Page 46 of Fierce-Baker

“Thanks,” she said, holding her glass up to his, then taking another sip.

It was better this time.

“So,” he said. “You should know that Mason stopped me today.”

“Okayyyyy,” she said, dragging the word out, waiting for some missile to land at her feet.

“It’s not that bad. Let’s be honest—everyone knows what is going on.”

She sighed. She knew that, but it still was hard for her to get a handle on so many knowing her personal business.

Not that there was much to say.

Other than the kiss they shared last week, and only Margo knew that. She didn’t think that Baker would be the type to share.

Or maybe she was wrong. She didn’t know him well enough.

Since their kiss, they’d shared some texts, one night of lengthy texts going back and forth. Almost like a phone conversation but with their fingers.

Over an hour of her smiling so much and so hard that her cheeks actually hurt.

And when she climbed into bed and thought more of the man sitting next to her, she might have let her hand wander down between her legs.

Hey, she was only human. And horny.

Very, very horny.

“Lay it on me.” She braced herself. It couldn’t be that bad. If it were, Margo or Hope would know by now with the way things traveled in the brewery and pub.

He let out a sound that could be a laugh. Maybe a snort. A cough?

“Mason saw me talking to you this morning.”

“I figured. He was coming into the doorway when I was leaving. Let me guess? He wanted to know what was going on with us?”

“Let’s say he’s noticed me seeking you out this week.”

She tried to cover her smile with another sip, but him nudging her toe with his sneaker gave away that she’d caught onto what was happening.

Not that she liked a man to pursue her that hard. Not like Shane had.

But if Baker and she didn’t even make contact at work, she’d think he was embarrassed or something.

And it wasn’t as if she could go looking for him, so the only choice was him doing it when he thought she’d be in the break room.

“I wonder if anyone else noticed it.”

“I think so. Or at least Ben. No one has said a word to me about it other than Mason today.”

“And what exactly did you talk about? You didn’t tell him about our...talk.”

“No. Not about the kiss either. I don’t share that shit and he wouldn’t ask. It was more about getting ahead of Jolene.”

“Got it.” This time she took a larger gulp to get past the knot in her throat.

Was this really going to work?

It seemed almost too complicated when they said they were trying to keep it simple.