Page 73 of Fierce-Baker

Guess by waiting and giving her space, she came around faster than he thought.

And if she was asking him this, then she wasn’t playing any kind of game.

She wasn’t dragging him along.

If he didn’t mean something more to her, or even the possibility of it, there was no way she’d ask him this question.

The weight of it for both of them made him immediately say, “Absolutely. Though I met him once.”

Her shoulders relaxed, her eyes got a little dewy, but her smile remained. “You did. But this would be different. I thought maybe tomorrow, you could come for dinner here.”

“I’d like that. You’re sure? I know this has to be hard for you.”

“It is. But nothing right is easy either. I know we said this was a stepping stone for us.”

“I’m climbing the stairs. Not racing up them, don’t get me wrong, but climbing them.”

“I know. I see it. I’m not riding the whole Jolene is never wrong train. It’s not that. It’s just, maybe I don’t have to be so guarded over everything. It’s hard to get past... the past.”

“You’re telling me.”

“Do you think we’ll talk about that at some point? Will you?”

“I already told you some of my father. You know my feelings on cheating. You won’t have that worry with me.”

“I never thought I would. But I also know that if you tell me about your past, I’d have to let you in on some of mine, and the truth is, only Margo knows. Not even my parents.”

He ran his tongue around his teeth. “You’re talking about Micah’s father now, I’m assuming.”

“Yes.”

“They don’t know what happened between the two of you?”

“No.”

There was more going on. There had to be. “Did he abuse you?”

She shook her head rapidly, the bun on her head rattling around as if it was going to unravel.

“Absolutely not. I’d never tolerate that.”

“And you don’t want to say anything else?”

“Not now. Let’s just get to the landing of those stairs and see how tomorrow goes.”

He leaned closer, placed a light kiss on her lips, and said, “We can do that.”

21

DRASTIC MEASURES

On Monday afternoon, Jolene was moving around the brewery. She knew Tasha would get off shift soon and she’d be waiting in the break room she’d pass through to get her things.

“What are you doing, Jolene?”

She spun around so fast that she almost lost her balance. “Baker. I was going to come see you soon. What are you doing in here?”

Interesting. She wondered if he was coming for the same reason she was.