Page 4 of Fierce-Baker

“I don’t know,” she mumbled, then went back to eating. It was how she always answered when her cheating ex came up.

The man no one knew about. They didn’t know she was dating him back then and she was glad she’d kept it quiet.

Not really true. Margo knew because Margo knew everything, but the fact Jolene didn’t, meant that Margo kept that secret. Not that she had any doubt.

Hell, even her parents didn’t know who Micah’s father was. Since the man who fathered her son didn’t know, she wasn’t about to let anyone else.

Jolene patted her hand. “Micah will be the man you help him into being.”

She smiled. “That’s how I think of it.”

Jolene pushed back from the table. “I’ll let you finish your lunch before you need to get back out there.”

She nodded and returned to her sandwich.

“Oh boy. How many times has Jolene come over to talk to you?”

The grin filled her face when Hope Andrews sat next to her. Hope was married to Devin, who was also Jolene’s nephew. A first cousin to Margo by marriage.

Tasha knew most of the family from being Margo’s best friend. She’d been part of the wedding, part of the baby shower, and just part of her life in general.

“A few.”

Hope leaned in close. “I don’t need to tell you what she does.”

Her head shook. “Nope. I’m fully aware and completely immune. No worries there,” she said, knowing Hope was referring to Jolene’s matchmaking schemes.

“Everyone says that and everyone falls.”

“Not me,” she said firmly, but still kept her smile in place.

She’d never been mean to anyone. Well, not most people. Her ex saw her anger that last night, then never saw her again.

And if she had her way, she’d never again cross paths in this lifetime with him.

“Where are you going, Mom?”

“Hi, Mason,” Jolene said. She thought she could sneak through the halls toward the distillery. She should know by now that she couldn’t sneak anywhere with the stupid, bright, gaudy safety gear they made her wear around the building.

“Just walking around. Shouldn’t you be working?”

“I am working,” Mason said. “And you’re going to be a nuisance.”

She patted her son’s cheek. “I’m never a nuisance.”

He snorted, just like she thought he would. “Baker is busy.”

“You’re all busy. You always are. I hear it daily. My children are so successful.”

“And we are smart enough to know when you’re blowing smoke up our asses.”

Mason’s squinted eyes told her there was no way to get past him without being honest. Not that she lied because there was no reason to. Everyone knew what she did and why she was in the building most times. Unless she had one of Mason’s kids with her.

“I was going to check on Baker and see if he enjoyed the party on Saturday. It was the first time he had come. I’m not sure why you couldn’t get him there before.”

“Honestly, I’m not sure why he came this time,” Mason said, scratching his chin. “But hey, he knows you by now, so go at it. Don’t get pissy if you don’t get anywhere.”

“I never get pissy,” she said, crossing her arms. “That’s rude.”