Page 135 of Fierce-Michael

“We know I’ve got a great track record with relationships. That’s why you asked me to help set you up.”

“I got to where I am on my own,” Kelly said.

“You did. I’ll give you that and if you tell anyone I admitted it, I’ll call you a liar and not even feel guilty about it.”

Kelly laughed. One that reached her eyes. “I’m sure you will.”

“I did think of Michael for you. You can’t say I hadn’t dropped his name around you for years.”

“You have,” Kelly said. “But you’ve dropped a lot of names around me.”

“Fishing,” she said. “Dropping bait in the water to see what you might be biting. I have to know if there is interest or not before I move forward. There has always been interest, but I guess I was blind to it.”

“I’m surprised. You’re not normally blind to anything,” Kelly said.

“I’m not,” Jolene said. “I was off my game on this one. And I’ll deny that too if you tell anyone.”

Kelly laughed again. “I won’t say a word.”

“My point is, you two have what it takes. I know it. I see it. I think you even believe it.”

“I do,” Kelly said.

“And maybe you feel you aren’t wrong and he is. I don’t know. I won’t ask.” She paused, hoping Kelly would tell her something, but didn’t get anywhere there. “Sometimes it sucks to be the first person to pour the tar to level out those bumps inthe road. But in the end, it only matters that the ride is smooth again.”

“You’re right.”

“I am,” she said, nodding her head. “Don’t you forget it either.”

“I won’t. Thanks, Jolene. I think I needed to hear that.”

“I’m glad I could help. See, it’s not always all that bad talking to me.”

“No,” Kelly said. “It’s not. You can go and brag to your son that you were right.”

“I’m going to do that,” she said and stood up. She walked down the hall, and popped her head into Cade’s office. “It worked.”

“What worked?” he asked. “I thought you left. Did you go bug Kelly again?”

“Get that frown off your face. All I did was give her some advice and my seal of approval on this relationship. With my track record and all, I know it helped her to fight for whatever is between them.”

“You don’t know what that is?” Cade asked.

“No. I didn’t ask and she didn’t volunteer. I took another route.”

“It has to kill you to not know.”

Jolene held up her fingers in a pinch. “Just a little. But knowing what I said will get them back on track made up for it.”

“You’re so full of yourself,” Cade said. “You don’t know any such thing.”

“Of course I do,” she said. “I’m always right.”

She left her son’s office before he could dispute it.

41

SOME GOOD ADVISE