Page 64 of Fierce-Baker

“He’s not staff if he’s off the clock,” Jolene argued triumphantly.

He rolled his eyes. “Whatever. I’m out of here.”

He slipped past Gavin and Jolene before she could corner him and pry so hard he accidentally spilled the truth.

Because one thing was certain. If Jolene found out about tonight, she’d already have the wedding date picked.

“What aren’t you telling me?”Jolene asked the minute she and Gavin were back in his SUV.

“I tell you everything,” her husband argued. “How dare you accuse me of withholding?”

She pointed at the massive smirk on his face. “That look says otherwise and I’ve been married to you for too long. I know better. You talk to Baker a lot. Is he dating Tasha?”

“I have no clue who he is or isn’t dating. Do you honestly think we talk about those things?”

She frowned. She could tell Gavin wasn’t lying. She’d try another tactic. “Did you tell him who I had picked out for him?”

“Everyone knows who you have picked out for him, Jolene.”

Not an answer but not a lie either. “Doyouthink they are dating?”

“I don’t know and don’t get as caught up into it as much as you,” he argued.

She shook her head hard enough to send her hair flying around. “I don’t buy it. You love Baker. You’re just as taken with him as you are with Ben. You spend just as much time around him as you did when Mason started brewing.”

She knew when her husband took a liking to someone and Baker Hansen was one of those men.

“I do enjoy my time with him. But we don’t touch on deep-rooted issues like women do. What I can tell you is that he’s like every other guy you try to push. The more you do it, the more they hold back.”

“Nope, not him. Mason was there giving him a warning I was in the building and he stayed.”

She appreciated that quality.

“He did. So ask yourself, who has the upper hand right now? You or him?”

Her nose scrunched up so much that her eyes hurt. She hated when her husband was right and knew she’d have to try another approach.

Baker slid into his SUV,tossed the bottle onto the passenger seat, and exhaled hard enough to fog the windshield.

“Damn woman,” he muttered, starting the engine. “Has to sniff out every secret within a five-mile radius.”

But he enjoyed keeping Jolene on her toes and even playing her at her own game.

The woman wouldn’t give up, but he got a reprieve for the day. He’d have to let Tasha know and figure out the rest.

The drive home was only fifteen minutes, but it felt longer with his nerves buzzing. Not nerves like he was unsure, but nerves like he was keyed up. Electric and aware of every mile ticking down until he was with Tasha again.

Until he could see her face when he told her what he had planned and hoped she’d be good with it.

The closer he got to his townhouse, the more his mind turned everything over.

Last night on her patio when Micah was asleep.

Her mouth under his while she sat on his lap and worked him up knowing there was no relief in sight.

Not one they’d give each other. Not there where people could see or hear.

Kissing was one thing. Hands slipping into clothing was something neither of them would do outside.