The tears she tried to hold at bay trickled down her cheeks and she brushed them away before anyone saw her blubbering like a fool. “You made me leak.”
“It’s okay, babygirl.” He wiped her tears with a soft cotton bandanna smelling of laundry detergent, then smoothed a few stray hairs away from her face, the sweet gesture dissolving her irritation. “I’m going to take care of you now.”