a chance you’ll forgive him?”
Dad coughed. “You don’t have to answer that, love.”
“We’ll see.” Mrs. Quinn was a careful woman. I liked that about her. For my dad’s sake. He deserved someone he could trust.
“Hope we didn’t wake you, but I—”
“Was excited,” I finished for him.
Baker snickered. “Will you be at Sunday dinner, Mrs. Quinn?”
“I haven’t been invited yet.”
“I just did.”
“I’ll check my schedule.”
* * *
“At least something went right,” Baker said when we’d ended the call.
“I can’t take that from him. Not right now.”
She snuggled into me. “You did the right thing.”
“Don’t make me out as someone noble. I didn’t tell him mostly because I’m a coward.”
“Not from what I’ve seen.” She scraped her nails down my chest.
I shivered. “If you want to distract me, I’m game.” I skimmed my fingers up her spine.
“I’m trying to tell you I support you. Whatever you want to do,” she huffed as her hands drifted lower.
“I’m glad to hear that. Because right now, I want to make you come.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Baker
“The three year anniversary of a shooting spree that left twelve people—”
I switched off the TV and tossed the remote on the sofa.
“Not a fan of morning television?” Holt stared at me, coffee in hand.
“The day clogs my head with enough noise as it is.” The truth of that was startling, though I was getting better.
He handed me his mug and filled another. “You look pretty.”
“You can’t say that every day.”
“I can if it’s true.”
“I thought you were going to be late.” I perched against the island opposite him.
“Have time for lunch today?” He looked down. “Never mind. Where could we go that’s acceptable for me to look like this and you like that?”
“I’d love to,” I said, waiting for him to meet my gaze. “Can I text you? I have a meeting at ten and I’m not sure how long it will last.”
He gave me a sweet smile. “Sounds like a plan.”
“If you get hungry, don’t wait for me.”
“I’ll take a snack.” He picked up an apple and tossed it in the air.
“Don’t forget your nuts.” I motioned toward the baggies I’d separated out for us to grab and go.
He set down his coffee and grabbed my hips. “I’m nuts?”
“No, silly. The nuts behind you. The ones you eat.” I canted my head. “You might be a little of that kind of nuts too.”
“I can’t believe it.” He swooped down and captured my mouth. “I’ll wait. Even if you get home late.”
“Okay.” I slid my hands up his chest. “Walk me out?”
“And have a pretty lady on my arm? Hell, yes.”
* * *
“The man who was here the other day wouldn’t have anything to do with that bright face, would he?” Hayden gave me a surreptitious smile as I exited the elevator.
I looked down. “Um, yeah.”
We’d parted ways almost a half hour ago, yet I was still giddy just thinking about him. Today of all days and he’d managed to distract me.
“I need to find a roommate like him.” She held open the door for me. “Shadow me this morning. Executives from a cruelty-free product brand will be here soon. They might have something of use for your products.”
“Sure. Let me drop my bag off at my desk.”
“I’m thinking about doing a new feature. One that includes women who are trying and succeeding to do what you do. To do what I’ve done. Something relatable and encouraging. An ‘if I can do it you can too’ message. What do you think?” She stopped walking.
“It could work. Maybe we could test a feature online first to see the response before we put it in the magazine.” I clutched my purse. “Our readers are the type who would like this. They come to us for recommendations, to find out what’s hot. Why wouldn’t they want stories of inspiration?”
She pointed her finger at me. “Yes. I love the idea of putting it on the website first. We have a different kind of reader there, but we won’t find a better test market.”
“How will we find these women? A submission form?”
“I thought we’d start with you.”
“Me?” A knot formed in my throat. “But I’m nobody. Just getting started.”
“This would be a boost.”
I put my hand to my neck. “I appreciate the thought, but I’m not the right person.”
“It doesn’t have to be personal.”
“I’m sorry. I can’t do it.”
I rushed to my cubicle and dumped my bag in my desk. I dabbed my damp eyes with a tissue. No way could I expose myself like that. It