Page 56 of Fierce-Michael

“We don’t want anyone to know.”

“I understand that. Do you think my mother has had a hand in this?” Ella asked. “I’m pretty sure she hasn’t. As I said, just last week she was talking to me about a few guys and your name came up.”

“She was?” Kelly asked. Oh no. This was what she got for opening her big mouth and asking for help.

“I shot them all down. Some you don’t know and wouldn’t get along with. I’ll keep stringing her along as long as you want me to.”

“Yes, please. I’ll owe you. It’s new and we are feeling things out. It’s a little tricky.”

“It’s always tricky if my mother gets involved,” Ella said, smiling. “She’ll start to pester Cade about it and he’s always clueless. More now with the baby coming. He’ll be a good shield for you. Especially with Alex out, so you’ve got some freedom to go there to get stuff with no one watching.”

“That thought crossed my mind. Is that horrible of me?”

“Never,” Ella said, standing up. “But if you want to keep me in the loop some, I’ll make sure to not overstep.”

“I appreciate that. Also if you want to let me know if she’s getting close or not. I’ll have to figure out how to say no if shetries to set me up with someone. I mean, I just said I’m dating someone.”

“Which means she’s going to give you some space while she tries to guess who it is. Then she’ll want to know how serious it is and decide if he’s a good match. She’ll think anyone she hasn’t paired you with won’t be a good fit.”

“Which is why I asked her a few times. I’ve had such bad luck and thought if she had a hand in it, I’d have a better shot.”

“But here you are doing it on your own,” Ella said. “Just remember that.”

“Thanks.”

Jolene went downstairsto check on lunch and returned hoping that Cade was finally off the phone.

When she turned the corner, he picked his phone up quickly. “Don’t even think about it,” she said. “I know you’re not talking to anyone. I was standing outside your door for ten seconds and there was silence.”

Her youngest son all but growled at her. “You’re sneaky that way.”

“And you love it,” she said. She came in and sat down across from him. “How is Alex feeling?”

“Ready to burst,” he said. “And I know you talked to her so you know those things.”

“I’m just checking on her. You let me know when you’re ready for me to take the kids.”

“She has her appointment tomorrow. I’m pretty sure they are going to tell her she needs a C-section like she had with the twins. She’s torn. She really wanted to try to do a naturalbirth because the recovery would be easier, but she isn’t sure she wants to experience labor and contractions.”

“Neither is fun,” his mother said. “But it’s so worth it in the end. If you have a C-section then you’ll know and can plan with the twins. Sometimes it’s easier.”

“It is,” he said. “I just don’t want to watch it again. I almost passed out last time, but I can’t let her do it alone.”

“You’ll be fine,” she said. Cade had such a weak stomach. “Just slide down in the chair like you did last time and look into your beautiful wife’s eyes. If you pass out, you’re already sitting, no biggie.”

“I’ll probably do that. Slide down and close my eyes. I got thinking that it’d be faster than watching her in pain and pushing the baby out.” Cade started to turn a little green and grabbed a bottle of water to take a sip.

“I think you might do better with the C-section.”

“Me too, but it’s not my decision. Alex has to be the one to go through it.”

“Since this conversation is turning your stomach a little, let’s change the subject. Who is Kelly dating?”

“How would I know that?” he asked. “I didn’t know that she was.”

“The girls all talk in the office,” she said. “You haven’t heard a word?”

“Nope,” he said. “I’m a little busy at the moment and it’s not like they talk to me about it. Why does it matter who she is dating?”

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