Page 13 of Hardy

“Ask her for coffee, Baker.Orbetter yet, take her one of your baked goods.She’d fall for youthere and then.”

Baker chuckled.“Do women really lovehaving a guy who can bake?”

“Do you really need me to answerthat?”she asked, chuckling, too.

“No.”

****

Hardy drove across town and came to a stopoutside of Millie’s toy shop.There wasn’t a shop that stored babystuff, and he’d heard the old ladies talking about Millie orderingshit in.

Climbing off his bike, he pushed hissunglasses up onto his head and entered the shop.

“Two seconds,”Millie said,shouting from the back of the room.

This had to be fuckingdangerous.No one was in the shop, and he could easily kill her, takingwhat he wanted.Hardy grabbed his cell phone sending a text toTiny.He then cursed, remembering that Tiny no longer dealt withthis craziness, and sent the same message to Lash.

Hardy glanced around the decorativetoy shop.It was light, beautiful, and every single kid who camethrough the door would love it.

Tiny: Not the leaderanymore.Txt Lash!!!!!!!!

Lash: We’ll handle it atchurch!

Pocketing his cell phone, helooked up as Millie came from the back.She took one look at himand his leather jacket, and smiled.“Erm, Nash, Gash, no, you’re not Fighter.Crap, I’m really bad with names.”

“We’ve not officially met.I’mHardy.”

“It’s lovely to meet you.”Sheshook his hand, and Hardy knew she needed to have some protection.Millie wasn’t even aware of the danger she could be in.Fort Willswas a protected town, but even then, someone passing through couldcause damage.

“And you, what’s yoursecurity on this place?”

“I have a, erm, a camera thing inthe back, and locks on the doors for when it’s closed.”

“That it?”

“Yeah, what can I get you,Hardy?”

Some peace of mind thatyou’re protected in some way.

“Rose and I areexpecting.”

“That is so fantastic.Congratulations.I’m so happy for you.”She leaned down and grabbeda couple of books.“I take it you want to order some things for thebaby?”

“That’s right.I don’t wantRose to find out.She’s a little superstitious.”

“Your secret is safe with me.”She turned them around for him to look at.“I can get you cribs,rocking chairs, breast pumps.Does she know if she’s going to bebreast feeding?”

“I’ve not got aclue.”

“It’ll be good for her to figurethat out.There’s pushchairs, and here we’ve got babyseats.”

On and on it went.Hardy looked throughthe book and spent over an hour talking through the best things tobuy for his woman.He paid up front, and Millie said she’d got aplace in the back to store them.

“If you come back whenthey’re delivered, we can make sure everything is okay, and they’vegot all the right equipment,” Millie said.

“You’re a doll,Millie.”

“I’m just doing my job to makelife far more enjoyable for everyone.”She gave him a wink, andtook the books.

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