Brothers in Blue A Bryson Family Christmas - Jeanne St. James Page 0,65
question about a case they were working together, that’s all,” Max said. “Remember, everyone else is working today so we could all spend Christmas together. Dunn did a selfless act by volunteering to work and is missing out on Christmas morning with his family. If he has a damn question, then Adam can spend a couple minutes answering it. Teddy, stop being so goddamn selfish.”
Teddy pouted at Max’s scolding. “Well, how is he going to find us?”
“He’s a cop. He’ll find us,” Amanda assured him.
“Look down,” Max ordered.
Teddy looked down at the ground as the group rounded the back of the house and headed toward a row of trimmed evergreens like a herd of sheep with Chaos circling them, making sure everyone stayed together.
“He’s not going to lose us,” Max said.
True. With the group they had, there were plenty of footsteps, even in the light dusting of snow. “I should go back and keep him company.”
Amanda tugged him along, almost pulling his arm out of the socket. “No, he’ll catch up quicker without you to slow him down.”
“Fine,” Teddy huffed. “If we have to send out a search party... And then we find my Adam frozen like a popsicle...”
“Then, bonus, he’ll be stiff forever,” Amanda said, yanking him along.
Twenty minutes later, his nose was numb, they were still walking with no end or Adam in sight. He’d texted his fiancé five times with no response. “I don’t like this. Someone needs to go back and look for my fiancé.”
Everyone ignored his panic, like he was just a silly boy, and kept walking. Like they didn’t care that Adam could be found frozen to death amongst rows of Christmas trees or... or...
Having an affair.
A whimper escaped his lips.
“Stop it,” Amanda hissed at him.
“He might be whispering sweet nothings into another man’s ear right this very minute and no... one... cares!” he wailed.
“If he’s sticking his dick in another man’s ass, I’ll shoot him myself,” Max growled.
“Oh.” That outburst was surprising, coming from Max. “Thank you for defending my honor,” he purred and batted his eyelashes at the man.
“It’ll be self-preservation. Because there’s no way I can listen to you whine like this the rest of our lives.”
“Teddy, you need to stop fussing.” Amanda also sounded like she was losing patience with him. “Adam is not cheating. He loves you. He’s trying to make detective, so he’s going above and beyond right now.”
“Yeah, what my smart wife said,” Max said. “Now, can we please enjoy this walk in silence?”
“Maybe we should be singing some carols while we walk to drown out the yipping coyotes,” Ron suggested from up front.
“What coyotes?” Teddy asked in a panic. “See? The coyotes could hunt Adam down and eat him like a snack. Because he is a snack. But he’s my snack.”
“Oh good lord,” Amanda muttered.
Teddy cupped a hand around the side of his mouth and yelled, “Adam! Are you out there? Are you lost? I’m here, lover! Call my name.”
“Teddy!” Adam’s sister, Jet, yelled back to him. “You’re ruining a perfectly peaceful winter walk. My brother is fine.”
“Did you hear from him?”
Jet rolled her eyes and kept walking. Well, fine, then, if she didn’t give a hoot about her brother.
Up ahead, Ron waved his arm in the air and the pack hooked a left.
“I’m not sure why we’re only walking through rows of trees. That’s all we can see. Trees, snow and looming death!”
Amanda jerked his arm as they cut through a couple rows, the snowy evergreen branches brushing against them and sending a cloud of crystals up into the cold air.
As they broke into a small clearing, Teddy stumbled to a stop. Amanda released his arm and moved out of his way so he could have a clear view of the open circle.
His heart began to drum a beat in his chest.
Little white lights, strung in the trees around the perimeter, were lit under the dusting of snow, creating a soft glow, even in the daylight.
Rainbow-colored rose petals were sprinkled on top of the snow-covered ground.
Teddy sucked in a breath of frigid late December air.
Kaleidoscope roses! He had talked about getting them for his wedding bouquet. But they were spread all over the ground instead. Who would do such a thing?
“Oh... my... God!” he squeaked and slapped a hand over his mouth as his fiancé appeared between two snow-covered evergreens. Adam looked as handsome as ever in a well-fitted dark suit with a boutonniere made of a single kaleidoscope rose and tuft of baby’s breath.