Status Updates From Justice for Laine (Badge of...

Wes had no idea how they could hear Laine with her voice the way it was, but that didn’t matter at the moment. Reassuring the woman he loved did. “There’s an IV up here with your name all over it, Laine. Fresh, clean water all for you. Just hang on, as soon as we get you out of there and hook you up, you’ll be needing to pee before you know it.

Laine closed her eyes and her chin fell to her chest in despair. Her words came out as a whisper this time, “I need you, Wes. Please, don’t stop looking for me. I’m here. I’m right here.”

They’d been dating for a little over a month and everything about him made her happy. He was protective, but not stifling. He was responsible and polite, and he made her laugh. Oh, he’d pissed her off too, but because she immediately called him out on his actions, they worked their way through them when they did occur.

He hadn’t really thought about finding a woman he could spend the rest of his life with . . . figuring no one would really want to hole themselves up on his ranch and all that came with being married to a rancher. He wasn’t ready to pull out a ring and ask Laine to marry him. But he liked her. A lot. He wanted to spend more time with her.

It felt sexy and daring . . . and way more aggressive than Laine would’ve worn in the past. There was something about Wes that made her feel at ease and safe. His profession had something to do with that, of course, but it was ultimately him. He’d obviously been attracted to her, but other than the stolen kiss, he’d controlled himself and hadn’t acted like a hormone-driven a@#hole.

She’d been attracted to men before, but not like this. There was something about him that made her lady parts sit up and take notice. The only thing that made her feel less guilty about the entire situation was that it seemed as though Wes was feeling some of the same things she was. Every time she glanced at him, he was watching her. She couldn’t take her eyes off him, and apparently, it was a mutual thing.

I only said I’d come because you were going. I have no desire to go out to some random guy’s ranch, watch as he takes his shirt off and poses for your charity calendar,” Laine told Mack. “Laine, this isn’t a random guy. Wes works with Daxton. He’s a Texas Ranger. It’s not like I’m sending you to a Chippendale club or something.