Page 76 of Fierce-Baker

She set her wiggling toddler down. “What do you say?”

“Tank ya,” Micah said, thrusting out a tiny hand. His words not quite perfect but understandable.

He placed the bag in her son’s grip. Micah plopped right onto his diaper-padded butt and tore into the tissue paper, flinging scraps everywhere.

The squeal filled the house. “Tuck! Tuck! TUCK!”

Three of them. Bright, plastic construction trucks perfect for the little sandbox in the backyard.

“That’s great,” she said, her voice going embarrassingly soft.

“I took a guess.”

Micah tossed the trucks back into the bag, then immediately picked the whole thing up and ran, stumbling, tripping over it, kicking it aside as he regained his balance, then headed straight to the glass door that led to the backyard.

“It was a good guess,” she said, opening the door. She stepped outside and lifted the lid to the sandbox. “I’m going to grill some burgers. I’ve already got a pasta salad made. Micah likes burgers.”

“Do you need help?” he asked.

“If you don’t mind sitting out here and keeping an eye on him while I make the patties, that would be amazing. I don’t think he’s going to let me drag him back inside now.”

“I’ve got it,” he said easily. “Want me to light the grill?”

“Yes, please.”

She slipped back into the house, closing the door behind her.

A great guy who brought her son a present, didn’t hesitate to watch him, and offered to help with dinner. Was she living in a dream? Because it sure as hell felt like one.

Maybe things were moving too fast. Maybe she was letting herself get swept away.

But he was here.

He hadn’t hesitated when she invited him.

And he’d walked in with gifts meant to win her son over.

If that wasn’t a man showing intention… she didn’t know what was.

She formed the patties quickly, put them on a plate and then returned outside to see Baker squatting down and showing Micah how to use the little dump truck, pushing the sand into a big pile, then driving the other trucks over it.

He straightened when he saw her. “I can cook them if you want.”

“It’s up to you. Everything else is done and these won’t take long.”

“Bake. Bake.”

“It’s Baker. Ends with an r. Er sound,” she said. “Say it like that.”

“Bakerrrrrrr,” Micah said, then giggled.

She turned to see his laughter. “Now say it fast.”

“Baker. Baker. Tuck. Play with tucks.”

“Looks as if I’m being summoned.”

“I can deal with the burgers.”