Page 120 of Fierce-Michael

Nah, Kelly never had a problem with it as far as she knew.

But Michael was different and always private.

“They have been,” Diane said. “I’m not sure what Carolyn is talking about other than you are always pushing for more. We’ve learned that some move fast and some don’t.”

“Now you’re bragging,” she said. “Because Dane and Zander were fast. But some are just slow. Who are you working on now? It’s got to be someone.”

Carolyn and Diane looked at each other and then back to the men who were sitting at the other end of the table.

“Ryder’s friend Hyde is working at the firm now,” Diane said. “I always liked him when they were kids. Not quite as wild as Ryder, but he’d moved after college and now is back. I’m not sure about his whole story and Ryder isn’t saying much. I’ve dropped a few names around Ryder and he tells me to back off.”

“Diane doesn’t like that,” Carolyn said. “The truth is, it’s hard when we don’t see him and have to figure out a woman on top of it. The guys might have to deal with this one and they aren’t moving very fast.”

“They never do,” Jolene said. “If it wasn’t for us women, we wouldn’t have as many successes as we’ve had.”

“I say that too,” Carolyn said. “Then I get reminded we are retired and they are running a firm.”

Diane waved her hand. “We let them think it, but our kids are doing it now and getting ready to take over. Our husbands are more involved with the real estate portion of the business. I for one would like Grant to slow down and retire soon or at least cut back.”

“It is nice being home with Gavin, but we stay busy. I tend to have the kids and Gavin spends more time at the Brewery thananything. He likes to keep his hand in things, but it’s on a part-time basis.”

“That’s what we want too,” Diane said. “But then if they do, they won’t be able to help as much with the matchmaking.”

“Oh,” she said. “You find ways to get it done.”

Her eyes went back to Kelly and Michael and her sisters-in-law caught it.

“We always have all the faith in you,” Carolyn said. “But this time it feels as if you didn’t have much of a say in that relationship.”

She frowned. “I thought of them as a couple a long time ago. That counts.”

“If you say so,” Diane said.

“I do. I’ll get to the bottom of things.”

“So you do think something is going on?” Carolyn asked.

“No,” she lied. “I think they are taking it slow, as they remind me.”

“It can’t be easy being a single father,” Diane said. “We saw that with Walker and Dane, but they came around too.”

“That’s right,” Jolene said. “I’ve got no worries at all this one will work out just right.”

Because she never failed.

36

ALL OF ME

“That was nice of Cade to take Ty overnight,” Kelly said. “Did you know he was going to offer to do that?”

“No,” he said. “Good thing I had a change of clothing with me already.”

“I’m sure Ty would have survived without it,” she said. “Most kids don’t care.”

“True,” he said. “It’s not like he had pajamas, but Alex said he could wear a pair of Cam’s. I’ll have to have the twins over one night too to give them a break.”

“Have you had any kids over before?” she asked. She and Michael hadn’t had a night alone without Ty since before their fight.