Page 97 of Fierce-Matt

She liked Matt just the way he was. On the trim side with muscles.

Made him fill a suit out much better.

“I overheard you talking to yourself one night when I was sleeping over.”

“Dude,” Ben said. “You still call yourself that when you think no one is around?”

“No,” he said. But the flush on his face said he was lying to them both.

She’d let him go. “I meant when I was younger and staying with Phoebe. I got up one night to use the bathroom and I heard you talking in your room. The door was ajar, and I might have listened.”

“You were stalking me?” he asked. “Ewww.”

“Oh stop,” she said, giving his elbow a flick with her finger and thumb over the bar. “Now you’re being a jerk again.”

“Some things will never change,” Ben said.

Matt put his hand to his chest. “I’m offended you called me a jerk. I’ve broken those habits. I was just joking with you. We agreed that was acceptable. You know, to not be boring.”

“You’re right,” she said. Though she knew he was picking on her pretending to be hurt. “I’m sorry.” She leaned over the bar this time for him to come to her for a kiss.

“Okay,” Ben said. “This is crazy. I’m happy for you and all, but it’s too lovey dovey for me.”

She wouldn’t say that, but maybe Matt was putting on more of a show than she would have.

It wasn’t that awful though.

Not over the top like he used to do.

More controlled... and cute.

“What’s going on here?”

They all turned their heads to see Jolene Fierce walking in holding a toddler’s hand. Talk about always being in the right place at the right time.

“Ben,” the little girl yelled and ran toward Matt’s brother.

“Hey, Fiona. Are you with Grandma today?”

“The two of us are spending the day together, but Fiona said that she wanted to see Mommy and Daddy working together,” Jolene said. “She has a thing for the goggles on everyone’s face.”

“You must be Mason and Jessica’s daughter,” Anya said. She hadn’t met their kids but knew Mason had twin boys and a daughter. Fiona was three and seemed to have her grandmother wrapped around her finger.

“Yes,” Fiona said. “I’m going to make beer too.”

She laughed. “Wow. You’re starting young.”

Jolene picked Fiona up. “Keeping it all in the family. Let me go run this one to her parents and I’ll be back. You know I’ve got to find out what this is all about.”

Jolene’s hand was waving back and forth between her and Matt.

“Better hurry, Jolene,” Ben said. “Tours are starting in ten minutes and the tasting room will be open.”

Jolene hesitated as if she was trying to decide if she could make it upstairs and back before then.

“You take her, Ben,” Jolene said, shoving the little girl over.

Ben reached for Fiona. “I figured you say that. Don’t come looking for me after either. You’ll get your answers now.”