Page 42 of The Work Wife

He laughed. It was fifty-eight degrees and she was bundled up in two sweaters and her boots.

“Yes, you look so warm.” He understood her gesture better now. She was attempting to steal his body heat. He didn’t mind sharing. With a glance over her shoulder, he noticed her father watching them. Time to show him something convincing.

He bent down and kissed her. She kissed him back without hesitation. When he pulled away they smiled at one another like silly love-struck teenagers. Her father had moved on.

“Did we make him cringe and look away?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you think my father seems tired?” Jamie asked, wincing up at the sun.

“I have no baseline with which to compare his activity levels.” His formal speech made her laugh, which was what he was supposed to do when he saw that little indent of worry between her brows. It was possibly the main reason he’d been put on the planet.

It was good to have a purpose.

“I saw a bunch of bottles in the medicine cabinet this morning. When I checked right before we left, there were only three bottles and they were vitamins. I don’t know if I miscalculated or he hid them. I tried to check his bedroom, but I don’t want to get caught. I need a distraction.”

“I’m sorry. I only signed up for the one diabolical plan. You’re going to have to find a new accomplice for B and E on your father’s room.”

“Listen to you with the cop speak for breaking and entering.”

“It’s rubbing off from listening to his stories.”

“He was proud of his job, and he hated having to retire because his body couldn’t keep up. You should feel honored that he’s sharing those stories with you. It means he likes you.”

Wes was pretty certain they were meant to deter him from doing anything untoward to the man’s daughter. But he nodded in agreement, hoping he’d misunderstood Mr. Witmer’s intent. “I told him how well we work together.”

“It’s nice not to have to lie about everything,” she said with a laugh.

Wes could tell she didn’t like having to mislead her father. Despite her reputation for hiding things in her youth, she respected him. So did Wes for that matter. Jaime’s dad had raised his daughter to know he loved her and would be there for her. Wes didn’t have that.

“I hope he’s okay,” she said, and he could hear all the worry she was trying to hide in that casual comment. She was afraid. He pulled her close and bent to whisper in her ear.

“I’m sure he would tell you if he wasn’t. He loves you.”

Jamie’s answer was a snort of disbelief. “I’m not so sure. He doesn’t like for me to worry.”

Wes wasn’t the only man who’d taken up the job. “If he’s decided not to tell you, I don’t think you should be snooping in his things to find evidence. If he doesn’t want you to know, he must have a reason. And not wanting you to worry is one of my favorite reasons for not telling you things.”

“Like what?”

“Like remember the McLean job?”

“Yeah.”

“We almost lost it because you had a cold during the initial meeting, and Mr. McLean is a germaphobe.”

“Oh, my God. Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I did. I said it to him. I told him you wouldn’t be touching anything he would need to review. That I prepare all the plans myself.”

“Wow. I had no idea.”

“Exactly. I was protecting you from something you would have worried about unnecessarily. I’m sure that’s what your father is doing as well.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“James, I’m always right.”