Page 35 of Lost and Found

She glared. “Would I send him there if I didn’t think so?”

Wes lifted his shoulders. “No, but—”

“There are no buts. Matt has nothing to do with whether I keep investigating Caitie’s murder. No one threatened him. Not even me, really. Whoever’s doing this simply wants me to stop asking questions.” Her purple tongue licked the Popsicle. “Which I won’t do.”

Instead of disagreeing, Wes bit off the last part of his Popsicle before it melted off the stick. She finished hers as well. They walked to the trash can and tossed them in. Bailey washed her hands and leaned against the counter. Wes posted against the wall next to the refrigerator, rewriting everything he knew about Bailey. The thing was, her having a kid didn’t lessen his attraction. It sure as hell complicated it. But lessened it? Not a fucking chance. And if he was being truthful, Bailey as a mom was interesting. It made her multifaceted and even more unstoppable than he’d realized. “What does Matt think you do?”

“He thinks I solve mysteries. I’ll say something like I’m looking for a person, and that I hunt for clues.”

The corners of his lips quirked. “Cute.”

“I don’t want to scare him.”

There was always a threat when working with unsolved crimes. Even a five-year-old understood that. Subconsciously, he bet Bailey did also. “What does Matt know about your sister?”

“That his Aunt Caitie is in heaven with his dad.”

Bailey had lost her sister and husband and brought a baby into the world. Who did she lean on? Who was by her side when Matt arrived? Wes had always admired her stubborn streak, but he hoped it didn’t keep her from finding someone to rely on.

“It’s not a taboo subject,” Bailey added, misreading his silence as discomfort. “Kids ask blunt questions at the most random times, and I’ve always answered as best as I could. I might miss them, but he’s never known them. He’s curious.”

“You’re a very strong woman, Bailey Cosgrove.”

Her cheeks pinked. “Why thank you, Wes Wilder.”

Maybe he was understanding why she wanted a happily-ever-after. Not that she needed a man. But someone to be by her side and share the triumph over troubles, just like she’d explained.

Wes thought of the two men he worked with who had married or were about to say I do. Callum had found Grace, and Rhys had found Jules. Both couples would probably consider their lives firmly set in their happily ever after. They’d triumphed over troubles. They each had their person at their side.

For the first time since his plans for the future had derailed, Wes wondered what his life would look like five or ten years from now, and for the first time in many years, he felt the absence of someone to call his own.

Chapter Eight

“I should have told you about Matt.” At the very least, Bailey should have told Vivian Maddox. But it was easier to keep her home life separate from her work life as long as she didn’t think they were in physical danger. And she still believed that. “I guess we both gave each other surprises.”

Wes shifted his weight and chuckled. “Yours is way more interesting than mine.”

“I like to keep Matt separate from what I do, and so often when people find out that his father is dead, they have advice and platitudes and unsolicited opinions. Not to mention, I guess I’m just a very private person.”

“Except when you go after your sister’s murderer and get ready to broadcast your family’s history.”

“I have an internal battle about whether I should tell people Caitie is my sister. On one hand, being up front is important. On the other, searching for her killer doesn’t mean I need to make myself more vulnerable.” Bailey moved to the kitchen sink and loaded two dirty spoons into the dishwasher.

“I came over because I wanted to see you. Hang out with you. Not to put a kink in your evening.”

Her stomach flipped. She’d fantasized about something that simple. Spending time with a man. A partner to come home to and relax with. If she wasn’t living this life—as wonderful as it was—she would have thought adult conversation wouldn’t have ranked high on a fantasy list, yet here she was. But she wasn’t a total stick in the mud. Not at all. Bailey had her share of fantasies that revolved around a man just like Wes. “We had nothing major planned.”

“So, you did have plans?”

“Oven pizza and chasing fireflies.” She hesitated. Long-term hotel stays were soul-crushingly boring. Not to mention, she selfishly didn’t want him to leave. After days of tummy flips and shivers down her spine, she wanted more. She couldn’t have it, but that didn’t stop her from toying with the dream of him. “Do you want to stay?”

“No.” He held up a hand, almost bashful as he declined the invitation. “I don’t want to be a burden.”

Her chest tightened. She wanted him to stay. Knowing that, admitting that, conjured a fresh round of shivers. “You’re more than welcome.” Matt might even like hanging out with Wes tonight. “Actually, we’d love to have you for dinner.”

His eyes danced. Bailey had never seen Wes anything but calm and collected. Even when he was putting Erick in his place, Wes maintained complete, unflappable control. That was gone.

“You don’t have to say yes,” she said, backing off. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to pressure you.”