“Good afternoon, Rhonda,” JJ greeted the secretary with a big grin. “We’re here to see Governor Greenwood.”
Rhonda looked up, a smile on her face. Looked as though JJ was right, she was starting to like them.
“He knows it was short notice,” Rhonda said, “but he’s glad you could make it. Unfortunately, he’s only got about ten minutes, so this is going to be quick.”
Reese damn sure liked the sound of that.
Rhonda picked up her phone, pushed a button, and informed the governor they were there.
“You can go right in.”
Brantley led the way, Reese behind him, then JJ, Baz, and Trey. Reese wondered how Baz and Trey were faring. Neither was his normal talkative self.
“Governor,” Brantley greeted when they stepped into the opulent office.
Governor Greenwood was on his feet, walking toward them. He held out his hand, shook each of theirs in turn, referring to Reese and JJ by name because they’d been there before.
“Sir, I’d like to introduce you to Sebastian Buchanan and Trey Walker. They’re the newest members of my team.”
The governor politely greeted them with a firm shake before taking a step back and addressing them all.
“I hate that I had you drive all the way down here, but I didn’t think this was something I should relay over the phone.”
Reese’s shoulders tensed. Here it came. They were being canned because they’d stuck their noses where they didn’t belong.
“The Dallas mayor contacted me this morning,” the governor continued, his eyes giving away nothing.
“Sir, I take full responsibility for the actions of my team,” Brantley said quickly.
“Well, I would hope so.” Governor Greenwood met Brantley’s gaze. “In this case, especially. The mayor was quite impressed with the work your team did, including the supporting documentation provided on the investigation.”
Reese released the breath he’d been holding, as he figured they all did.
“And that’s the good news.”
Oh, crap.
Brantley stood with his hands clasped behind his back, shoulders squared. “The bad news, sir?”
Governor Greenwood smiled. “I’m being asked to expand your responsibilities.”
“To?”
“Not only will you continue to assist on missing persons cases, I’ve offered up your team to assist with homicide investigations.”
“Sir—”
“Only in specific cities for now. Dallas, Austin, and Houston. And only active cases. Depending on how this works out, we’ll determine whether that scope will be broadened.”
More work. Just what they didn’t need.
“I know it’s a lot.” Governor Greenwood’s gaze strayed to JJ’s. “But as I recall from your very thought-out presentation, you’re up for the responsibility.” He turned back to Brantley. “I think you might need to hire a few more people.”
A few? At this rate they were going to need an entire department.
“Thank you, sir,” Brantley said quickly.
“Don’t thank me yet but do keep me updated.”
“Of course, sir.”
The governor addressed them all as one. “You did a damn fine job with that case. I hope you understand how valuable your assistance was. I had to turn down the mayor’s offer to install your team up in Dallas permanently. Told him you’ve got more than enough going on down here.” He nodded, smiled. “Keep up the good work.”
A chorus of thank you, sirs went around before they left the office.
Reese expected to feel a hundred pounds lighter now that it was over, but he didn’t.
In fact, he might’ve been tenser now than before.
“We’ve made a commitment to Travis,” he reminded Brantley. “We have to find Juliet Prince.”
“It’s gonna be fine,” Brantley said softly as they headed back down to the first floor. “As a team, we’ve got this covered.”
Yeah, okay. Maybe he was right.
The did make a damn fine team and if he’d learned anything about Brantley, it was that the man finished whatever he set his mind to.Chapter Twenty-TwoThanksgiving Day“You ready for this?” Brantley asked as he strolled into the kitchen to find Reese downing a bottle of water like he’d just run ten miles.
“Maybe you could just bring me a doggy bag,” Reese said tightly, not bothering to look his way.
Brantley grinned. “It’s gonna be fine, I promise.”
“How many people’ll be there again?”
“A few.”
Reese groaned.
“Let’s just say there’ll be enough people there that they won’t all be starin’ at you.”
“Not helpin’.”
Brantley chuckled. “You’ve survived Curtis’s many family gatherings, have you not?”
“That’s different.”
“How so?”
Reese looked his way then. “I’m not in love with any of Curtis’s sons.”
Brantley felt warmth spread through his chest. It had him moving toward Reese, putting his hands on his hips, and stepping in close.
“Have I told you how fuckin’ much I love to hear that?”
“I’ll tell you a dozen times if it means I can stay here while you go have turkey and dressin’ with your family.”
“No deal.”
“But I do have a surprise. Somethin’ that might take your mind off of dinner.”
“What’s that?”
Brantley motioned toward the back porch. Reese followed, stepping outside with him.
“I’ve hired someone to put in a fence,” Brantley explained. “Not the entire property, but enough to give Tesha plenty of room to roam.” He then pointed to the wall behind them. “And I bought those. Figured we could get them installed.”
