Page 12 of Wes
Chapter Five
Natalia
Nervous and calm. I’m not sure how I can feel both emotions at the same time. Wes places my mug before me and sits. I’m still wondering about how often he dates, but the look he gives me makes me shift in my seat.
It’s a powerful, see-through-you kind of gaze. I’m not sure what happened in the minute it took to get our drinks, but I like it. A man has never looked at me like he is right now. Wes is pushing on my walls, and we’ve barely spoken in person.
Is this normal? Have I really been out of the game this long?
“To answer your question, no,” he says, and it takes me a second to realize he means he doesn’t date often. “My divorce came through about a year ago. To be honest, I’ve been steering clear of women.”
My brow creases, and I tilt my head. “Why?”
He shifts in his chair, being clearly uncomfortable, but he leans forward. “My ex, Bridgette. Things became rather ugly. You could say it left a bad taste in my mouth.”
I nod. “I understand that.”
“How long have you been divorced?” he asks.
Bringing my coffee toward my lips, I mutter, “I’m not.”
His expression darkens while I gulp my coffee, needing the reinforcement. “Excuse me?”
I see the misunderstanding immediately. He thinks I’m married. “I’m not divorced,” I state. He opens his mouth, but I spill everything before he can blow up. “I’ve never been married, Wes. Jeremy’s father left me the moment we learned I was pregnant.”
My cheeks are warm with embarrassment. I know I shouldn’t feel this way. I didn’t do anything wrong other than trust and love the wrong man. Jeremy was and still is a blessing in my life, and there isn’t anyone who can tell me otherwise.
The frustration I saw building in Wes disappears. A slough of emotions cross his face before his angry eyes meet mine. “He left you?”
I give him a soft smile. “Yup. It’s been Jer and me. Mom and Dad help me quite a bit, but that boy is all mine. John never claimed him and has never shown any difference toward him.”
“You still see the asshole?”
I shrug. “It’s been a few years, but we’ve bumped into him when he’s come through town.”
“And he?”
“Wes, not everyone’s cut out to be a parent. John had no interest in our son, and it cut me to the core at first. Now? Now I’m thankful Jeremy hasn’t had to deal with a man who comes in and out of his life. It hurts me to see him grow up without a dad, but my father has been there for every moment he can.” I force myself to stop. Hearing the hurt and defense in my voice, I know I need to calm down.
Wes reaches across the table and grabs my hand. “Natalia, I didn’t mean to upset you. I can’t imagine walking away from Reece.”
Squeezing his hand, I smile. “I can’t imagine doing it either.”
We sit there drinking our coffee and holding hands, sharing a mutual understanding of our love for our boys, and I calm. “I’m sorry for being a downer.”
He chuckles. “You’re not. I see a strong woman who’s raising her son with love and understanding. I admire you, Natalia.”
“Thanks. Since we are on the topic of all things you shouldn’t discuss on the first date—”
Wes laughs, and I love how handsome he looks. “Yeah?”
“Why the vasectomy? You’re still young enough to find a woman to have another child.”
He chokes on his cough at the latter. “Young enough? Natalia, I’m forty.”
I shrug.
“I love Reece and being a father, but there’s no way I can put another child through the battle we go through with Bridge. I’m lucky enough to have him, and he’s more than enough. If I settle down with someone, she’ll have to be on the same page as me.”
