Friday, November 13, 2020
“We never did get back around to talking about Trey last night,” Reese prompted when Brantley walked into the kitchen the following morning.
Rubbing a hand down his face, Brantley attempted to wake up his groggy brain to remember what they’d been talking about.
Oh, right. Hiring Trey.
“Coffee first,” he grumbled.
“You act like a man who didn’t get any sleep last night,” Reese said, a teasing tone in his voice.
Brantley shot a look at Tesha. “I prefer not to share a bed with a dog.”
Reese peered down at the dog. “I tried my damnedest.”
Brantley knew he had. To the point they’d both been up half the night attempting to get Tesha to snooze on the brand-new dog bed they’d put on the floor. Of course, Tesha would have none of it, insisting she be snuggled up between them. As much as Brantley liked that dog, he was not willing to go that route.
“If we had a couch, I could’ve relocated,” Reese said, holding up a plate.
“Nope. Nuh-uh.” Brantley shook his head. “I ain’t givin’ up my bed partner. Nor am I lookin’ for a third. She’ll have to figure it out.” Following the heavenly scent of bacon, Brantley took a seat on a stool, picked up the fork. “Is this your guilt breakfast?”
Two eggs over medium, four pieces of bacon, and hash browns. On a good day, Brantley couldn’t get the man to let him eat microwave bacon. Then again, it was microwave bacon. Who really wanted to eat it?
“It’s my way of gettin’ your day started off better.”
Brantley took a sip of coffee, looked up into those beautiful brown eyes. “I can think of a better way for you to do that. And it involves you naked. In the shower.”
“I’m game. But eat first.”
He took a bite, then another, taking advantage of Reese’s guilt. It took no time at all to finish off his food and get a second mug of coffee. He gulped it down, ignoring the burn in his throat as he got to his feet, marched around to the sink. After dumping both plate and mug into it, Brantley clasped his hand around Reese’s wrist and dragged him toward the bathroom.
“We do have to talk about Trey. And the dog,” Reese reminded him.
“And we will. After.”
“After what?”
Rather than answer, Brantley stopped at the nightstand, retrieved the lube, then made a beeline for the bathroom. He managed to get the shower turned on before he pounced on Reese.
“Do you know how fuckin’ bad I want you right now?” He yanked Reese’s shorts to his knees.
“I’ve got a fairly good idea,” Reese said on a long, strangled moan when Brantley closed his fist around his hardening cock. “Fuck yes.”
“Not enough,” Brantley mumbled. “I’m not gettin’ nearly enough of you.”
“How much more, oh, God, yes”—Reese thrust his hips, driving his cock into Brantley’s fist—“do you want?”
Brantley paused his stroking long enough to yank his own shorts down his legs, kicking them aside. “Ideally? Three, four times a day.”
Reese’s eyes widened.
“A minimum of two,” he conceded before crushing his mouth to Reese’s.
Air was scarce, which made talking impossible as they maneuvered into the shower. Somehow Reese got him up against the wall. When Brantley attempted to flip their positions, Reese held firm.
“My turn.”
Brantley moaned when Reese nipped his lower lip, his big hand cupping his throat, pinning him in place. He liked this side of Reese, the aggressive man who knew what he wanted and had no qualms taking it.
More moans and groans followed as Reese manhandled him into position, turning him around, planting his hands flat on the wall, forcing him to bend forward. Brantley did so without argument or complaint, his body desperate for Reese. Didn’t matter who was the top, he just needed this man. And that was something he’d never experienced with his prior sexual partners. Brantley had bottomed a time or two, but he’d never cared much for it. And it had nothing to do with the act, more so with the submission that went along with it. With Reese … he found he craved it.
Reese’s hands glided over his back.
“Reese? Baby? Fuck me.”
“Don’t wanna hurt you,” Reese rasped, his fingers beginning to dig into Brantley’s muscles, a sign he was holding back.
“You won’t,” he assured him. “Just. Fuck. Me.”
When Reese impaled him a second later, Brantley grunted, keeping his palms flat as he rocked back against the intrusion. Reese filled him completely, his long fingers gripping his hips.
“Hold on,” Reese said, the words sounding like a warning.
Evidently that was how they were meant, because the next thing Brantley knew, Reese was fucking him with so much fervor he feared they would end up through the shower wall and into the bedroom.
“Fuck… so … fucking … tight…”
Brantley shifted his feet wider in an attempt to accept the punishing thrusts while he dropped one hand to his pulsing cock. No way would he last like this. He loved the times Reese lost himself, forgetting all about gentle and fucking him like nothing else in the world mattered.
He jerked himself roughly, using the momentum of his body to drive himself into his fist while Reese continued to fuck him like a man starved for him.
“Brantley… Oh, fuck…”
“Come for me,” Brantley bit out, the tingling that signaled his release too powerful to stave off any longer. “Fucking come for me, baby.”
Reese drove into him one final time, his fingertips digging into his hips as they both let themselves get catapulted up and over into that glorious abyss.
Forty-five minutes later, Brantley was behind his desk in the barn, listening to JJ clack on her keyboard as though it had offended her. She’d also been mumbling to herself since he walked in the door, and the conversation sounded as angry as the typing.
“Not enough coffee this mornin’?”
Her head lifted slowly, eyes coming to rest on him. The expression on her face was one of embarrassment, as though she hadn’t realized he was there.
“When did you get here?” It was a curious inquiry, telling him she hadn’t.
“Long enough to know you’re havin’ a crappy mornin’.”
Her gaze cut to Baz’s desk.
“Problem with the new guy?”
JJ shot him a glare, then turned away.
Smiling to himself, Brantley shifted his focus back to his computer, recalled the conversation he was supposed to have with Reese about Trey. He knew better than to take JJ’s suggestion to hire Cyrus as a potential opportunity. He wasn’t willing to put Reese in that predicament. He knew there was some animosity on Reese’s part thanks in no small part to Brantley’s history with the guy.
Turning in his chair, he glanced up at the enormous whiteboard, noticed it had been cleaned recently, the glass front glimmering in the overhead lights.
Cases.
There should be cases on that board.
His attention shifted to the rest of the blank wall.
“I want more whiteboards in here,” he decided.
JJ looked up again. “For?”
“I want them used to outline the cases we’re workin’ on.”
“Right now, we’re not workin’ on any,” she answered. “Except what Baz is diggin’ into.”
“That’s the problem. There should be at least three active cold cases runnin’ at all times.”
“Three?” JJ looked at him like he’d lost his damn mind. “How are we supposed to handle three with only four of us workin’? Even if you hire two more, at best, we might be able to handle two, although not if you want us to actually resolve the damn things.”
The door opened behind him, so Brantley peered over. Reese and Baz strolled in together, each carrying a cup of coffee, while Tesha trotted along at their feet.
“We’re hirin’,” he announced.
“I already told you,” JJ said with a huff. “Bring on Trey and Cyrus.”
“No to Cyrus.” He wasn’t willing to deal with the drama there. “But we’ll talk about Trey. If everyone’s in agreement, I’ll talk to him. And I was thinkin’ about the structure. Three team leaders. Baz, you’re one. I want two more and each to have a team of two. And JJ, I want you to hire someone to assist you here in the barn. A data cruncher. Maybe two.”
“Are those one and the same?” JJ asked. “The data cruncher and someone to assist me?”
“Depends on who you find. Up to you.”
JJ nodded.
“Wow. Someone’s brain kicked into high gear this mornin’,” Baz said with a grin. “You want an ad in the paper?”
“No.” Brantley peered back at the whiteboard. “But I expect those boards to never be empty. We should always be workin’ on a case. They ain’t gonna solve themselves.”
“I’ve got a list of things to do,” JJ stated. “I’ll give you an update at the end of the day.”
“Sounds to me like this is gettin’ real,” Baz noted, his expression sobered. “I’m honored to be a part of it.”
Brantley met his gaze. “Likewise. Now let’s get to it.”
***
Reese wouldn’t say he was necessarily surprised by Brantley’s abrupt decision to get things moving.
The truth was, he’d been expecting it. It had felt to him like Brantley was wading through deep water, attempting to get a feel for what was going on around him, fearful of stepping off the ledge or onto something that might blow back at him. Likely, in part, due to the PTSD he suffered after the explosion that had ended his career as a SEAL and very nearly ended his existence.
“Let’s talk,” Brantley suggested, motioning toward the door.
Reese led the way, stepping out into the brisk fall morning, holding the door for Brantley and Tesha. “Could probably close in a portion of all that square footage for a conference room,” he suggested.
Brantley glanced behind him before joining Reese outside. “Good idea. You wanna hire someone or tackle it ourselves?”
Reese remembered how they’d built the staircase leading up to the loft. It had been during a dark point in their relationship, but they’d managed to get through it. And even when they didn’t see eye to eye on the personal front, they’d worked well together.
“I’m up for it, but we’ll need to handle it after hours. If you want us workin’ cases, we have to do our part.”
“Good point. I’m sure we can get it done in a few weeks.”
Reese didn’t bother to mention Brantley hated things to be in a state of chaos. How the man intended to work in a construction zone was beyond him.
“You really ready to kick things into high gear?” Reese asked when they reached the back porch that extended off the house.
Brantley took a seat in one of the chairs. “You and I both know we’ve been wingin’ it so far. From the moment we decided to dig in and find Kate to tackling Lauren Tyler’s disappearance. Those were spur-of-the-moment and we jumped on them without thinkin’. We found Lauren and Corinne three weeks ago, Reese. What the hell are we waitin’ for? Now that we have actual cases to look into, we’re stallin’. Why?”
“I don’t think we’re stallin’. I think we’re gettin’ settled. Baz has been gettin’ the word out and apparently so has the governor. Hell, we took a case yesterday.”
“The kid wasn’t missing,” Brantley ground out.
“No, but we still had to work it like he was.”
“A few hours outta a day.”
Okay, clearly something was bothering Brantley, and Reese didn’t think it was the fact they’d closed a case in only a few hours. “What’s this really about, Brantley?”
Brantley peered over at him, then shifted forward and pulled his cell phone out of his pocket.
He tapped the screen, passed the phone over. “Listen to it.”
Confused, Reese held the phone to his ear.
“Brantley, it’s me. I know you’ve got other shit that’s more important, but…” The man sounded tired, distraught. “I need your help on this. You might not understand it, but if I’m expected to move on, that bitch has to be found.”
Reese lowered the phone when the voicemail ended. “That was Travis.”
Brantley nodded. “I get a voicemail like that every two or three days. Have since we brought Kate home.”
“Is that what he came to talk about on Monday?”
The slow exhale made Reese fear the answer.
“In a way.”
“What does that mean?”
“He threatened me.”
“What?” That did not sound like Travis.
“He threatened to lure JJ over to the resort. Said money can buy pretty much anything.”
Okay. That made him feel a tad better. Not a physical threat, at least.
“He can’t let it go,” Reese mused. “That’s understandable.”
“You’re right. He can’t.” Brantley glanced out at the barn. “I know Travis, and I know he’s obsessing over this. And I can’t blame him at all. Hell, he’s probably worried that bitch’ll reappear and his daughter might vanish again.”
Reese understood that. And since it was a very real possibility, they should all be worried about it.
“I have to help him get closure on this. Sooner rather than later.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“What I need is someone to fuckin’ find her,” Brantley snarled.
“You know JJ’s been workin’ on it. She set up alerts, keeps a record of everything she’s doin’.”
Brantley’s expression said he hadn’t known that.
“I’m sure Travis has alerts set up, too.”
“Probably. And that’s the issue.” Brantley met his gaze. “We can’t let Travis go off the rails on this, Reese. My cousin … if he gets her in his sights, there’s no doubt in my mind he’ll take her out.”
Reese didn’t disagree. He knew Travis, had for a long damn time. He’d seen the man riled up a time or two, but he’d never seen him harboring the sort of rage plaguing him now. And that was saying something because Travis had recruited Reese to deal with one of Travis’s cousin’s ex-wife a few years back. Thankfully she’d heeded the warning. Otherwise, it might’ve been a death sentence instead of an ultimatum Reese had delivered. And if it had, Travis’s hands would’ve never gotten dirty.
“I need to dedicate some time to helpin’ him,” Brantley said. “And JJ’s right. We need more people if we’re gonna get anything accomplished. Lookin’ into one case every month or so … not feasible. And it won’t justify the cost of this task force.”
Reese leaned forward, touched Brantley’s arm. “I agree, Juliet Prince needs to be brought to justice. You find her, you turn her in. That’s your plan, right?”
Brantley’s gaze bounced over his face. “That’s my plan.”
“But it’s not Travis’s?” Reese knew Travis too well, knew the man had crossed that line in the name of protecting his family and he wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.
“Honestly, I don’t know what his plan is, but I have to help him.”
“Okay.” Reese knew he couldn’t argue. He understood Travis’s need for closure on this. The man couldn’t be expected to be looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life, waiting for the woman who had kidnapped his daughter to wreak havoc on his life again.
Brantley breathed out. “I’m gonna meet up with him next week. See what he has in mind and see if we can map out a plan.”
“And I’ll oversee what’s goin’ on here.” Reese leaned back. “What about Trey? You goin’ to talk to him?”
“What do you think?”
“About hirin’ him?” Reese was surprised Brantley even had to ask. “The guy’s got more experience with this than I do and you took a chance on me. I’m no detective, Brantley. Never have been, but I like to think I’ve got good instincts. I can hold my own. The same goes for you. If you think Trey’s a good fit, I don’t have any arguments.”
As for Cyrus… Reese was just glad Brantley had vetoed JJ’s suggestion before they’d been forced to discuss it.
“I’ll give him a call,” Brantley noted. “But I want you to interview him. See how well the two of you mesh.”
“When do you plan to have all this done?” Reese asked. “The full team in place?”
“By the end of the year.”
At least they had a little time.
Of course, that could change at any minute.
***
When Brantley and Reese left, JJ shot up out of her chair and headed for the kitchen. She needed coffee, but more importantly, she needed some distance from Baz.
Her thoughts drifted back to last night, to the dinner they had together, the conversation.
The kiss.
I will catch you. No matter how long it takes.
His words still played in her head, over and over. She had no idea why those words carried so much weight, but they did. No one had ever chased her before. No one had held out long enough to give a damn. Not even Dante.
Her heart fluttered at the memory of Baz speaking those words, so low, so sincere. Her blood began to heat the same way it had when he’d pressed his mouth to hers. It hadn’t been much different than the first and only kiss they’d shared a few weeks ago at Moonshiners when they’d all gone to celebrate the fact they’d closed their first case.
Last night’s encounter started with Baz proving he was patient and unwilling to push, then with JJ all but jumping him. Baz had then taken over, slowing things down, making her head spin with the overwhelming intensity of his kiss.
And then he’d left.
JJ spent the entire night battling the anger and frustration that erupted when he hadn’t taken things any further. It made her a damn hypocrite, she knew. She’d all but declared she had no desire to sleep with him, and now it seemed to be the only thing she could think about.
“Need some help?”
Jolted out of her thoughts, JJ jumped at the sound of Baz’s voice.
She spun around to glare at him. “I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine,” he said smoothly, stepping closer, those teal-blue eyes glowing with mischief. “I mean, you look good, but you look … preoccupied. Somethin’ on your mind?”
JJ hated the way her heartbeat took off at a gallop, her breaths became labored. It was all due to how close he was, how hot he made her. How freaking good he smelled. It pissed her off that he could play her so easily and then turn and walk away as though she didn’t matter.
The backs of his fingers brushed her cheek before pushing a lock of hair behind her ear. “Talk to me, JJ.”
Her attention shifted to his mouth. That oh-so-sensual mouth.
“JJ?”
When he closed the distance between them, she backed up, found herself up against the wall, trapped between it and his big, hard body. All that delicious maleness made her head spin.
“Stop lookin’ at me like that,” he warned, his voice similar to last night, dark and soothing, and laced with promise.
“Like what?” she managed, her words coming out in a gravelly rasp.
“Like you want me for dessert.”
So what if she did? It wasn’t like she would indulge. JJ was on a diet. No men, no matter how charming or sexy or…
She sucked in air when his head lowered, his breath fanning her lips.
“Tell me to stop, JJ,” he growled.
She wanted to. Oh, how she wanted to.
Lie.
It was a lie she continued to tell herself to keep some distance, because she knew Baz would hurt her the same way all the men in her past had. She wasn’t special enough for anyone to put her first and she’d learned that time and time again.
“Push me away, JJ. Right now.”
Her brain warred with her body, but before she made a fool out of herself, the door opened. Their connection was instantly severed as Baz took a step back.
Brantley and Reese had come to her rescue and they didn’t even know it.
In an attempt to get her hormones under control, JJ grabbed the empty coffeepot and went through the process of starting another. By the time it was dripping, she felt better. Enough to join the others in the main room only to find the three men wielding tape measures and jotting down numbers.
“What’s goin’ on?” she asked, suddenly fearful they were about to undertake something beyond their scope of skills.
“We’re gonna build a conference room. A place for a bit of privacy if it’s needed.”
Her mind instantly went into the gutter. They were talking about professional privacy, not…
“Okay.” JJ considered the change, glanced around. “And what do you propose we do about all the desks you want added to this space?”
Brantley looked her way. “Desks?”
She grabbed the sheet of paper off his desk, waved it. “Remember this? We designed the new layout. You’ve got all these warm bodies you wanna hire. They’re gonna need a place to sit.”
His gaze shifted to the second floor.
“Oh, no. If anyone gets to work up there, it’s me.”
“Done,” Brantley said quickly.
“What?”
“Make it your new office. You’ve earned it.”
JJ wasn’t sure what to say to that. “Seriously?”
“Yep. We’ll move your stuff once you get it all taken apart.”
She’d honestly been joking, but now that he offered her the space, no way would she turn it down. There was a window up there. A freaking window.
It was enough of a distraction, JJ nearly forgot all about that kiss.
Key word being nearly.