Gage and Kylie were already there and in the process of getting Maddox and Haden situated in the enormous wagon they used whenever they carted the kids to the park, which was quite often being that it was the only place that seemed to satisfy all of them at the same time.
“You want in, too, sweetness?” Travis asked Avery when he helped her out of her seat.
“Wanna walk,” she said in her soft-spoken way.
Travis glanced at Gage, shook his head to relay her answer since they never knew which way she would go. Sometimes she liked to exert her independence, others she wanted to be babied. Looked like she was a big girl today.
Once Kate and Kade were out of the SUV, Travis helped Gage grab the backpacks that contained all their things. They bungeed a couple to the wagon, the others being shouldered by them.
“Hope y’all are ready for this,” Curtis told the kids, taking Kate’s hand and then Kade’s, while Avery latched on to her mom’s.
“We are!” Kade confirmed in that boisterous voice of his.
“Good.”
“You wanna know a secret?” Kylie asked, falling into step with them.
“What’s that, darlin’?” Travis put his arm around her shoulder, pulled her to his side.
“I was hopin’ to get a little quiet time today,” she said, her cornflower-blue eyes sparkling.
“Quiet time?” Gage snorted a laugh. “Where do you hope to find this at?”
“I told Jess we’d sneak away to do a little shopping, maybe splurge on some coffee and a funnel cake.”
Travis ignored the unease that slithered down his spine at the thought of Kylie going off by herself. Although he would’ve preferred to keep her and the kids locked up in the house, safe and secure and under his protective thumb, he knew he couldn’t do that. They deserved to be out enjoying life, not hiding away from the possible horrors this life could bring.
“Well, if it helps, we’ve got the kids today,” Gage told her. “Your only job is to enjoy yourself.”
Travis glared at Gage, hating that he could be so lax about it.
When Gage shot a look back his way, Travis refrained from saying anything. After all, he had promised he would stop being so overprotective. It had been almost four months since Kate was kidnapped, and no one had seen or heard a peep from Juliet Prince, the woman responsible, in the time since. While he had his suspicions she was behind the text he received, leading him to JJ’s house prior to it blowing up, no one had clued him in one way or the other. He knew his cousin Brantley was working to locate Juliet, and he also knew Brantley was keeping the details close to the vest.
Despite his internal alarm bells, Travis was heeding everyone’s advice, backing off the search and doing his best not to look over his shoulder at every turn.
Gage nodded his head toward Kylie, a silent request for Travis to chime in.
“Yeah,” Travis agreed, hiding his reluctance. “We’ve got this. You have fun.”
It was her appreciative smile that made him feel both worse and better about encouraging her.
Chapter Three
By the time afternoon rolled around, Brantley was happy for a change of pace. Although he’d claimed to have errands to run, JJ had seen right through him. While she had allowed him to leave the barn, she’d commandeered Reese, insisting his help was necessary. Since Brantley hadn’t been in the mood to argue and Reese seemed content to stay, he’d left them to it.
Now, as he drove toward downtown Coyote Ridge and the Fantasy Festival that was underway, he found himself smiling.
“I’m still tryin’ to wrap my head around you wantin’ to go to this thing,” he told Reese.
“Don’t pretend you’re not excited.”
“Excuse me?” Brantley frowned, cutting a quick look at Reese. “Is there somethin’ to this event that I don’t know about? To hear my mother tell it, they’ve got games and shit for the kids. What exactly is in it for me?”
Now Reese looked confused. “Your mother told me you’ve been lookin’ forward to this.”
“She what?” He barked a laugh. “She told you that?”
“Yeah. When she called last night.”
Well, that explained how they were both willingly going to this shindig that, yes, was an event for kids when they could’ve easily gone to the gun range to get some downtime. Looked like Reese had been introduced to Iris Caine Walker’s manipulative streak.
“Well, the good news is, they’ve got a carnival,” Brantley said, thinking positively.
“Which means what? You’re gonna ride the Ferris wheel?”
“No, I was thinkin’ more along the lines of the shootin’ gallery.”
“You wanna win a teddy bear for knockin’ down all the tin cans with a BB gun?”
Brantley grinned. “I wanna win you one, and I don’t care if it shoots Nerf darts. I’m down.”
Reese snorted.
There was no denying this wouldn’t have been either of their first choice for places to go on a Saturday. Didn’t matter that most of the town would be in attendance and the majority of that would be Walkers. His mother had even informed him that his cousins Lynx and Wolfe—his mother’s brother’s sons—would be there as well. It’d been a while since those two had come around. Probably had something to do with the fact they had all settled down into marital bliss.
While Brantley actually enjoyed spending time with his family, it still wasn’t enough of a draw to get him excited, yet here he was because spending the day with Reese, regardless of what they were doing, was the only thing that mattered to him.
And truthfully, they could use some fun. A little time to forget all the shit they’d been dealing with, the cases they’d closed, the ones they hadn’t, and the biggest drain on them all: the search for Juliet Prince.
Yep, a few hours to clear the head would be good right about now.
As Brantley neared the park, he wasn’t surprised to see that Main Street parking was full. Every angled spot from one end to the other was taken. Even the Double R Bed-and-Breakfast was packed with cars, likely offering up the space for those who needed it.
Brantley avoided the busiest areas and got lucky and found an empty space at the elementary school.
“It’s not too bad out here for January,” he said as they headed to the park on foot, Tesha leashed and leading the way.
The weather probably couldn’t have been any better if it had been planned. A lot of sun, minimal breeze, and the temps hovering in the mid- to upper-fifties. Nothing more than a long-sleeve shirt to make it comfortable.
Brantley did love winter in Texas.
As they got closer, the sounds grew louder, children laughing, machines running, bells jangling, people chatting.
The area had been converted to a fantasy wonderland, complete with hot chocolate stand, bounce houses, and a plethora of carnival rides and games.
But it was the decor that caught his attention, had Brantley taking it all in with a smile.
“I think they managed to find every shade of blue there is,” Reese noted when they stepped onto the sidewalk that lined Main Street, where the vendors had set up in front of the shops that were also participating.
In this section, there was cotton candy, funnel cakes, face painting, and you could even get your hair painted with some blue sparkly shit if you were so inclined. Brantley figured he would pass on that.
“Well, look at this!”
Brantley turned at the shout from behind him, smiling when he saw his cousin Sawyer and his wife, Kennedy, walking their way. Their four-year-old son, Matthew, was perched on Sawyer’s shoulders while two-year-old Brody was chilling in a stroller, their dog, Buster, trotting along beside him, snagging caramel popcorn as it fell.
“Didn’t figure y’all’d get the day off,” Sawyer said, gripping Matthew’s knees and holding him firmly in place.
“Didn’t want to miss the first festival of the year.”
Kennedy chuckled. “Well, if you did, you just need to
blink and there’s another one.”
“Don’t let her fool you,” Sawyer said, bumping his wife’s shoulder with his. “She’s all about these festivals. In fact, she was on the decoratin’ committee for this one.”
“Is that right?” Brantley nodded his chin toward the large plastic snowflakes dangling overhead. “Those your idea?”
“As a matter of fact…” Kennedy shook her head and grinned. “Lorrie’s.”
“Kennedy’s contribution was the snow machine,” Sawyer told them.
She blushed and elbowed Sawyer’s side.
“Well, we’re headin’ for the horse rides,” Sawyer explained, shifting to move around them. “I don’t think we’ll survive if we somehow miss out.”
Horses? But Curtis and Lorrie owned a ranch.
Brantley’s forehead creased in confusion. “Don’t you have access to horses whenever you want?”
“We do,” Sawyer said, nodding dramatically and looking a tad bit deranged. “You’d never guess it.”
Laughing, Brantley moved out of the way, allowed them to move through.
That was pretty much how the next hour went. They encountered Brantley’s sister Tori and her husband, Killian, along with little Eric, who was begging and pleading for his parents to let him ride the Ferris wheel for the eighth time. Then they passed his cousin Jared and his wife, Hope, with their two little ones, Derrick and Kassidy.
No one stuck around for long, moving kids along, getting them to their destinations. To his shock, the parents were taking it all in stride, most laughing and smiling despite all the screams and shouts coming from the little ones. He figured that wouldn’t be the case at the end of the day, but at least for now they could enjoy some time outside.
“Is that Zane?” Reese asked, elbowing Brantley to redirect his attention.
He looked where Reese was gesturing, saw Zane, Beau, and Braydon working to corral probably a dozen kids. Kaden, Keegan, and Ethan were nearby, helping to keep them contained as best they could.
“You wanna go over there?” Brantley dared to ask.
Reese’s look was one of … yes, it was possibly fear when he said, “Nah. I’m good if you are.”
They quickly turned the other way before getting noticed and asked to help out. While Brantley loved all those kids, there was only so much he could handle at one time.
“Finally,” he drawled when he saw the line of games that had been set up. “You ready for this?”
“I don’t think anyone’s ready for this,” Reese said with a laugh. “But I’m in if you are.”
*
Sitting at her desk, JJ stared at her computer screen, pretending not to hear the conversation taking place downstairs.
As of half an hour ago, the team had dispersed, Trey and Charlie excusing themselves to join the festivities downtown. When Charlie had suggested JJ go with her, she had politely declined. Although it would probably be a decent distraction from the chaos that had become her life, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. No sense in bringing everyone else down today.
“Yes, Molly, I heard you,” Baz said, his raspy voice drifting up to JJ’s ears.
JJ hated that she was eavesdropping, but it wasn’t like Baz was looking for privacy. If he had been, he would’ve stepped outside to take the call like he did the half dozen other times that woman called him.
And boy, did she call. Like every hour on the hour, it seemed.
“I’m not arguing with you,” Baz grumbled, clearly frustrated.
JJ glanced at her headphones, considered putting them on. Any other time, she probably would have, but she hesitated now. It had nothing to do with wanting to listen to Baz’s conversation. Nope, her trepidation had something to do with having been jumped from behind a week ago, knocked unconscious when that prick hit her over the head.
Try as she might, JJ found herself jumping at every sound. It didn’t matter that she was currently living with Baz, staying in his guest room. For the most part, he wasn’t home, which should’ve been the way she preferred it since she was heartbroken that he’d gone and slept with another woman and said woman was claiming to be pregnant with his child. Only, JJ wished he would be there simply so she’d have someone to count on to watch her back.
It was stupid, she knew. The man who’d attacked her was dead. And Dante Greenwood, her ex-boyfriend who had dragged her into his stupid plan, was in rehab for his addiction. The threat had been neutralized, as Brantley would say, so it didn’t make sense for her to be so panicked.
If only she could get her brain to process that.
JJ heard footsteps on the stairs. Immediately, she focused on her computer screen.
“Hey,” Baz greeted, his soft tone telling her he was aware of her current state of jumpiness.
Turning, she offered a smile. “Hey.”
“I was gonna head to the festival. Why don’t you come with me?”
JJ’s gaze immediately slid to the phone in Baz’s hand.
He held it up. “I didn’t invite her.”
“Why not?” she found herself asking before she could stop the words.
Baz sighed. “I’ve already told you. It’s not like that.”
The anger she harbored at Baz threatened to surface, but she swallowed it down, reminding herself it was her fault he’d gotten involved with another woman in the first place. For weeks leading up to that incident, Baz had been making the effort to reconcile with her, but JJ had continued to push him away. Evidently, she’d pushed just hard enough to send him into the arms of another woman. And she was completely to blame.
“Come on,” he said, motioning for her to join him. “Let’s go hang out with the rest of the town. It’s nice outside and we can both use the fresh air.”
JJ knew she should say no. It wasn’t right to lean on Baz, to use him so she didn’t have to be alone. But the truth was, once he left, she would be completely alone until he came back to give her a ride home. Since Reese and Brantley had taken Tesha with them, JJ did not feel comfortable staying in the barn by herself.
“Okay.”
Baz’s surprise lit up his face and it made JJ relax a bit.
“Really?”
“Yeah. Might as well, right?”
His hesitant “right” said he was still processing her agreement to go. “I’ll … uh … wait for you downstairs.”
JJ turned back around, undocked her laptop, and slid it into her bag. She cleaned up the clutter on her desk then got to her feet.
Taking a deep breath, she resigned herself to enjoying a few hours outdoors.
Good thing she’d gotten so good at faking it.
*
Baz remained silent during the drive into town. It wasn’t much different than their morning drive into work. For the past few days, JJ had been riding with him until she received the insurance settlement for her car, which had been destroyed during the explosion that had leveled JJ’s house.
It wasn’t that Baz minded driving with her. In fact, he liked it more than he probably should. Unfortunately, he wasn’t getting the same vibe from JJ, and he completely understood why. Their relationship had started almost from the first day they met. His attraction to her had led him to asking her out, getting shut down. Being one to never give up, Baz had insinuated himself in her life as her friend. And it probably would’ve remained a friendship if JJ hadn’t been harboring the same attraction for him.
Needless to say, they’d acted on that attraction and their friendship had morphed into more. Or so he’d thought. Unfortunately, they hadn’t been on the same page regarding how much more it was, and he’d gone and screwed things up by pushing for her to meet his parents. JJ had panicked, and hoping to bring her back around, Baz had backed off for a little while, committed to eventually winning her back.
Only Baz had fucked everything up on New Year’s. After JJ had gone off to help her ex-boyfriend, Baz had let the liquor do his thinking for him. That resulted in what should’ve been a one-night stand, and it woul
d have if he hadn’t let his emotions get the best of him. Thanks to his need to block out everything else, he’d done the one thing he’d never done before: had sex without a condom.
Well, technically there had been one, but according to Molly, it had broken and he’d told her it didn’t matter. Since the events of that night were still a bit hazy, Baz had no choice but to believe her.
Problem was, Molly had been claiming she was pregnant since the very next morning. As if that wasn’t enough, she insisted they talk about it every hour of every day. She called him incessantly. To the point he had to turn his phone off at night from time to time to block her out. Considering his job required him to be available at all times, it was a risk, but at the moment, he didn’t really give a shit. The woman was driving him fucking crazy.
“Have you seen the pregnancy test?”
Baz’s gaze snapped over to JJ. “What?”
“Molly. Did she show you the pregnancy test?”
Baz turned his attention back to the road. There was no way he could have this conversation with JJ. Hell, he didn’t want to talk about it with anyone, but certainly not with the woman he loved more than life. Despite what had happened, despite what he’d done, Baz still wanted things to work between him and JJ, and he was hoping one day she could forgive him.
JJ sighed. “Come on, Baz. We’re friends. You can talk to me.”
Baz shook his head.
“It’s not like you can change what happened,” JJ said, her tone soft. “But we can move forward, right? As friends?”
He gripped the steering wheel harder, held his tongue.
His phone buzzed, the screen lighting up with Molly’s name, as though the woman knew they were talking about her. Or rather not talking about her.
Baz exhaled heavily, hit the button to decline the call.
“Probably be easier to park at the high school or the elementary,” JJ said when he began searching for parking spots along Main Street.
He focused on finding a spot, relaxing when he saw someone climbing into their car. A second later, they were pulling out, but before Baz could get close enough, another car pulled in.
Alibi (Brantley Walker: Off the Books Book 5) Page 3