Chapter Six
M id-morning the next day, Sadie carefully positioned a thrifted glass vase on her makeshift worktable in the backyard, making sure the paint tent was securely in place. It was a beautiful, sunny day—perfect for a bit of outdoor crafting. She loved working on projects that transformed something plain into a piece of beauty. And today, she was filming it all for her online followers.
Setting up her camera on a tripod, she adjusted the angle to capture both her and the vase. She was in full crafting mode: hair up in a messy bun, old jeans, and a T-shirt that proudly proclaimed, “Messy bun, crafting fun.”
Smiling at the camera, she hit the record button.
“Hey, everyone! It’s Sadie here, back with another quick and easy upcycling project. Today, I’ve got this plain old glass vase I thrifted, and I’m going to give it a fresh new look with some textured spray paint. Perfect for making the glass vase appear to be made of stone.”
She held up the can of paint to show the brand and exact shade, then gave it a good shake. “Remember, always shake your spray paint can thoroughly before starting. We want that color to be uniform.”
As she started spraying the vase with smooth, even strokes, she continued talking to the camera, sharing tips about keeping the can at the right distance and making sure to apply thin layers. The paint began to transform the vase, the speckles in the paint prominent in the sunlight.
Sadie was in her element, chatting away to her viewers, when she suddenly noticed movement out of the corner of her eye. Glancing in that direction, she spotted Dale, along with a few of the ESI guys, across the yard at Sam’s house. They were busy installing what looked like a full security system—cameras, sensors, the works.
Leave it to a former SEAL to want his father’s place protected like Fort Knox.
Smiling, she watched them work. There was something about seeing Dale in action, even in a non-combat situation, that made her stomach do a little flip. He was focused, methodical, and incredibly good-looking.
The other guys weren’t too bad either.
“Who knew a security update could be so distracting?” she muttered to herself with a grin.
As if on cue, Dale glanced over and caught her eye. After a slight hesitation, he waved. She grinned and wiggled her fingers, deciding to have a bit of fun.
“Well, well, folks,” she said with a playful tone, “it seems we’ve got some special guests today. Over there, you’ll see our very own local heroes, the Eagle Security & Investigations team, hard at work making sure my neighbor’s house is safe and sound. And yes, that includes one Dale Taylor, who’s back in town and currently looking like he just stepped out of an action movie.”
A few chuckles from the guys filled the air.
Cooper grinned as he pointed at her. “Are you making us famous?”
She would never put them on camera without their permission. But they didn’t know that yet.
“More like infamous,” she shot back, laughing. “And if you guys want to be on my episode, you need to show me your good sides.”
RJ, who was perched on a ladder adjusting a camera, called over, “This is my good side, Sadie.”
The guy was gorgeous, married to Lori, and didn’t have a bad side.
None of the men did.
It was eye-candy paradise in Sam’s backyard right now, and she was not complaining about the interruption.
But she needed to focus on work, so she returned to her vase.
Deciding her viewers didn’t need to watch her spray paint a second coat, she addressed the camera again. “All right, folks, I’m going to finish up this vase off-camera. I’ll be back in a second with the next step.”
She stopped the recording and quickly finished the last coat of paint on the vase before setting it aside to dry. The benefits of editing would remove her conversation with the guys and connect this scene with the one she had yet to video.
Right now, she could use a drink and one of her freshly baked cookies.
Maybe the guys would like some too.
With a quick wipe of her hands on her jeans, she made her way over to the fence that separated her yard from Sam’s.
“Hey, guys!” she called out, leaning on the fence. “Are you thirsty? I’ve got some fresh lemonade and chocolate chip cookies inside.”
Dean, who was standing by the security panel, perked up immediately. “Did you say cookies?”
Sadie laughed. “Sure did. And not just any cookies—these are my special recipe, loaded with chocolate chips. But you gotta work for them. Come on over, and I’ll let you guess my cat’s name.”
Mac, who was watching the camera feed on his tablet, raised an eyebrow. “Your cat’s name? What’s the catch?”
“No catch,” Sadie replied, mischief tugging her lips into a grin. “But I’ll warn you, it’s a tough one. And if you don’t get it, no cookies for you.”
RJ hopped off the ladder, dusting off his hands. “Challenge accepted. I’ve got a knack for guessing pet names.”
The guys exchanged looks, clearly intrigued, and one by one, they made their way over to her backyard through a gate Sam had installed last month. As the men crossed into her yard, Sadie couldn’t help but feel a little thrill at having these tough, capable men looking slightly out of their element in her colorful, whimsical space.
A detached garage, the same blue color as the house, bordered the other side of her property. In between that and the chain-link fence on Sam’s side was a vibrant oasis of color, filled with blooming flowers, eclectic garden décor—most of them the outdoor gnomes that she’d made—and a whimsical array of mismatched furniture that perfectly reflected her creative spirit.
Dale was the last to join, his gaze curious. “All right. Lead us to your cat.”
“Follow me,” she said, walking to her back porch. The screen door creaked as she pushed it open, and they all filed inside. Sadie headed straight for the kitchen, where a large pitcher of lemonade sat on the counter, condensation glistening on the glass. Beside it was a plate piled high with her special chocolate chip cookies.
That process had already been recorded and would become content for a future video.
“Okay, help yourselves,” she said, providing them glasses from the cabinet. “But remember, if there are no guesses, then you don’t get any cookies.”
The guys didn’t need to be told twice. Their glasses were full within a matter of seconds.
Dean took a long sip before wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “All right, let’s get down to business. What’s your cat look like?”
Sadie grinned, leaning against the counter. “He has whiskers and a tail.”
“You mean we don’t get to see him?” RJ asked.
She grinned. “Of course you do.”
“ Mom. Mom ,” a voice similar to hers called out from the other room. It was similar because she’d recorded the audio for the buttons her cat used.
Five jaws dropped in succession as the men all blinked at her.
“You have a kid?” Dale asked, shock still lifting his brow.
She chuckled. “In a manner of speaking.”
Motioning for them to follow, she led the way to the front room where her large, fluffy gray and white cat sat in front of several interlocking foam squares with white buttons on them.
He had bright green eyes that blinked lazily at the group of men before he stepped on a button that said, “ Mom, ” again, then another that said, “ Cuddles .”
“Okay, buddy, let’s cuddle,” she said, walking over to sit on the floor by him.
He immediately jumped onto her lap, and she loved on him as she petted his soft fur.
A few months ago, she’d seen several videos online of people’s pets using this system to communicate with their owners, and she knew immediately that her cat was smart enough to catch on.
And boy, had she been right.
He was currently capable of understanding and communicating eleven words, and chose that moment to showcase another one. He jumped off her lap and walked over to step on a different button and, “ Happy ,” echoed around them in her voice.
“Are you kidding me right now?” Cooper said, his eyes still wide. “Your cat just talked.”
She smiled. “I know. He’s smart.”
“How does it work?” Dale asked, cocking his head.
“I record a word then press the button in context to its meaning,” she replied. “Generally, takes him a few hours per word. But I spaced out teaching them, so he learned one a week. Although, I think he’s capable of learning two at the same time.”
Her cat stepped on another one. “ Outside .”
She shook her head. “Sorry, buddy. It’s too hot out there for you right now.”
She pressed the Outside button, followed by the Later one.
He hit the Mad button before jumping onto the back of the couch where he curled up with his back to her.
“Sorry, buddy,” she repeated. “But it’s for your own good.”
Cooper shook his head. “It’s déjà vu in here. Like daily conversations with my daughter.”
Everyone chuckled.
His daughter, Mindy, was an adorable blonde-haired, blue-eyed toddler who attended the daycare/preschool where Sadie held a craft hour once a month. The kids were so amazing at that age. Unrestricted creativity ran rampant there.
She loved it.
“So,” she said, rising to her feet. “You’ve met my cat. Let the guesses begin.”
Cooper, who was munching on a cookie he’d somehow swiped, guessed, “Buddy. You’ve been calling him that the entire time.”
She laughed. “Yeah, as a nickname so I didn’t give it away. Good guess, though.”
“My turn.” RJ squinted at the cat. “I’m going to say… Smokey.”
Sadie shook her head, smirking. “Not even close.”
“Is it something fancy, like Sir Fluffington?” Dean asked.
“Nope.” Sadie grinned. “But I did consider naming him Dwight D. Meowsinhower. Double D for short.”
The men laughed.
“Is there a Thank You button?” Cooper asked. “Because I’m pretty sure he’d use it for not giving him that name.”
She nodded. “You’re not wrong.”
Mac, who had been observing quietly, took a long sip of lemonade before speaking. “I’m thinking something literary. Maybe… Mr. Darcy?”
Sadie tipped her chin. “Such a great guess, but no.”
The group turned to Dale, who had been watching the proceedings with a bemused smile.
“It’s up to you, Delta,” Cooper said. “You’re our last hope.”
Dale raised an eyebrow. “You guys all missed the most obvious one. The smart one. It’s gotta be Einstein.”
Sadie’s grin widened, and she clapped her hands. “You were so close.”
The guys groaned, and Dale shook his head.
“Then what is it?” he asked.
Still wanting to have a little fun with them, Sadie shrugged. “It’s Puddy Tat.”
A few snickers and several more groans echoed through the room.
“Seriously?” Dale blinked at her. “You did not name your cat Puddy Tat.”
Laughing, she held his gaze for a few seconds before nodding. “Okay, you got me. No, I didn’t name him that. I named him after another brilliant man.”
Dale expelled a breath. “I’m an idiot.”
“Truer words,” Cooper uttered under his breath and the others chuckled.
He ignored them, gaze twinkling. “You named him Tesla.”
Surprise raised her brows. “Yes.” She clapped. “We have a winner! Of course, it’s too bad you’d already used up your guess, though.”
Sadie had always admired Nicola Tesla and his inventions and brilliant mind, as well as how he wanted to help humanity with those inventions. In fact, she’d admired him so much, she’d once given a videotaped oral book report in front of her science class.
Nervous and excited, she had somehow breezed through to a perfect grade. Of course, it had helped to have Lyndsey and Emily in the class, cheering her on.
“How did you come up with that guess, Dale?” Mac asked.
He shrugged. “I saw her give a report on him.”
“What?” she muttered on an indrawn breath while her cheeks rapidly heated. “How? You weren’t in my class.”
A lopsided grin tugged at his lips. “True. But we did have the same teacher, and he had beamed about this freshman who had nailed the assignment better than anyone in any of his other classes.”
She slapped her hands over her face. “Oh, man. I am so glad I didn’t know he did that.”
“You should be proud,” Dale said, softly. “You did really good.”
Sadie slowly dropped her hands and stared into his friendly gaze. And the longer she stared, the warmer her insides got and the harder it became to breathe…until her cat stepped on a button.
Twice.
“ No. No .”
The guys chuckled.
“Uh oh, Dale,” RJ said. “Looks like you’ve got competition.”
The heat in her face increased, but she ignored it, digging for her gumption instead.
“Speaking of competition,” she said, dragging her gaze from him. “I think you all deserve those cookies now.”
“Even Cooper?” RJ asked. “He already had one.”
“Even Cooper,” she replied with a grin. “But he gets one less now.”
The mood was light, filled with laughter and teasing as they returned to the kitchen and the guys enjoyed their snacks and drinks. Sadie felt a deep sense of contentment surrounded by these men who were married to her friends. But they were also part of her community, her extended family.
After they’d eaten their fill, Mac turned to her. “Thanks for the hospitality, Sadie. We should probably get back to work, though.”
Sadie nodded, a little sad to see them go. “Of course. And anytime, guys. You know where to find me if you need more cookies.”
As they headed back out to finish the job at Sam’s, Dale lingered behind for a moment, catching her eye. “Thanks for the break. We needed that.”
Sadie smiled softly, feeling a warmth in her chest that had nothing to do with the cookies. “Anytime, Dale. I’m just glad I could help. Oh, and I’m about ready to head to the ranch to feed and exercise Orion and Triton. I felt bad for keeping them locked in their stalls since yesterday, so I went there earlier than normal this morning.”
Dale stilled, his gaze alert. “Wait…you were there yesterday? What time?”
She blinked. “Around noon. Why?”
“Yesterday at noon? Are you sure?”
“Yes. Positive. I went there after I left the bakery yesterday and before I visited your dad.” She frowned. “Why?”
“And you’re saying you fed and exercised them, then put them in the barn before you left?”
She nodded. “Yes. That’s what I’m saying, just like this morning. Why?”
He blew out a breath. “Because when the guys and I went there in the afternoon, Orion and Triton were running wild in the field.”
Sadie’s heart jolted. “That’s not possible. I tugged on the stall doors to make sure they were shut before I left. Same with the barn door.”
“I need to get to the ranch,” Dale said, turning to rush out her door.
She grabbed her purse and ran after him. “Not without me!”