Page 26 of Deserving Maddie

"I'm going to have a seat."

It wasn't a question. She had the feeling Wes rarely asked to do anything he wanted to do. He took charge and expected people to be okay with it. She understood why. There was no way a majority of the population wanted to go toe to toe with this man.

"I found you because that's my line of work. It was easy, especially considering your car is in the possession of a mechanic I happen to know very well. Even if it wasn't, finding you wouldn't be that hard. Ray could do it with a snap of his fingers. Arlo as well. In this case, I would've asked Arlo because he wouldn't have given me lip about it. I came over here because my wife pointed out I should."

"Your wife?"

She knew he was married. Looking for a ring was her first reaction any time she met a man. She realized quickly how many sleazy men there were in the world.

"Yes, my wife."

No explanation. Just straight to the point. Having a conversation with Wes was going to be like pulling teeth. She was tempted to just agree so he would leave her office, but her curiosity won out in the end.

"Why would your wife be the reason you came to see me?"

Ray's boss had to be one hell of a poker player. The man didn't give anything away when he didn't want to.

"Because I prefer a harmonious house and it wasn't going to be if I didn't come apologize for being rude to you. Somehow Jennie found out about our interaction and bit my head off for it."

Wes still had yet to actually apologize, but the conversation was bizarre enough that she wasn't going to call attention to it. There was really no reason she would be interacting with him on the regular, so the point was moot.

"Well, thank you, but it wasn't necessary. I didn't harbor any negative feelings and yesterday was a freak accident. We won't be seeing each other often."

"I don't think that's true at all."

She was taken aback by the conviction in his tone. "And why's that?"

"I'm going to put it out there because that's just the type of man I am. I'm not stupid. I saw the way Ray looked at you and you at him. There was more than just Ray's casual lust. Same with you, except you're more guarded. I'm guessing because your husband died in the line of duty and you moved here to raise your two children."

Her entire body tensed up. "You looked into my past?"

"Ray really didn't tell you what he did for a living?"

"Just that he was a technical analyst for you and that you had some type of protective service business."

She really should've paid more attention when Ray was walking her through his place of employment, and maybe asked more questions. She had been so distracted by him that she let her normally inquisitive side down.

"Typical Ray. Downplaying what he does."

"Then why don't you educate me?"

Why was she allowing herself to get sucked in? She shouldn't be engaging in anything to do with Ray or his boss. She was setting herself up for heartbreak; she couldn't start anything with him while she was busy fixing her relationship with Gabriel.

"Nah. I'll leave that up to the two of you when you go out on a date."

"Who says we will be dating?"

She cringed as soon as the words left her mouth. She wanted to date Ray, but that wasn't possible and she didn't want Wes to get the wrong idea about them.

"Oh, you will be. Just as soon as you get over whatever hang-up is keeping the two of you apart."

The nerve of this guy thinking he knew anything about her life. Just because he took a couple of minutes to look her up didn't mean he actually knew anything. And it pissed her off that he assumed he did.

"I don't think what happens between Ray and me is any of your business. Now, while I appreciate that lousy attempt at an apology, I have work to do."

Wes had the audacity to laugh at her as he rose from his seat.

"You got fire in those veins. That's a good thing. You're going to need it to survive in Ray's world."

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