He put the crumpled boxes and doughnuts on one of the tables. “I’m plenty smart, Nicole.”

“Keep telling yourself that and one day it might be true.”

He stared at her, his gaze steady, until she began to squirm. “Why are you trying so hard not to like me?” he asked. “Do I intimidate you?”

“I…You…Just go away.”

With that, she braced herself on her cane and moved toward the back of the bakery.

“No snarky comeback?” he called after her. “Does that mean I win?”

She turned and glared at him. “Not everything in life is about winning and losing.”

“Sure it is.”

Her jaw clenched. “Go away.”

“I will because I have guys waiting. But I’ll be back.”

“Don’t bother.”

“It’s not a bother. It’ll be fun.”

He left the bakery, whistling as he walked to his truck parked out in front.

Hawk could tell Nicole disliked not having the last word. She was obviously used to being in control and getting her way. Football had taught him a whole lot about life. Sometimes teams got too cocky about being really good at one thing. If you could take that away from them, they were left scrambling. The same with women. Especially women.

It was going to be a good day, he thought as he handed Raoul the doughnuts and started the engine. Suddenly there were a whole lot of possibilities.

“WHAT DO YOU THINK?” Claire asked.

Nicole continued to flip through the shirts on the rack. “No.”

“Come on. It’s pink.”

“Uh-huh.”

“You’re not even looking.”

Nicole held in a smile. “I don’t have to look. No. It doesn’t fit.”

“How do you know?”

“Because you’re maybe three months pregnant and you’ve gained all of five pounds. You don’t need maternity clothes.”

“But I want to buy something.”

“Get a receiving blanket.”

“I want something I can wear.”

Nicole glanced up and groaned as she saw her sister standing in front of a mirror wearing a bright pink T-shirt with a sequined arrow pointing toward her stomach and the word Baby in case anyone was confused.