Page 3 of Cursed Fox

"Why am I not surprised?"

"Lex doesn't like to waste time."

The office alarm system echoed throughout my office, alerting us that someone had pulled onto the premises. I initially hated the disruption the warning system caused, but now wasgrateful for the extra few minutes it gave me to prepare for what was likely to be an uncomfortable greeting.

Working for Wes had made me too comfortable with the fact that I only spoke to those I was familiar with. Missy now made all the arrangements for the teams and worked the front desk. It allowed me to hide from people. Just how I liked it to be.

Wes and I stared at each other. Neither of us saying anything while we waited. It was several uncomfortable minutes later before Missy buzzed my office phone.

"Yes?" I injected as much happiness as I could into my voice. Missy didn't deserve my wrath.

I wasn't mad, per se. Just uncomfortable with the fact that someone I didn't know was about to learn my personal business.

"There's a Lex Holland here to see you." Missy sounded unsure and it immediately put me on edge.

"Send him back. He's a friend of Wes." I was quick to reassure the woman who was more like a daughter to me than the other wives. "And thank you."

"No problem."

I wondered what Lex did to make Missy hesitant about him. Now that she worked for Wes, and her past was no longer nipping at her heels, she was almost too trusting. Human trafficking should've made Missy wary of all men, but her husband, Kyle, had done a good job of bringing her out of her shell.

And working the front desk of W.J. Protective Services helped as well. Missy was forced to interact with people on a daily basis. Just how she preferred it.

The second the man walked through the door, I understood Missy's hesitation. Lex had a dangerous appeal that probably kept others away, but in my case, it was causing my dead libido to rise.

The man was tall. Taller than Wes by a couple of inches. His rusty-brown beard hung down past his neck. I couldn't be sure from my angle, but based on the way his hair was pulled back slick, he wore it longer than most of the guys who worked for Wes, and there was a hint of silver running throughout. Not to mention the silver at the shaved part of his temples.

But it was the shirt he wore and how it accentuated his muscles that really did me in. A short- sleeved denim button-up with the top two buttons undone showcased his tan skin. And holy hell, talk about arm porn. His tight sleeves left nothing to the imagination, with every damn vein making themselves known.

I was pulled out of my filthy thoughts when Wes made quick introductions. "Lex, this is Nancy, the woman I told you about. Nancy, this is Lex."

Lex's green eyes flicked over my body for barely a second before looking back at my boss.

Ouch.

I knew I was no hot mama, but it still hurt. Menopause had taken its toll, adding a few too many extra pounds around my middle, but would it have killed the man to give me more than a cursory and disinterested look. I had practically eye-fucked the man and he gave me nothing in return.

It was a damn shame.

The manners that were drilled into me from a young age had me responding despite being annoyed. "Nice to meet you."

Lex's only response was another quick glance and a small chin nod.

"I warned you he didn't talk much." Wes gave me a lopsided smile that showcased his dimple. If my boss thought that was going to make up for Lex's rude behavior, he was dead wrong.

"I'm not sure this is going to work." I blurted the words out before I could think better of it and prayed Wes didn't ask mewhy. I doubted telling him I was attracted to his friend would get me the results I wanted.

"You told me this would be smoothed over before I arrived."

Holy hell!

It was probably better the man didn't talk. I thought his good looks were the only problem, but his deep timbre of his voice was going to cause me to spontaneously combust. Sexy didn't even begin to describe it. I was completely screwed.

"She was on board with the plan until you came in here acting like a mute jackass," Wes snapped.

"Sheis right here and I have a name," I was quick to remind Wes with a little too much attitude in my tone.

"I know your name, dammit. I was trying to make a point."

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