press wasnât anything to sneeze at, so at least Sadie didnât feel like such a fraud.
Until another voice chimed in. âSo you no longer describe yourself as domestic help?â
The people around her froze, unsure how to take Zachâs comment. Sadie had no problem with being seen as domestic help. After all, sheâd fallen into that category all of her life.
Sheâd tried to stick as close to the truth as possible. Sheâd only ever held two things back from Zach the first time around: her employerâs true identity and her sisterâs situation.
Sadie raised her chin and spoke confidently. âActually, my longtime employer recently passed away. Iâm taking a bit of a break before looking for a new position.â
âGood luck,â Aiden said.
âThank you.â She took a deep breath for courage. âI have an idea I think might interest you.â
Suddenly the trio on this side of the bar with her adopted that slightly uncomfortable look that rich people got when they know they were about to be asked for money. Sheâd seen it often enough back home. But that wasnât what she wanted...
âI wondered if I could have your permission to shoot a series of photographs about the rebuilding of the mill? I visited the town several years ago and became quite attached to it.â If they only knew... âFrom what the people here have been telling me about your family and what you are doing to keep the town alive, well, itâs incredible.â
She smiled brightly at Christina, since the womanâs calm features were easier to focus on. âIf nothing else, I think it would make a wonderful memento for the people of the town.â
Christina glanced back up at her husband. âAiden, that sounds wonderful.â
âI could talk to the publisher at Barnhill. Iâve worked with him on several projects...though this would be my first solo proposal,â she added, feeling the need to be honest.
On the other side of the bar, she could feel a sense of frustrated resistance coming from Zach. He stared at her, though she refused to meet his gaze. Luckily, sheâd already gotten a positive response or she had a feeling he would have blasted her before his employer, simply to keep her from getting close.
Though he still didnât know how close she planned to be...
KC must have sensed it, too, because she kept glancing sideways at her brother. But she didnât speak. Finally Aiden said, âThat does sound good. I am a bit worried about safety issuesââ
Before he or Zach could go further, she cut him off. âNot a problem. Iâve already seen the destruction at the mill, and I would definitely need someone to steer me in the safest direction. Someone local, with a lot of experience with the area who could introduce me to people who know the history, the ins and outs of the area. The people and places that make Black Hills so special...â
âThatâs a great idea,â Christina enthused.
Jake and Aiden were nodding along with her. âDefinitely,â Aiden said. âZach fits both those criteria and as head of security could keep us informed about your project, too. Would that be a problem?â
âNot for me,â she assured him.
Only after speaking did she glance at her former lover, whose hard-won mask barely covered the resentment pushing to get out. Sadie wondered if anyone else could see it. Probably not, because they went on talking as if this were a done deal.
Only Zach kept quiet. Good thing he didnât know the whole story. Otherwise, she might have to worry about her safety.
But at least he would learn. She would get what she wanted...no matter what.
Four
âJ ust what the hell did you think you were doing?â
Sadie quickly suppressed her smile before turning to face Zachâs rage. She and she alone knew the depths of despair sheâd experienced since the last time