Page 115 of Fierce-Baker

She paused, just long enough to make sure he heard the finality in her voice.

“I’ve been calling and texting and you don’t answer.”

Because she’d blocked him. “That should have been answer enough for you right there.”

His mouth tightened, the anger flickering beneath the charm he’d once won her over with.

She didn’t wait for a response.

She opened her car door, slid inside, slammed on the brake pedal harder than normal, then jammed her finger into the start button. She pulled away and didn’t look back.

She didn’t need to.

Shane belonged exactly where she’d left him—in the past.

Except she knew he wasn’t going to stay there.

She had ten minutes to cool down before she picked up Micah.

Her son.

Ten minutes to put on a happy face. To tell herself it was going to be okay.

But it wouldn’t be.

Not if Shane was living here.

Even if he got the hint. Even if he stayed away, it’d just be for now.

It wouldn’t take long for him to seek her out again. To maybe follow her home. Ask around.

He’d know she had a child.

The fact that she wasn’t single might not matter to someone like him. If for no other reason than to check out the competition.

By the time she pulled into the parking lot to get Micah, she felt under control. The few tears that had threatened to fall were corralled back in place.

She marched to the front door, full of purpose and forced happiness, saw her son come toddling toward her and felt a tear slip out of her eye.

“Mama,” Micah yelled. “No crying.”

She plastered a smile on her face. “I’m not crying, baby,” she said, lifting him high in the air, then catching him on the way down. She knuckled the tear away, looked at one of Micah’s daycare providers and grinned. “I had a sneezing fit in the car.”

“Oh, I’ve had that happen to me too. Here is Micah’s bag,” Nicole said.

“Anything to report today? Good, bad, or pain in the butt excitement?”

“Good, good,” Micah said. “Me good.”

“You are,” she said, but looked at Nicole just the same. It was a daily question. Nothing would be off there.

“It was a great day. His nap wasn’t as long as normal, but nothing major. We are already starting Halloween activities. The first of the month and all the way to Halloween.”

“Micah likes ghosts,” she said, tickling his belly for a laugh she desperately needed to hear.

“He does.” Nicole waved. “See you Monday. Have a good weekend.”

“You too,” she said, turning on her heel to leave, carrying her son as if she had to shield him from all the drama that could happen in his life.