Page 132 of Fierce-Baker

But having him there would only make things worse. She knew that too. She didn’t want him witnessing any more of her mess. Her past. Her pain.

He already carried enough with his parents. The constant tension, the way he pretended it didn’t affect him when she could see it clearly written in his eyes. His mother’s refusal to see reason. Connor Hansen still treated his wife like property instead of a partner.

How anyone held onto something so broken for so long she didn’t understand.

And she refused to let that be her future.

Or subject anyone else to it.

The phone went off in the conference room. Madeline reached over to answer, then hung up.

“He’s here?” she asked.

“They are showing him down. He’s alone.”

“No way he could get an attorney this quickly.”

“You’d be surprised.” The door opened and her ex walked in, not happy in the least. “Have a seat,” Madeline said.

“I don’t want you here for this conversation,” Shane said. “I’m not sure why Tasha couldn’t come to me.”

“This keeps everything on the up and up,” Madeline said. “Tasha, would you like me to wait outside?”

“It’s fine, Madeline. I’ll let you know if I need you. We are just talking, right, Shane? No fighting, yelling or calling names?”

He snorted and pulled out a chair to sit. “We’ll see.”

Madeline gave her a quick glance, but she nodded for her attorney to leave.

“I told you you were the father.”

“I needed to have proof. You can’t blame me.”

“Nope, I can. You’re the one who doubted it.”

“So now what?” Shane asked, leaning back.

“That’s up to you,” she said.

“You mean you’re not going to hit me up for support? That’s the only reason a woman gets an attorney.”

“Not the only reason.” She desperately wanted to give him an out of this situation, but was reminded not to be the one to bring it up. Not yet. “Do you want to know anything about him? His name? See a picture?”

Shane’s head twitched as if none of that occurred to him.

“Yeah, sure. What’s his name?”

She hesitated. “Do you or don’t you want to know these things? Don’t do it for me, Shane. That’s not what this is about.”

He sighed. “Cut me some slack. I’m going through a hard time right now with a divorce and not seeing my kids and then get hit with this. I’m entitled to be a little off my game.”

“I’d think this is a bit more than being off your game,” she said. “Do or don’t you want to know?”

“Yes,” he bit out.

So much for him saying no.

“His name is Micah Thomas.”