Page 4 of The Work Wife

“Goodbye, Mr. Witmer.”

“Take care, son.”

Wes would never tell anyone how those words made him feel. He’d only met Mr. Witmer face-to-face one time. He was stern, as one would expect a police detective to be, but he was incredibly sincere. Something Wes’s own parents rarely were.

When the man had clapped him on the back and thanked him for being a good friend to his daughter, Wes knew he meant it. He also knew if he stopped being a good friend to Jamie, there would be hell to pay.

After the call was disconnected, Jamie picked up her pad of paper and came over to sit next to his desk.

“What?” he asked.

“We have to have a meeting. I don’t like lying to my dad.”

He smiled and pulled out his own tablet so they could discuss something in a meeting format. He found it sweet that she didn’t like to lie to her father, but yet was trying to figure out how to hijack a marriage retreat.

Life sure had been more fun over the last five years.

* * * *

Jamie was surprised to find Duane Larkson waiting for her when she got off the bus the next morning. Everyone knew she didn’t drive in bad weather, which could be anything from flurries to the sleet pinging off her coat at the moment.

“Good morning.” He stood from where he’d been leaning against the wall and held out a cup of coffee.

She held up her hands, which were full with her laptop bag and the tray holding two cups of coffee.

“I guess you’re already set.”

“Looks like it. Thanks though.” Her breath puffed out around her. No one should be able to see their breath. It was unnatural. “Are you coming inside?” she asked at the door.

“Actually, I wanted to talk to you alone.”

“Alone but inside, right?” What kind of person stayed out in this weather willingly? She wasn’t sure if she would ever acclimate to Boston.

“Oh, sure.” He looked at her as if she was the strange one. “Do you want to come to my office?”

Something about going to his office felt wrong, but she shrugged and followed him. Nodding at his assistant, who was already working at her desk, Jamie shifted her things so she could pull down her hood.

“What’s up?” Using her teeth, she tugged off one of her mittens and tucked it in her pocket before taking a sip of coffee.

“I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Neil is retiring this summer.”

“I heard something about that. I’m sorry you’ll have to get used to working with someone else.” She couldn’t imagine having to start over if Weston left. She’d choke him until he changed his mind. Fortunately, Wes was a lot younger than Neil.

“Actually, I was hoping you might be willing to take his place.”

She blinked a few times, not sure what he was saying. Things began to click. The secret meeting. Warming her up with coffee. “Are you trying to steal me away from Wes?”

“I spoke with Rob and he agreed there may be some benefit in realigning the teams. Fresh perspectives create fresh ideas. And you would be defaulted into Team One.”

As much as she wanted to be Team One, she wanted to earn it. She didn’t want to step into it. And she really didn’t want to have to work with Duane. The plan had always been for Wes and her to knock Duane out of the spot. That was what she wanted.

“Stability and reliability create a bond that allows fresh ideas to grow and mature to their full potential. At least that’s how it seems to work for Wes and me.”

“No one is going to make you leave Wes. We just wanted you to know you had that option if you wanted it. I’d be thrilled to have you on my team. I think the two of us would be great together.”

“Thanks, but I’m happy where I am.” This was not exactly true. She wanted to be number one, but she didn’t want to have to sell her soul to the devil. Or Duane, as it were.

“Are you really happy, Jamie? Or are you content?”