Page 117 of Fierce-Baker

She nodded, but he ushered her to the couch, nudged her down on it, then sat next to her.

“He called my name. I just froze. Every part of me wanted to run when I heard the voice. When I remembered who it was. And there he was, smiling like it’d been two weeks since we’d seen each other, not over two years.”

“What did he want?” he growled.

He wouldn’t be jealous that the guy thought Tasha would just rush back into his life. No way. She wouldn’t do that.

“He said he’s living here now. That he and his wife split months ago and things were getting messy between her and the kids and him, so it was best to come here and run things for a bit.”

“Messy how?” he asked. The more he knew the better.

“I don’t know. I didn’t ask. He acted like what we had was so strong and so good that I’d just pick up where we left off now that he was single. I told him I was in a relationship.”

He didn’t doubt she would. “What did he say?”

“He seemed shocked. I do little on social media to begin with. I’ve never posted pictures of Micah, and my status is single because I can’t tell you the last time I posted anything. I’m on it more to just follow other friends.”

“What happened next?”

“I said some things to him. I couldn’t believe his gall to think that I would be happy to see him. He wanted to hug me, Baker.He thought I’d run into his arms. He’s lucky I didn’t stick my foot up his balls.”

He cracked the barest of grins. “You should have.”

“If I had a pair of those pointy shoes that sexy women wear, I might have considered it. My little flats would have hurt me more than him.”

He slung his arm over her shoulder and tucked her in close. “I’m assuming he finally left? How did it end? I don’t have to ask if you told him about Micah. You wouldn’t have. Not there anyway.”

“He got the hint. I got in the car and drove away. No, I didn’t tell him about Micah. And I wouldn’t do it there. I know him. He’s not going to go away. He’ll want to know who I’m dating. He went to my old place and they told him I moved. I blocked him, but he said he’s been calling and texting.”

“I don’t like that,” he said. “I’m going to have to have some words with him.”

“I should be mad over that, but I’m not.”

For someone who always said she had it, or could handle things on her own, this was huge.

“Good. I’m not going anywhere. I’m thrilled you told me about this, but are you going to be able to keep this secret now? I’m not talking about telling Micah, but telling Shane about Micah.”

She blew out a shaky breath. “I don’t know that I can keep it quiet now. When he was in another state it was easy. He’s still working for the same company. Does it mean in the past few years he hasn’t come here at all? And he hasn’t sought me out? I worried for a long time about that. The whole time I was pregnant. I still lived at my old place. He knew where it was and never came back to see me.”

“I hadn’t realized that.”

“I moved right before I gave birth. I took it all as a sign that it was best to keep things quiet for now. I wouldn’t have tried to hide it if he had come to see me.”

“But you might not be able to hide now.”

“I know. The minute I got home, I contacted an attorney. I’m meeting them on Monday. I don’t know if or when I’ll tell Shane, but I need to get things in order.”

“Good. That’s the first step. The right step.”

And it told him that this secret wasn’t going to be one much longer.

When that happened, life was going to get messy. Really messy.

He knew he’d be able to handle it. He’d dealt with worse things in the past.

But would Tasha be able to handle it?

All those things she feared before? They could happen.