“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.”
