Page 74 of Fierce-Baker

All the more reason to stick around and see what happened.

“I’m coming to get water,” he said, holding up his water bottle. “You’re standing there as if you’re waiting for the green flag to fall in the Daytona 500.”

“Can’t get much by you,” she said, her smile wide and welcoming. “I’m waiting for Tasha to get off shift. I haven’t talked to her in a while and I think she only has another week left.”

Not even a flicker in his eyes over that announcement.

“I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to not have you bugging her like you do me.”

“I thought maybe you were coming in here to see her too,” she threw out. Might as well. Times like this called for drastic measures.

She knew damn well her husband and Mason were yanking her chain on Saturday.

“Just getting water,” he said, moving to the jug and filling up, then turning to leave.

Her jaw hurt, she was clenching it so tight. He was a smooth one.

Five more employees came in to get drinks or snacks, some to sit and take their break. Rather than look like a fool standing there, she joined a few to chat. Most of the employees enjoyed her company.

“Excuse me,” she said, pushing the chair back and jumping up so fast she almost toppled it behind her. “Got to talk to someone.” She hurried toward her target. “Tasha. How are you doing?”

“Jolene,” Tasha said. “What a pleasant surprise.”

By the smirk on Tasha’s face, she didn’t think so. Things were going well and she had to battle back the urge to rub her hands together.

Just another week or two before she was going to lose her chance with the woman in front of her.

“How are things going? Are you getting excited about returning to your students?”

“They are great. And I am. I do miss them over the summer. When the holidays roll around though, I’ll be wishing for my break.” She leaned closer and whispered, “By then those kids get on my last nerve.”

“Try having five kids home on break acting like that.”

“One is more than enough,” Tasha said, walking out of the break room and toward her locker. “Speaking of kids, I’ve got to get mine.”

Which meant she was going to get the slip. “I was talking to Baker right before you came in.”

“Hmm. I didn’t see him in there,” Tasha said, pulling out her purse and putting it on her shoulder.

But Tasha must have been looking. “No. He left before you got here. I thought for sure he might seek you out.”

Not even a whisper of movement to that comment.

These two were good.

“Did you know he lived near me?” Tasha asked when she was walking away.

“What?” she asked, her voice higher than normal, but not so high that she was actually screaming in excitement. Not like the itch to do it crawling up her spine.

“Yeah. I saw him while walking Micah one day. We are in the same development. Small world. I thought maybe you knew that since you’re trying to pair us up.”

Since Tasha was aware of that fact, there was no use hiding it. Which meant Baker might have told her.

“And is it working?” she asked. Time to just be upfront now.

“Is what working?”

She pursed her lips. “Are you and Baker getting to know each other more?”