Page 32 of Fierce-Baker

Getting dressed up, just looking to have a night out with another adult. That was part of the excitement for her.

She wasn’t looking for long term. Nothing more than a few hours of conversation.

“He got up and walked out?”

His dark eyes were slanted and one fist clenched as if he was going to hunt whoever that jerk was down and beat him to a pulp.

“Close enough. I don’t even remember his name. I’m trying to push it from my mind. But we had our drinks, and I thought I’d be open and upfront. I told him about Micah, who was nine months old at that time. He said that there was no need to waste our time or his money on dinner, he didn’t want that headache. His words exactly.”

“I didn’t know there could be bigger assholes out there than my father,” he said.

“Oh, don’t think we aren’t going to talk about that.”

“Sorry,” he said, shaking his head. “Talk about drama. Tell me about the last date.”

She’d store his comment away for another day. “My parents. They knew how the first two dates went. They were pushing me to try again. Not really a blind date. Someone I knew back in high school, but never hung out with. He found me on social media and reached out. I didn’t have pictures of Micah on there. I decided to not even say I had a child this time. I just thought it’d be nice to get through one date without that hanging over my head and wanting to climb through a window.”

“I’m almost afraid to ask what happened.”

“It was worse,” she said, shaking her head. “He talked about how he’d already gotten a vasectomy. He hated to wear condoms and knew he’d never have a child, so it wasn’t a big deal. He led right into it as, if I wanted kids, he wasn’t the man. I suppose I couldn’t fault him for being upfront, but still.”

“Did you find a window to crawl out of?”

“It was close,” she said. “But we got through the meal, found something to talk about from our high school days and when he went to give me a kiss goodnight, I said I had a good time but it wouldn’t work.”

“How long ago was that?”

“Three months ago. So there is the not trying. I never really was to begin with but thought it wouldn’t hurt.”

“What about this?” he asked. “Right now.”

His hand was moving back and forth. “A thank you dinner.”

“Got it.”

But the smirk on his face said he really didn’t.

“Okay,” she said, twisting the cap on her water bottle. “You won’t think I’m nuts if I tell you something, right?”

He huffed a soft laugh. “You’ve confessed some pretty wild things lately and I haven’t flinched yet. Go on.”

“I like you.” The words came out too fast, too quiet. “You’ve got a good personality.”

A ridiculous statement for a man she’d never imagined she’d be sitting this close to, or feeling this drawn to.

“Ditto,” he said simply. “So what is it you’re trying to say?”

She took a long drink, letting the cool water help her swallow past the thick knot forming in her throat. Then she forced the name out.

“Jolene.”

His brow rose. “What about her?”

“You know what she does.”

“All of Charlotte knows what she does,” he said dryly.

“I know, but…” She exhaled. “She’s talking to me more lately. Dropping hints. I thought I was imagining it, but now I’m not so sure.”