He was content, he realized. More so than he had been in a long damn time. It was strange, sure. This wasn’t where he’d ever imagined himself being. Attracted to a man, wanting to care for him, eager to spend time with him.
Then again, he hadn’t known Brantley Walker. Now that he did, Reese knew this wasn’t going to end here. They were going to explore this, see if it went anywhere. If it did, great. If it didn’t … well, he would chalk it up to experience and move on with the knowledge that he hadn’t held back.
***
Travis stood in the doorway of Kate’s room, watching over Kylie and Kate, both sleeping soundly in the twin bed they’d bought their daughter this past summer. He knew there were things that needed to be done, calls to return, people to update, but he couldn’t bring himself to leave.
Kade, Avery, Haden, and Maddox were with Travis’s parents, spending the rest of the day and the night with them so they were free to take care of Kate.
They’d already scheduled an appointment with her pediatrician for the following morning so she could be looked over. At the moment, they were going by what the EMTs had told Brantley and Reese, reassured that she hadn’t been injured during the ordeal. But they would get her in for their own peace of mind, then look into counseling because they all knew there was no way Kate hadn’t endured some emotional trauma thanks to the bitch who’d snatched their little girl and stolen her away.
When a firm hand landed on his shoulder, Travis peered over at Gage. He put his arm around Gage’s shoulders, pulled him in close, and held him there while they both watched over Kylie and Kate.
“We should probably get some sleep, too,” Gage whispered.
Yeah, they should. The past three days had taken their toll, and the lack of sleep would eventually catch up to them. As it was, Travis was fighting the exhaustion because the idea of letting Kate out of his sight was one he couldn’t wrap his mind around. He knew he couldn’t hover indefinitely, but right now, he didn’t have to make excuses.
“Was that Jeff who stopped by?” he asked, purposely changing the subject.
“Yeah. He’s keepin’ tabs on the investigation into Juliet’s whereabouts.”
Travis nodded. He knew Juliet Prince was on the run, hiding out from the authorities. At the moment, he didn’t have the energy to worry about her. She would be found, eventually, even if it meant Travis had to utilize his many contacts to dig her out of her hidey hole. Of that he was certain.
For right now, though, Travis was going to spend some time thanking God that their baby girl was back with them.
He would worry about ensuring Juliet Prince got what was coming to her at a later date.
Chapter Eighteen
Brantley woke in a darkened room, his brain coming online a little faster than it usually did after one of his headaches. He was instantly aware of the washcloth covering his face, the hard press of something under his neck, but mostly that the headache had shifted from blazing pain to a dull throb. Not completely gone but manageable.
When he pulled the cloth from his eyes, he saw the flickering light, recognized it as the television.
“You’re awake.”
Turning his head, he peered up at Reese, who was propped up against the headboard, staring down at him with a wealth of concern in his eyes.
“What time is it?”
“Dinnertime,” Reese said with a grunt.
Brantley smiled, couldn’t help it. “How long was I out?”
“Five hours.”
That might’ve been a new record for him. Usually it took a solid eight before he felt human again. He wanted to think that was possibly a turning point, but he didn’t have the brain power to think too hard or long on it.
No, his thoughts were already drifting elsewhere. Namely, to the man beside him, the one who’d clearly come over to take care of him. Again.
“What’s for dinner?” he asked, speaking low, not wanting to anger the lingering headache into returning.
“No idea and it’s all I can think about,” Reese muttered.
Brantley shifted, propping himself up on the pillow after dragging the energy drink from beneath his back. He set it on the nightstand, then turned so he could look at Reese.
“I could give you somethin’ else to think about,” he said softly, not moving too quickly, not wanting to send the man bolting from the bed.
Reese’s eyes glittered both from the flicker of the television and from the heat he could see in them.
“Is that right?” The words were whispered in a low rasp, but Brantley heard the dare in them.
Their eyes remained locked for long seconds, the heat churning, anticipation building. They’d been working to this moment, and yes, Brantley had promised to go slow. He would continue for as long as it was necessary, but he needed Reese to know this was what he wanted. He was what he wanted.
