park, get the kids together.”
“Sounds like fun,” Keegan told her.
“That’s a yes, then?” Bianca looked at all the faces at the table.
Everyone knew better than to tell the mayor they would not be attending one of her festivals. She had them for every occasion and Reese had noticed there seemed to more arranged now than before she’d taken office.
“Of course we’ll be there,” Keegan told her. “And we’ll make sure everyone else is, too.”
“I knew I could depend on you.”
“For anything,” Jaxson Briggs chimed in.
Bianca flashed another smile, sauntered off, which made Jaxson groan.
“You know she’s married, right?” Keegan asked.
“Doesn’t make me blind,” Jaxson retorted.
“Happily married, at that,” Kaden added.
“Not like I’m gonna pursue her.” Jaxson took a long pull on his beer. “And it’s not like that, anyway.”
“Then what’s it like?” Reese asked, curious.
“She’s a witchy woman,” Jaxson said, sounding serious. “She bats those eyelashes and it’s impossible to say no to her.”
That earned some laughs from the group.
“I heard y’all were able to find that girl who disappeared from here, what was it? A decade ago?” Kaden prompted, shifting the conversation.
“We did,” Brantley confirmed.
Reese could tell Brantley wasn’t interested in talking about it. He’d learned the man was not keen on praise when it came to a job well done. He figured that had something to do with his time in the military. Ops like the one that had gone down today were commonplace in the spec ops community, nothing to be praised. Reese knew from experience.
“And the new guy?” Keegan nodded his chin toward the back.
“Detective Sebastian Buchanan,” Reese told him. “Austin Police Department.”
“He gonna join the task force?”
Reese couldn’t answer that, so he glanced over at Brantley.
“We don’t know what direction we’re goin’ yet,” Brantley grumbled, turning to look at Reese. “You up for a game of pool?”
“Yep. I’ll get us a couple more beers.”
While Brantley secured a table in the back, Reese headed for the bar.
“You look better than the last time I saw you in here,” Mack noted as he snagged two bottles from the refrigerator beneath the bar.
“I am better,” he admitted, his gaze instantly shifting to Brantley.
As soon as he did it, he knew the move revealed exactly what had altered him these past few weeks. Oddly enough, he didn’t feel the need to pretend otherwise. Rather than get defensive, he dealt with the nerves that churned, because yes, they were still there. But Reese had already learned what happened when he allowed them to take control of his life and he damn sure wasn’t interested in losing Brantley over it. He would simply learn how to channel the emotions differently.
“Well, it’s a good look on you,” Mack said. “And those are on the house.”
“For?”
“Just because.” Mack grinned wide. “Hometown heroes and all.”
Now Reese felt the discomfort that Brantley probably had earlier. They hadn’t done anything exceptional. They’d merely done their jobs.
Reese nodded his thanks, retrieved both beers, and headed for the back.
JJ and Baz had joined Brantley, the two of them laughing at something.
“You mind if we play, too?” JJ asked, her question directed at him.
“Not at all.”
The night was still young when Brantley suggested they head back to his place.
Having spent the past two hours watching Brantley slaughter the rest of them at pool, Reese had been more than happy to agree with him. He had even managed to resist the urge to jump Brantley during the drive home, although it hadn’t been easy.
However, all bets were off when they stepped into the house. Reese waited long enough for Brantley to close the door before he had the man up against the wall, his mouth crushed to his.
“I might have to take you out more often,” Brantley muttered. “Makes you frisky.”
Reese chuckled. He’d never been called frisky before, but it was a good description for what he was feeling right now. He’d never wanted this man more than he did in that moment.
“Thank you,” Brantley whispered.
Reese pulled back, met his gaze. “For?”
“Tonight. I know it was hard.”
A slow smile pulled at his mouth. “No. Tonight wasn’t hard.” He leaned in, nipped Brantley’s earlobe. “But I am.”
“Yeah?”
“Oh, yeah.” Reese groaned when Brantley gripped his ass, jerking him forward until their bodies were crushed together.
“Have I mentioned how fuckin’ hot you make me?” Brantley mumbled, his lips sliding down Reese’s neck.
“Feelin’s mutual.”
Rather than wait for Brantley to lead the way, Reese gripped his shirt, pulled it over his head, then did the same with Brantley’s. And then they were chest to chest.
Oh,