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She tossed the phone down. What was she doing with Wes? The situation felt so easy. He seemed so confident, trusting her to figure out what she wanted when she was ready. Ready for what, exactly? Because she’d been ready to plow forward into bed and let the pieces fall where they would when they went their separate ways today. He would return to his world. She would stay in hers. Her heart would stay safe. She wouldn’t expose Matt. She’d never have to worry about losing someone again—except that didn’t line up with wanting a happily ever after.

Bailey was scared. Simple as that, but for someone who didn’t let fear call the shots, it wasn’t simple at all.

She padded into the bathroom with her clothes and decided on a quick shower. Smelling like him all day would force her to slowly lose her mind. She tied her hair up and stepped under the hot water. The water ran over her until Wes knocked on the door, letting her know the coffee had arrived.

She put on a comfortable maxi dress, noticing the thin straps and smiling at what he had said earlier.

When she stepped out of the bathroom, his gaze swept over her, obviously also remembering what he’d said about the dress. Wes offered her the coffee. “Two sugars, vanilla, and almond milk.”

“Perfect.” Everything was absolutely perfect. She wrapped her hands around the to-go cup and breathed in the steamy scent of coffee. “Thank you.”

“What’s Matt up to today?”

“Mrs. Lacey’s taking him to the splash park. There’s this neat nature trail that wraps around it when they get tired of the water. If they get tired of the water,” she corrected. “Or if she needs to get him out of the sun for a while.”

Wes grinned. “Who would want to leave the splash park?”

“Grown-ups.”

“Eh, sounds fun.”

“It is, mostly,” she admitted, especially now that Matt was older and had a sense of self-preservation toddlers didn’t. “I told him I fell and bruised my face so it’s not a surprise later—” Her gaze caught on the Minecraft goat that leaned against her suitcase. “You got Oink?”

He sipped his coffee. “I texted Sergeant McGavins last night after we picked up your luggage at the front desk, and it wasn’t there.”

Her heart squeezed into a tight ball of gratitude.

“She let me know it’d be there this morning.”

Bailey set her coffee down, strode over, took his, set it on the end table, and wrapped her arms around him. She breathed in his scent and felt his rugged strength return the embrace. “Thank you, Wes.”

“Anytime.”

She didn’t want to let go. He couldn’t understand how much she appreciated that he’d thought of the toy. Words to explain wouldn’t form on her tongue. All Bailey could do was tighten her grip on this unflappable man until her sore arm told her to let go—or until his phone vibrated on the desk.

She dropped her forehead to his chest. Wes held on to her for an extra second. The phone vibrated again. His arms tightened as if he didn’t want to let her go, but he let out a breath and reached for the desk. “It’s Dean. Hopefully with news.” Wes answered on speakerphone. “What are you doing calling so early?”

“Do you want to hear what I’ve got or just bust my balls while I figure out what’s going on with the woman you want nothing to do with?”

Wes grimaced. “You’re on speakerphone.”

“Well, that’s awkward. Good morning, Bailey.”

She covered her mouth, laughing at Wes’s pained expression. “Good morning, Dean.”

“Now that we’re all here,” Dean said with a professionalism that now made Wes roll his eyes, “let me tell you what I know. I got the plates from the vehicle that followed you. But even more interesting than that, judging by the exits they took after they passed you, they knew where you were going.”

Her face snapped to Wes. Were her phone and laptop infected with spyware or listening apps? “How’s that possible?”

“Don’t know, but after you were separated on the toll road, they continued on a relatively expected course to New Jersey. Though I can’t pinpoint how they made it to the hotel.”

“I didn’t see a tail following us from Jennifer Yang’s,” Wes said.

“We’re not all perfect, bud. You can miss one every now and then.”

Wes rolled his eyes again and grumbled. “Who’s the car registered to?”

“Almost as interesting as them knowing where you were going: The minivan was picked up from a questionable car rental in Annandale, Virginia, two days ago. Phony name and ID. The credit card on file was stolen.”