Page 23 of Edge of Danger

“I get it.” Weston took a seat where Brax had spent the day in the apartment they’d rented across from that of a suspect they suspected in a string of home invasions. When the San Antonio PD had thrown up their hands in despair after a dozen invasions left them with no evidence and no real suspects, one of the victims had hired the Patterson brothers to look into it.

Within two weeks, they’d found their prime suspect and had been staking out his apartment ever since, keeping track of his movements and of any visitors.

“I guess you’ll be on your way home now.” There was a hint of a smile tugging Weston’s lips as he looked Brax up and down. “A hot, hearty meal waiting for you. A woman to serve it. You’ve got it made, brother.”

Brax waved off Weston’s obvious joking. “Please. She has time on her hands, and she likes to cook. I’m not getting any ideas about it.”

“Why not?”

“Because she works for me. Enough of the devil’s advocate.” He cleared his throat before changing the topic. “Anything new about Robert?”

“Nothing we didn’t find before. Though truth be told, we’ve been busy.”

“Yeah, and I’ve been doing all right with Tessa—and Walker,” Brax added, but it was too late. The spark in Weston’s eyes said everything.

“Doing all right with the nanny. I wonder what Mom would think about that.”

“Okay, enough.” Brax held up his hands in mock surrender. “Fact is Tessa is twenty-two years old. A nine-year age difference is sort of substantial.”

“I’ll grant you that. But don’t pretend you don’t look forward to getting home and seeing her. You smile almost as much as Luke does nowadays. Honestly, I don’t recognize either of you.”

“Funny guy. You know, Walker might have something to do with that.”

He did. Now that those early days were over and there was no more panic, Brax had been able to relax and get to know his nephew. The kid was adorable when he wasn’t screaming. Tessa was good with him.

It cracked him up to no end to see the baby watching as the two of them held a conversation. He was so serious, studying their mouths with his little face scrunched up in concentration. He’d be a smart kid, no doubt.

Unlike his father.

“So? Have you spied on her while she’s alone with the kid?”

Brax bristled at this, though there was a slight amount of embarrassment behind it. “How’d you guess?”

“I’d wonder about you if you didn’t. Where did you hide the cameras?”

“One in the kitchen, one in Walker’s room.”

“And?”

“And she was great with him the entire time. I only did it for the first couple of days. Just to satisfy myself that she was as good to him in private as she was in front of me.”

“Of course.”

He didn’t tell Weston about her singing. About the endless games of peekaboo. How she talked and talked to the baby—the audio went in and out depending on her volume and the room she was in at the time, but her facial expressions said it all.

She loved Walker, and it showed.

If anything, that only helped him like her more. They had something they loved in common. Something they worked together to nurture. Something that made them laugh at the dinner table with his comical facial expressions and sudden outbursts.

Those evenings with Tessa had become the highlight of his day.

Which meant he had to get moving if he was going to enjoy another one. “I’d better go. She might worry if I’m late.”

“She’s got you following orders already.”

“Watch it,” Brax warned, and he was only half kidding. There were limits to joking around.

“Can I offer you a little brotherly advice before you go? In all seriousness.” When Brax nodded, Weston continued. “You have a lot to think over. Plans to make. Decisions to come to.”

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