Page 40 of Tex's Angel

Rigs adds, “The problem is when CPS takes your kids, and you have an anger management problem, it royally pisses a person off.”

Mattie nods. “That’s true. Once children are removed, a family reunification plan is put into place. It covers everything from addressing issues the parents might have, ensuring the home environment is safe, and things like supervised visitation. We don’t want to take the kids away—the whole point is to address the issues that caused that and get the families back together again.”

I’ve always had some vague idea of the lengths that CPS went through to keep kids safe, but I’m awed at hearing all the details that need addressed. “The whole process seems very involved. I’m glad CPS is on their toes. I hate those cases we hear about occasionally where kids fall through the cracks and bad things happen to them.”

Mattie and Rigs give each other a knowing look. “That’s happened in the past but not on my watch. I review every single case in our office and if there is any whiff of the social worker not following through on home visits, not speaking with the kid alone one-on-one, or giving the parents too many chances without seeing progress, I’m all over it.”

“I’m surprised my crazy stalker isn’t stalking you instead of me,” Clara quips.

Mattie lets out a sigh. “Trust me, I’ve had my fair share of bad guys gunning for me. Thank God, Rigs took it more seriously than I did, or I might not be here to tell the tale.”

Clara’s eyes go wide.

“I’ll tell you about it some other time,” Mattie says.

Rigs squeezes his old lady’s hand, then turns to me and Clara, “Which brings us to the possibility of her stalker being one of the fathers involved in the cases she reported.”

Mattie leans forward with her elbows on the table. “We’ll have to review the files and see if the kids involved were returned to their parents’ care. If they weren’t, it’s possible that one of the fathers is looking for some payback.”

I speak up again, “Aggravating the living shit out of the person you see as being the root of all your family’s CPS problems makes sense because we’re just dealing with regular family guys. If we were dealing with criminals, I’d expect a more direct and aggressive approach.”

“I should point out that in situations where kids are removed from the home, it could be someone other than the father who’s angry. It could be the grandfather or even mom’s new boyfriend who doesn’t like seeing the mom breaking down about losing her kids. It could also be her brother or some other extended family member or friend,” Mattie adds.

“People who really should keep their nose in their own business.” I tell them.

Clara clears her throat. “So, after what I’ve said, do you think my stalker is linked to those reports I made?” Glancing from me to Rigs, she adds, “I’ve already told Rigs and Tex that I don’t know why they would hold that against me, since I’m a mandated reporter and don’t really get a choice.” Stopping abruptly, she adds, “Not that I would ever refrain from making a report or anything like that. It just seems weird that they’d take me doing my job so personally.”

Mattie leans back in her chair and rubs one shoulder with her hand. “I’m not entirely sure most people realize there’s such thing as mandated reporting or who’s required by law to report abuse and neglect of children and elderly people.”

“Oh, I guess you’re probably right about that,” Clara responds.

I glance over and see Rigs giving Mattie a shoulder rub. A short silence spins out and then Rigs comes to his feet. “I really should get Mattie back home. She’s had a rough day and as you know she has to be up early in the morning.”

Yeah, right. As if I didn’t see the looks they’d been giving each other all night. Truth be told, I’m surprised my club brother didn’t ask for dinner to go and whisk his woman away the moment Evan and Levi disappeared to Evan’s room here.

***

Once we’re alone, I grab Clara’s hand and ask, “Y’all interested in a long starlit ride up the West Coast, or do y’all want to turn in early?”

A soft blush creeps up her neck to land on her cheeks. “It depends on whether or not you’re turning in early with me.”

My chest fills with a mixture of love and excitement because it sounds like this beautiful woman who I’m becoming obsessed with has some genuine desire for me. If I had to be honest, I’m loving the fact that we’re bunking up at the clubhouse because it’s giving us plenty of time to be together. Since the break-in at her place I’m back staying at the clubhouse. We’ve set up cameras at her house, and we have a prospect staying at night, so I don’t need to be eyes on. I lean over andgive her a kiss on the temple and whisper, “I’d love to turn in early if y’all will have me.”

She turns her head slightly and give me a lingering kiss on the lips before answering, “I can’t imagine any woman in her right mind being able to resist you.”

I mirror Wade’s attitude from earlier, “Of course they can’t resist me, I’m a likable guy with good bedroom skills.”

She reaches up one hand to slide through my hair. Something about feeling her nails scraping against my scalp makes my cock jump. “You have more to offer a woman than your bedroom skills. You know that, right?”

This woman has captured my full attention along with my heart. “I’m not sure I do. Why don’t y’all tell me what I’m missing.”

Her hand slides down to my chest. “You’re a smart man with a good heart. You say what’s on your mind, so I never have to guess what you’re thinking. I really like that quality in a man.”

“I guess you would since your soon to be ex-husband was a cheater who probably just told y’all what y’all wanted to hear all the time.”

“You’re not wrong about that, handsome. But it’s a good illustration of how intelligent you are to have put the pieces together in real time. You’re not sitting around trying to figure out what’s going on with me, that’s for sure.”

“Yeah, having a guy who knows his way around a woman’s body and ain’t stupid is a pretty low bar.” I don’t know why I’m so reluctant to take the compliments Clara is intent on doling out tonight.

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