Page 93 of Fierce-Baker

Having a man who worked with his hands. One who was in control.

Who knew what the hell he was doing and was confident and not just someone pushing papers around and bullshitting all day was much better.

Way better.

Way, way, way better!

From his calloused hands, his not so guarded words because he didn’t feel as if he needed to, to his swagger that he belonged where he needed to be.

Those were the things she’d wanted in her life and never knew.

Then add in the fact that he got on the ground and played with her son, helped her do chores without asking, fixed her tire when she was in need, and made her body not only sing but shout in joy.

Sign her up for more!

“That’s right. So give me the details on Baker.”

“I don’t do those things,” she said smiling politely. “I actually told you more than I have in the past.”

Bella’s face wrinkled in thought, and a touch of frustration. “Yeah, you did. Are you happy?”

“Very,” she said, the grin filling her face. “I met his sister a few days ago. She came from out of town to visit.”

“Okay, that’s huge.”

“See, I gave you something.”

Bella moved into her space, gave her a hug that she wasn’t expecting and said, “I’m really, really happy for you. You deserve that. I get the feeling things have been hard and you just don’t want anyone to know.”

Bella wasn’t wrong.

“No one needs my drama, but things aren’t hard. They really aren’t.”

“You say that now, but we all noticed how upset you were before you announced you were pregnant. As if you had a nasty breakup. I’ve seen enough of that sadness in my life.”

She couldn’t lie. “I was upset. But things happen.”

Like getting pregnant when you never planned.

But she wouldn’t change a thing of that because it would mean that she didn’t have Micah.

“They do and you bounce back, just as you have.”

Bella had stepped back and was still smiling at her. Maybe she could have used that kind of support in the past but had always been so fearful of being judged by the decisions she’d made.

She still was, but it was life now and not much she could do about it.

They were her decisions and she’d live with them. And she was, pretty darn well.

“I have,” she said proudly.

28

NO EXPLANATIONS NEEDED

Baker pulled the phone out of his back pocket two weeks later when it vibrated.

The call from his mother was unwanted and unneeded when he was trying to figure out why this batch of rum didn’t seem right.