Page 97 of Fierce-Baker

“For thinking of me,” he said honestly. “When I didn’t do a very good job of thinking of myself.”

Watching her jaw drop was totally worth it. “Are you telling me what Ithinkyou’re telling me?”

The hope in her eyes was unmistakable. The one that said she really hadn’t been expecting him to bring this up.

“Maybe we are thinking alike,” he said, laughing and moving past her and into the hall.

Her much shorter legs ran to keep up with him. “Don’t think you’re getting away that cleanly.”

“But you said I had a free pass,” he whined just for show having caught sight of Mason rounding the corner. “Your mother won’t leave me alone.”

Jolene’s shoulders dropped. “Mom,” Mason said. “What have I told you?”

“Don’t play that game with me, Baker. You’re just leading me on, aren’t you? And here I was being so nice.”

He dropped his hand on her shoulder and gave it a quick rub. “Yes. You were being nice and letting me lean on this tough muscle right here. And for that, the answer to your question is yes. I’m telling you what you think I am.”

His hand dropped away and he was moving faster, Jolene keeping up, Mason joining them. “That didn’t tell me what exactly. I don’t want to assume.”

“Mom,” Mason said. “Take the win. You got what you wanted, but it doesn’t mean everyone is going to be as clear as you think about it.”

He and Mason left her standing there dumbfounded, then he burst out laughing when they got onto the floor and knew Jolene wasn’t around.

“Wow, that was more fun than I thought it’d be. And not how I planned on her finding out either.”

“Do you want her to know?” Mason asked. “Because she’s going to bombard me. I’m positive she’s running to my office now and will plant her ass there until I return.”

“She can know,” he said. “I’m not hiding it. There is no reason to. I also know you won’t give her everything she wants.”

“Not even close. Which means she’ll come back for more from you.”

“Not today, she won’t,” he said confidently. Because Jolene was right, she knew when to draw the line and when to not push someone away.

29

EVERY OUNCE OF VULNERABILITY

“That is just a crazy conversation with your mother,” Tasha said later that night.

Micah was in bed, the two of them sitting in the living room watching TV. More like the TV was on low and was nothing more than background noise.

He’d come over later than normal, having got hung up at work. And since he knew she liked to keep Micah on a schedule and was adapting to the routine of being back to school, he didn’t visit until her son was in bed.

But he was spending the night and she was looking forward to it.

He’d be out of the door before her in the morning. He wouldn’t get in her way, she was positive, but it was all part of life and adjusting.

“It was. I’ve had crazier,” he admitted. “I’m not sure what she wants from me. I’m not going to pretend that he hasn’t treated my mother like shit for decades. That he hasn’t stepped on her emotions, broken her heart, and made her feel as if she was worthless.”

She put her head on his shoulder. “No one wants to feel that way.”

“Nope. I’ve been there. I’m sure you have too.”

“Yeah,” she murmured.

He turned his head and placed a kiss on her forehead. “So, that wasn’t the only crazy conversation I had today.”

“Really? It gets better?”