Page 3 of Cursed Fox (Willow Creek Security #4)

CHAPTER THREE

Lex

What the hell was this feeling?

The moment I laid eyes on Nancy, my heart picked up in rhythm and the need to protect her flooded through me. The only other time I had felt this kind of connection with another human being was Olivia.

It made no sense. Olivia was innocent. A young girl with a shared trauma. I understood why I felt the need to protect her.

Nancy was nothing like Olivia, and based on the way she went toe-to-toe with Wes, she didn't need my help. And yet the need to make sure she was safe was strong.

I tried not to think about the fact that it might have something to do with how attractive she was.

Nancy was my age or close to it, with short jet-black hair and expressive green eyes.

Her jeans hugged her curves in all the right places, and I wished her loose top was tighter so I had a better view of a waist I could hold on to.

I preferred my women with meat on their bones, and Nancy was that to a T. It was why I couldn't give her more than a quick glance. If I hadn't stopped myself, I would've spent too long looking over every perfect inch of her.

"Yes, I'll let him help," she said with reluctance.

I hadn't realized I'd been holding my breath waiting for her answer until the air whooshed out of my lungs. A huge part of me had hoped she’d stick to her guns and ask me to leave.

And then Wes dropped the bomb. "Good. Lex can stay with you while he's figuring out who's behind the threats."

"Excuse me?" There was that attitude again.

"What?" I spoke at the same time as Nancy.

"You're going to visit Jimmy, right?" Wes sounded way too cocky when he asked.

My head snapped to Nancy, who looked more than a bit guilty.

After several intense moments, she sighed. "How did you know?"

My friend scoffed. "I know you, Nancy. You've worked for me long enough that I know what you're going to do or say before it happens. Everything you've ever done has been for Jimmy and Jessie. There's no way you wouldn't go to your son with everything going on."

"Fine," Nancy admitted, although reluctantly based on her tone. "I was hoping to go to his place for a bit."

"When did you want to leave?"

I kept my mouth shut and listened to the conversation. I was intrigued by their relationship. Wes normally wasn't this tolerant of people, so it was interesting to see the exchange.

"Today, if possible. I can take my laptop and work remotely. Missy can hold down the fort here. It's not like you need me in the office, even if it is easier for me to holler down the hall when you fuck something up in my system."

I couldn't tell if Nancy was teasing him or being dead serious. The old Wes I knew would've reprimanded her for the insubordination, but instead, my friend merely chuckled and shook his head. It left me baffled.

"You're right, you can work remotely. But don't worry, I can survive on my own for a bit."

"Ummm . . . no." Nancy crossed her arms over her voluptuous chest. "You can't. And I would rather keep working, even from a distance, than chance you fucking something up that I can't fix. Now excuse me while I go talk to Missy and fill her in on the plan."

She turned on her heel and marched out of the room. And I took the moment to watch as her ass swayed with each step.

Once she was out of the room, I could finally take a full deep breath without being overrun by her intoxicating scent of vanilla. The damn woman must've bathed in the fragrance.

"I know that look."

I turned my attention back to the man who’d saved my life in more ways than I could count, and lifted a brow. I didn't say anything. I didn't have to. The look on my face conveyed my message loud and clear.

"You're interested. You tried to hide it by looking at everything but Nancy, but I know that look."

"I'll keep it professional." The urge to reassure Wes was strong. The last thing I wanted to do was disappoint the man. Despite us being the same age, I revered Wes as someone who was much better and wiser than me.

"That's not why I brought it up."

Now I was just down right confused. Thankfully, Wes kept talking.

"You're a good man. One of the best. Nancy deserves a good man in her life.

I've known her for years, and not once in that time has she ever allowed a man near her.

Not after the number her husband did on her.

I have no problem with you going there, but only if you plan on sticking around.

She's not the kind of woman you fuck and then leave. "

I was stunned silent. Not that it was a hard feat considering I barely spoke, but in that moment, I couldn't think of a single thing to say.

I wasn't a good man. Wes knew that. I was a fucked-up man with too many demons to be good for anyone.

It was why I didn't invite women into my life, and I wasn't about to start now.

Nancy was too good for me, and the only thing I could offer her was a good fuck before I left her satisfied and ran my ass away.

"As I said. I'll keep it professional."

Wes merely shook his head. "I see you haven't changed one bit. Still as stubborn as ever."

My friend could call me stubborn all he wanted, but I knew the truth. I was cursed. And I was protecting those around me from myself. People I cared about always got hurt, so it was best not to care about anyone at all.

"I'm glad Maverick picked you," Wes continued. "I wanted it to be me, but with Jennie fighting breast cancer, I need to be here with her. You're the next best thing, and I know you’ll do right by Nancy. It's just the kind of man you are."

My response was cut off when Nancy walked back into her office with her head down, looking at a tablet in her hands.

"Everything's settled. Missy has everything under control here and I'll handle things remotely. As long as you can manage not to piss anyone off, things will be fine. Is that . . ."

Nancy glanced up from the tablet and stopped in her tracks. "What happened while I was gone?" she asked in an exasperated tone as she set the device on the desk and crossed her arms.

"Nothing." Wes answered for both of us. "Just catching up."

"Uh-huh." It was obvious she didn't believe her boss, but I wasn't about to correct Wes. My friend had just dropped one hell of a bomb, and Nancy didn't need to know we were also talking about her while she was gone. "Let me grab my stuff and we can get going."

I watched her pack up a laptop and some files, all the while avoiding meeting her gaze—or Wes's for that matter. He’d seen too much already, and I didn't want to give him more ammunition for future discussions. Plus, the news he’d shared about Jennie rattled me.

I didn't know how he was staying so strong with everything that was going on in his life.

"Ready?" Nancy asked after she filled the bag to the brim and hefted it on her shoulder.

I gave her a nod, taking the bag from her and walking straight out the door before she could protest. I looked back to make sure she was following me, but not once did I stop.

Not to talk to anyone. Not to say goodbye to Wes, or to the woman at the front desk who’d given me a wary look when I first walked in.

I headed straight out of the building to my Jeep and waited for Nancy to climb into her own vehicle so I could follow her.

My demeanor screamed that I was an asshole, and that was the way I preferred it. The last thing I needed was for Nancy to think I was the nice guy Wes tried to say I was.

He was wrong.

Nancy believing him would lead to nothing but her getting hurt and me hating myself more than I already did for the things I couldn't change.