Page 63 of Fierce-Baker

Until it hit him—therewasone person he could ask.

And Margo had sworn on her life to keep her mouth shut.

“Got a hot date tonight?” Mason asked, his eyebrows doing that stupid wiggle that meant he was caught red-handed.

“What if I do?”

“Things going well?”

“Dude, I’m not here for a heart-to-heart. If I had known I’d run into you, I’d have grabbed this yesterday.”

Mason laughed. “Fair enough. But the reason I came down here is that my parents are in the building.”

“What?” His head snapped around automatically. He would’vefeltJolene if she had been anywhere near. The woman carried presence like a rifle. And that damn vest Mason scented on purpose made her detectable within a hundred yards.

“They came for beer,” Mason said. “I was grabbing a few things when I saw you walk through. I thought I’d give you a heads up. You might want to run.”

He didn’t run from much.

But this?

Yeah… he felt the urge.

“I can’t catch a break from her, can I?”

“You can if you sneak out the side door and take the long walk around to your vehicle.”

“As pathetic as it sounds, I might consider it. But your mother has a sixth sense for sniffing out anyone she’s trying to set up. If she knows I’m here, I might as well stand my ground. Your father will back me.”

“You’re a brave man,” Mason said, shaking his head. “I’ll stay with you. Strength in numbers. Are you telling her about your date?”

“Nope.” Baker grinned. “Not a chance.”

He didn’t even get a full minute of peace before the door to the distillery floor swung open.

Jolene Fierce marched in like she owned the air, Gavin strolling behind her, towering and amused.

“Baker!” Jolene said loudly in her overly cheerful voice as if she had hit the jackpot and he was going to be her entertainment for the next few minutes. “What are you doing here on a Saturday afternoon? You should be out having fun on your day off.”

He held the bottle up. “Who says I’m not going to?”

Gavin snorted and wiggled his eyebrows safely behind Jolene where she couldn’t see him. “Nice choice for an afternoon.”

“That’s a woman’s drink,” Jolene stated firmly. “No way you’re drinking that alone.”

“Hey, I drink everything I make,” he said, trying not to give anything away.

“I’m sure you do,” Jolene said, nodding and humoring him like she did everyone. “But on a Saturday night? That says you’ve got someone of the softer sex waiting for you.”

He wasnottouching that. She’d drag him into a corner and win before he opened his mouth.

“So Gavin came in to grab a bottle for you?” Baker asked, redirecting.

“That’s right,” Gavin said immediately. “Right, Jolene? Let’s let Baker enjoy his night. You and I can go home and have a romantic evening.”

Jolene whipped around, her eyes narrowed. “Really? We haven’t had one of those in a long time. And now the three of you are acting suspicious. I think you’re all playing me.”

“Mom,” Mason cut in, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You always think someone’s pulling one over on you. Go home with Dad. Let Baker get on with his day. And what did I say about bugging my staff?”