Page 12 of Hardy

Once the door was closed, Baker gave her asmile.“I hear congratulations are in order.”

“Does everyone know?”sheasked.

“Yes.Hardy’s tellingeveryone who’ll listen.He’s so happy with himself.”

“How are you handlingit?”

Baker had lost his wife and hisunborn childbecause of a drunk driver.

“I’m fine with it.I’ve notgot a problem with the kids being born, and my brothers findinghappiness.”

“Speaking of happiness, you’renow a patched in member, and you’re babysitting me,why?”

“I care, and I’ve gotnothing else to do.”

“You’re not stalking Millietoday?”she asked.

Millie was the toy shop owner in FortWills.Baker had been smitten with her since Christmas, and foundany excuse to visit the shop.

“She’s, erm, she’s a littleskittish around me.I think I scare her, and scaring her has neverbeen my intention.”

“You’ve not even asked herout on a date?”

“I don’t date.”

“Then you’ve got a problem.Youneed to learn how to date.”Rose made her way back into thekitchen, grabbing a skillet.She was hungry now, and she couldhandle a nice stack of pancakes with maple syrup, and lots ofbacon.“Are you hungry?”

“Starved.I came straighthere from the clubhouse.Angel wasn’t even up cookingyet.”

Angel was one of the best cooks in theclubhouse.Her food could win awards if she entered herself intothe competitions.

“So, dating?When was thelast time you did it?”she asked.

“My wife.I courted her duringhigh school, and we were married the moment we graduated.”Bakersmiled.“We got our graduation certificate, and we went to thechurch.It was fucking awesome.Our parents were there for us, andwe spent the afternoon in a hotel room, paid for by our parents.Wewere both so happy.”

“It sounds romantic.”

“It was.We decided that we weregoing to wait for kids, go to college.I went to culinary school,took over frommy dad at the bakery, and we made a go of it.We were sohappy.I used to date her, and take her to the movies, bake forher, and I used to plan these elaborate dinners.”

Rose smiled.“You sound soromantic.”

“I don’t know if I was soromantic, but I tried for her.I loved her, and I wanted to giveher the best in life.”

She wondered what it would havebeen like tohave Hardy use similar dating techniques.He’d been thekind of guy to wink, hook his arm through hers, and take her for aburger.There was no love or sweet, darling words fromHardy.

Was that what she wanted?

“So, dating?Millie?”

“I like her.”

“You’re going to scare herif you keep going into the shop buying toys.”

“I don’t just buy toys.Ipick up purchases for the rest of the boys.”

Rose chuckled.“She’s going to thinkyou’ve got issues.”

“I really need some advice onwhat to do?”

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