Page 14 of Fierce-Baker

Margo laughed. “I’m surprised it took her this long.”

“She’s stopped me a few times. Enough for me to figure out what she’s trying to do. I might have still brushed it off, but Hope came to see me in the break room right when Jolene was leaving.”

“And she asked if Jolene was drilling hard now?”

“Not in so many words. But it got me thinking. Has Hope said anything to you? Have you heard anything?”

Since Margo and Hope were both married to Jolene’s nephews, they might be privy to what was going through Jolene’s mind.

“I have heard nothing and Jolene has said little more than bringing up Micah now and again.”

She sighed, tucked one leg under her hips and snuggled into the couch cushions. “She’s trying to find out about his father, isn’t she?”

“Liam told her it’s off limits and not up for discussion. She won’t bring it up again.”

“I just hate that people are so interested in my life.”

“You can’t stop that,” Margo said. “No one knows you were dating Shane but me. Then you’re single and pregnant. People are going to wonder.”

“Good thing someone started the rumor about the sperm donor. It’s not unheard of. Half the people look at me like I’m crazy and the other half like I’m a progressive female.”

“Well,” Margo said. “It’s a combination of both. I know. I lived with you.”

She missed their roommate days. And when Margo moved in with Liam, she got another roommate. Not for the savings but for the loneliness.

But Rhonda was such a nut job that she was happy to be alone after that and stayed that way. Probably a good thing as it was one less person to know about Shane.

“I miss those good old days.”

“Me too,” Margo said. “But we’ve both got something better in our lives.”

She wasn’t so sure it was a comparison in her eyes, but she wouldn’t lie either. “We do.”

“Mom, I’m hungry,” she heard Dylan say.

“I’ll let you feed him his snack before bed. Thanks for always being there for me, Margo. I’m not sure what I would have done without you the past few years.”

“I’d be nowhere else and you know it.”

Tasha put her phone down, thankful to know there was one person she could count on in her life.

4

GAVE UP THE FIGHT

“Oh, sorry, I’ll get out of your way.”

“You’re good,” Baker said. “Take your time.”

“Just getting a coffee before my shift. Guess I need that extra one today. I’m Tasha.”

He knew, but he couldn’t say that to her. He didn’t need her to think he was watching her. He wasn’t. Not really.

“Baker,” he said.

“Yeah. I know.”

He lifted an eyebrow, then moved to the coffeemaker to get his. “How is that?”