Page 16 of Found in Wild Sage

I sink down into the chair I was sitting in minutes ago. “I mean, he was. No idea what just happened there.”

Jack sits in Declan’s seat and slides Declan’s abandoned coffee back so he can lean his elbows on the table. Even the fact that Declan didn’t take his mug with him is a sign he was more than a little off.

“You have no idea what just happened? Really, Evie?”

His tone says I should know exactly, but how? I haven’t spent all that much time outside of work with Declan, let alone dated the man. I don’t know Declan in a we’re about to get married capacity. This is all new to me, too.

“How would I possibly know?” I don’t see how I could, nor why Jack appears to feel he does.

He leans back, knees spread wide, fully comfortable in himself. It’s a stark contrast to the buttoned-up way Declan holds himself, even when he’s not at work.

“The guy just got hit with the big green monster.”

“Which is?”

He chuckles low. “He’s jealous, Evie. He doesn’t know you’re like an annoying little sister to me. He thinks he might have competition for his role as Mister Evie Hansen.”

I roll my eyes at him again, but inside, there’s a not-small flutter. “There’s no way. He— We— It’s not like that.” For him.

It’s not like that for him.

I haven’t admitted my feelings for Declan to Jack, but right now, it feels like he can see all the way through me down to the place I’ve hidden those thoughts away.

“I understand it hasn’t been like that, but I challenge the premise that it isn’t now. Maybe not fully, sure, but why would he do this? You’re not paying him, right?”

I scowl. “No. And even if I could, he’s got money. All the Ryans do. Plus he’s a doctor—pretty decent paycheck.”

“Exactly. So why else?”

“Because he’s a good man. He cares about his employees and he cares about Charlie.” My heart squeezes thinking about how sweet he is to my baby.

Jack lets my words settle around us. Of course I hear it. No man in his right mind marries a woman for so little. And yet, when I pressed Declan on it, he had me convinced.

“I know you believe he’s a good guy. I had my people at Saint Security check into him, and I saw no red flags. You’ve known him for a year. Your lawyer says it’ll help. All good things. But before you tie the knot with this guy, please get him to verbalize what he wants here. Why he’s doing it. It cannot be completely out of the goodness of his heart—I don’t buy it.”

Jack’s putting words to a thread of concern that’s been tugging at me since the first mention of this. I’m not looking forward to it, but I agree.

“Is he thinking he’s just signing up for an easy booty call? Or—” He throws his hands up when I shoot daggers at him.

“I’m not saying you’re like that, obviously, but I don’t know the guy.” He’s still holding his hands up like I’ve got a weapon.

“I literally asked him how he was going to handle that and he said, ‘Your needs come first,’ and that was it. I didn’t push because it was a little awkward, but he made it clear he has no plans to date on the side and no expectations.”

It sounds unbelievable to me, too.

My heart sinks and I flop down, my forehead resting against my hands on the table. “Ugh.”

Jack roughly pats my head, which makes me smile. When I rally and sit upright, he’s got an expression of sympathy for me.

“I think you should spell that out before you tie the knot. Does he expect anything from you? And if he does…”

“It’s not an exchange of goods, Jack. I’m not sleeping with him to thank him.” I whisper-yell it, grateful the grind of espresso beans provides some audio cover.

Jack snatches one of my hands and cups it in his. “Hey. I’m not saying you would. But I think when something seems too good to be true, it is. And based on what I just saw, the guy is down bad for you. So it’s conceivable to me that he might be… hoping. And I’m not sure that’s a good situation for you.”

A swirl of excitement and dread twists in my belly.

“I appreciate that.” Because I’m not going to admit that it’s really roles reversed. I think Declan is protective of me and likes me as a person. I have never once gotten the sense that he sees me as anything other than a capable employee and the mother of one of his favorite tiny people. And though initially I felt his daily greeting of Charlie and help with my bag might be something, I’ve come to realize it’s just who Declan is.