He’d waited until the end, I was glad.
“I’m trying to show him I’m a decent person and that maybe he is, too.”
His expression turned wary. “People like Wes won’t look at it that way. When he finds out, and he will find out, Mara, he’ll attach to the fact that you knew. That’s all he’ll care about. You knew who he really was and you didn’t say anything.”
“I have a little faith in him.”
Ephraim’s paternal expression was full of warning. It was becoming a standard look for him. “Even after you signed papers to look into the contract Sam had Robson Industries draw up?”
“It’s buying us time.” I stifled a groan. Just like Chris’s friend was trying to do.
This was messed up.
“Tread carefully, Mara. He has the money to make life difficult for you.”
“He has money—he’s not a mobster.”
“Sometimes there’s a fine line.”
I didn’t know rich people. Ephraim saw the worst of them. Should I drop everything and tell Wes I know about his game?
Climbing back into my car and settling inside, I resisted hitting my head against the steering wheel.
I should be angry at Wes for not meeting with me in the first place. If he had, this would have been avoided. All of it, including our relationship. But he was as stubborn as his father.
And I should’ve done more research. But his office was across the street from my store so I hadn’t bothered to look up anything about him, or even see what he looked like. Still didn’t justify what he was doing.
My phone pinged with a text. From Wes.
Missing you.
My heart twisted. Sweet or calculating? Miss you, too.
Bed’s pretty empty w/o u.
So’s my floor.
And the counter. Night.
What a mess. His messages made me feel better that I was going home to an empty house and he was in an empty bed.
Wes
It was the middle of the week and I was going through Mara withdrawals. Pathetic. We’d been sending sweet texts back and forth, something completely out of my realm.
I brought my attention back to Helen, who was giving me midweek updates.
“I have some unsettling news.” She knew better than to pause. “The city council’s office called and they said we need to resubmit for all required demolition permits.”
“What the hell for? I thought it was all taken care of.”
“A glitch.”
“A glitch?”
“Yes sir. I smell a sewer at full capacity.”
“And if we argue about this glitch?” We’d done everything by the book. I always did. No corner-cutting, no favors called in. I might push the boundaries and be demanding, but I followed the rules.
“I argued up main street and down the highway. Even talked to the head of the department. She was less than willing to cooperate.”
She would be. Still raw from me moving my outlet mall plans across the river.
“It’ll delay the project more than initially anticipated,” Helen answered, “and add a little more expense. That should be the worst of it.”
Why now? Everything had been coasting along. The outdated mall was closing its doors in less than three weeks.
Chris offered to contact an old friend on the city commission.
I clenched my jaw. So, that’s how she wanted to play it. First, the lawsuit that my legal team was in a catfight over, and now this.
She wanted to be a PITA? She thought she was smarter than my dad and now she thought she could undermine me, using the men around her to do her bidding. What else were the men around her doing for her? “Helen, write this name down. Mara Jade Baranski. I want to know everything about her.”
Helen scribbled her name. “Arcadia’s owner? What should I be searching for?”
“Anything that points to her character. She’s the one behind this delay. Trust me.”
“She’s grasping at straws. First taking legal action against Robson Industries, and now this.” Helen shook her head. “Some people can’t make an honest living.”
Note to self: give Helen a raise.
After work, I strode out to my car. Instead of picking her up for dinner, I’d left a message that there was a change of plans—due to a glitch in the reservation. My chef had prepped dinner for two, one that wouldn’t set up shop in my arteries, and delivered it to my office so I could take it over to Mara’s.
We were going to eat in and I was going to relieve my stress in her body. Many times.
Chapter 15
Mara
I finished inventory. Stock was moving at a good rate. The second to last game day was tomorrow and I’d mark the used Xboxes for sale.
“Got any fun Friday plans that’d put mine to shame?” Chris called from the front where he was closing up.
“I have a date.” If it turned out like Wednesday night’s, should I be thrilled or dismayed?
I’d been looking forward to real food and not something out of a can when Wes had canceled dinner out. Instead, he’d brought over an excellent meal, and I’d barely had any time to enjoy it before he had been stripping me down.
All night long, he’d been at me. When he’d been too spent, he’d used his tongue or his fingers. I’d physically pushed him off my bed and demanded a few hours’ sleep before work on Thursday.
He’d given it to me, only to wake me up before my alarm for another round.
Not a bad way to wake up, but I was convinced that death by orgasm was real.
Chris locked up and handed me the envelope of money to deposit. “Hey, did I tell you I heard back from my friend? She wants to thank you. Wes was so pissed at the delays and she found it refreshing that their roles were reversed.”
I laid the envelope on her desk and scowled at it. “When was this?”
“Wednesday, I think.”
Uh-huh. “That’s good then?”
“Yeah, it won’t stop anything, but it’s worth it, right?”
Tell her vagina that.
No, don’t. It might agree.
“See you tomorrow?”
I nodded woodenly and sank into my seat. So the sex wasn’t because he
