Page 15 of Edge of Danger

Maci was thoughtful and friendly. And organized, considering how she kept four men in line. The Patterson brothers didn’t seem like they’d be easy to wrangle.

Tessa had overheard Chance joking with Brax about how their mom would flip out if she knew there was a baby around and nobody had told her. Whoever she was, their mom had to be a special lady. Adopting four kids out of the foster care system wasn’t for the faint of heart.

Tessa had moved into the break room. It was better than the conference room, more comfortable in there for both Tessa and Walker.

The fridge was right there, so was the microwave when it came time to warm bottles. She didn’t love the idea of using a microwave and thought it would be healthier to warm his formula in a pan of simmering water, but people did what they had to do in tough times.

Like sponge bathing in gas station bathrooms.

At least her baby was eating and she was the one feeding him. That was what mattered most. She may have preferred taking care of Walker at a house, but she couldn’t blame Brax for not trusting her alone with him.

The break room made it possible for her to get to know all the men as they wandered in and out. They each seemed caring and genuinely curious about Walker.

Weston had confirmed what Maci had already shared. “It means a lot to us that he has a stable upbringing,” he’d confessed while nuking a cup of coffee. “We got lucky. Lots of kids don’t. Not everybody gets adopted by loving people with the patience to undo years of damage.”

Knowing they’d gone through so much hurt her heart.

But look how they’d turned out. They could’ve taken those years of damage and turned against the whole world. They could’ve taken their pain out on the people around them. Instead, they helped people. Protected them. It was their mission in life.

And it had made them hyperaware of what might happen to Walker if Brax didn’t maintain guardianship.

Brax. Every time she thought about him, she fought back a tiny smile. What was it about him that made her react that way? Was it his voice? So distinctive she could home in on it even if she hadn’t heard it for a few days. Or maybe his cologne? Her stomach tightened every time she caught a whiff.

All of her senses were focused on him at all times. Waiting for him to poke his head into the break room. Hoping to pass him in the hall.

He was easygoing, and he obviously took good care of Walker. That had to be why she was so tuned into him.

Easygoing or not, Brax would kick her out in a heartbeat if he ever learned who she really was.

It was clear he didn’t like Robert very much. Whenever she mentioned Walker’s daddy, Brax got a pinched look on his face like he’d just tasted something bitter. Did he know he reacted that way? Probably not. He’d never said much about his brother, but his body language spoke for him.

That didn’t mean Brax would hear her out if she tried to explain what Robert had done to her. Walker’s best interests would always come first, which would mean kicking out the supposed junkie mom.

Tessa could respect Robert for putting her son’s well-being above all else. Even if everything he said about her had been an outright lie.

Tessa scooched closer to Walker and bent to rub his back. He hated tummy time, but all of the articles she’d read said it was vital for his muscle development. Her body instinctively straightened as the intoxicating scent of Brax’s cologne wafted her way.

“Come on, buddy,” she urged Walker. “You can do it. Push yourself up on those arms of yours.”

Brax leaned against the doorjamb and chuckled at the sight of his nephew fighting to push himself up off the floor. “That’s right, little man. Work those biceps.” Her heart skipped a beat when he flexed his own considerable biceps.

The best—or worst—part was he seemed oblivious. He wasn’t trying to grab her attention. He wasn’t deliberately showing off or flirting. He just happened to possess more charm than anybody should be allowed to.

And a body to match.

Robert had been charming at first, back when he’d been trying to get her into bed. He’d even made her believe he’d cared about her. Until proving how much he didn’t.

That memory was like a bucket of ice water dumped over her head. She had to be smarter this time.

Brax’s expression turned serious. Did he know what she was thinking? Of course not—he couldn’t.

That didn’t keep her stomach from turning into a sea of acid when he looked at her that way. Didn’t stop her mind from spinning out in a thousand directions, trying to come up with a plan to get away with her son before Brax figured out who she was.

“I need to know how to pay you.”

Oh, was that all? She almost laughed in relief but stopped herself in time. Laughter wouldn’t be an appropriate reaction. “It’s been such a joy spending time with this guy again, I almost forgot about that.”

His frown deepened. “But you do have to get paid.”

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