Doing It Over (Most Likely To #1)(89)

“See?” Wyatt waved in Jo’s direction as he tried triple hard to get everyone in the room to suggest he accompany Melanie to the meeting with Nathan.

“We need him to talk,” William told them. “Now, I know you want to be by her side, son, but if the guy clams up, it’s all for nothing.”

“I’ll be there, bud. Nothing will happen,” Luke said.

“Why you and not me?” Wyatt felt like he was whining. “Jo, tell them.”

Jo passed a few glances around the room. “You misunderstood, Wyatt. I don’t like the fact that he asked that I not be there.”

“You’re a cop. That makes sense,” he said.

“You’re sleeping with her, that makes sense,” Luke stated the obvious.

“Please, guys, I’m right here. This is all ridiculous. I will meet with Nathan; Luke will drive me and wait in the car. I’ll wear that wire thing Jo has. The most that will happen is he won’t say anything about the marriage certificate that implicates him. He might catch on without everyone being there. He will know something is up if the place is littered with familiar faces.”

It didn’t feel right, and Wyatt didn’t like it.

“I’m going to be okay, Wyatt. I know how to yell fire and call attention to myself if I feel threatened. We will be in a public place.”

“Agent Burton is due back in Eugene on Monday, maybe I can get her to blend in close by.”

“She’s still here?” Melanie asked.

“Yeah, there’s a lead on Ty she’s going to check out.”

“Who is Ty?” William asked.

“Remember the two guys you got into it with at R&B’s?”

Luke and Wyatt exchanged glances. “Kinda hard to forget. Weren’t there more than two?”

“Yeah, but one of them came back when he heard about what happened to Hope. Seems that little bar fight wasn’t random.”

“What?” Luke asked.

“Buddy, the one who came back, thought it was a little too coincidental that he and his friend Ty were paid to pull you into a bar fight. Then he sees what happened with Hope on the news, saw you in the feed. He has an issue with people hurting kids.”

“Why would someone pay to force me into a fight?” Wyatt had a hard time wrapping his head around that.

“That’s what we’re working on. The running theory is Mr. Lewis was casing the place, wanted to see that you weren’t around. Finding the second guy is key since Buddy didn’t deal with the person who paid them.”

Melanie stood. “See why I need you here?” she asked. “I need to know Hope is safe, Wyatt. She trusts you above everyone.”

“You think you can get your FBI friend to follow Mel?” Wyatt asked.

“I don’t see why not. She’s been at my house for the better part of the week.”

“Great.” Melanie pushed off the couch. “Show me how that wire thing works, Jo, and let’s go. I want to get this over with.”

“Let me call Burton, have her drive ahead of us so she’s in place before Nathan even shows up.” Jo left the room.

“Keep her safe, Luke.”

“She’s like a sister, dude. I won’t let anything happen to her.”

“Better not.” He hated being benched.

“Jeez, he has it bad!” Luke said to William.

“Sure does.”

“Screw you both,” Wyatt said as he left to follow Melanie.

He met her in her bedroom while she was changing her shirt. He didn’t bother knocking and didn’t offer any privacy when he saw her undressing. “I’m going to be okay,” she said over her shoulder.

“You haven’t been out of my sight for more than a few hours since all this happened.”

She tossed her shirt on the bed, grabbed another. “How do you think I feel? I haven’t left Hope at all. I couldn’t do it if I thought she wasn’t protected.”

“Jo can stay.”

“Yeah, but you know what?” She stopped messing with her shirt and placed both arms on his shoulders. “It’s you Hope asks about. It’s you she feels safe with.”

He leaned his forehead against hers. “I hate this.”

“If I can get Nathan to say something . . . anything that proves I didn’t sign that damn paper, think of how much less time either of us has to deal with this. I’d love to focus on one thing . . . finding Lewis and putting him in jail for a long, long time.”

“Fine. But if you’re not back—”

“Ready, Mel-Bel?” Jo walked into the room. “Oops, sorry.”

“Stop, we were just saying what needed to be said.” Melanie placed a quick kiss against his lips and pushed him away.

Jo moved into the room and started taping the wire on Melanie’s delicate skin. Once it was secure, the bulk of the device tucked into her bra, she put her shirt on and buttoned it up. “The receiver will be in the car, with Luke recording the conversation.”

“He can hear the whole thing?”

“Yeah. Remember, if you start to feel uncomfortable, tell Nathan you have a headache and leave. If at that point you don’t walk out, Luke will come in and get you.”