Edge of Danger (San Antonio Security #2)

Chapter Four

Thank heaven for swaddling.

Last night’s fractured sleep was far from his usual state of unconsciousness, but it had been better than the few stolen minutes he’d been able to snatch the other nights since Walker had come into his life.

Brax was functional, but barely. And he wasn’t ready for this. Any of it. He’d never planned to have a kid in the first place—even if he had, didn’t a person usually have a little time to prepare themselves? To learn, to adjust their mentality?

A man didn’t normally have a baby dropped into his life with no warning and no way out of the arrangement.

“What about calling a nanny service?” Maci bounced Walker slightly as she walked back and forth. Though Chance saw Maci as an annoyance and was grateful to have her preoccupied with a baby, Brax saw her as a saint.

“That’s not a bad idea,” Weston agreed.

Brax blew out a long sigh. “I don’t know the first thing about choosing a nanny. I don’t know anything about any of this.”

“That’s the point of calling a service. They do the vetting for you. All you have to do is say yes or no once you meet the nanny they send.” Maci shrugged. “It’s an idea, anyway.”

“It’s a good idea.” And when Weston decided something, that was that.

“Sure. Whatever.” Brax leaned back into his chair, eyes closing. “If it means that I can get some sleep every once in a while and come to work without lugging the baby and all the stuff that comes with him, count me in. This can’t go on forever.”

Weston perched on the edge of Brax’s desk, holding the paperwork. “I looked into this.”

“And?”

“No big surprise, it’s a mess.” He pointed at the signature next to Brax’s printed name. “Obviously a forgery.”

“Yeah. Robert got a little creative there, didn’t he?”

“And this Raymond Volver, the judge who signed it without even setting eyes on you? Very shady.”

“That’s Robert’s cousin through his mom, and the only reason my half brother isn’t in prison, I guarantee it. Ray cleans up after Robert all the time.”

“I’m fairly confident an impartial judge will overturn this.”

Brax nodded slowly, staring at the wall. “Yeah. But we all know what happens when guardianship is revoked. Walker goes into the system.”

Weston put a brotherly hand on Brax’s shoulder, a silent affirmation that no one wanted that to happen. “We’ll track down Robert, figure it out. For your sake and for Walker’s.”

Brax put his hand on Weston’s. Walker’s soft noises floated in from the reception area where Maci paced with him.

And it was sweet. Fatigue and frustration weren’t enough to keep him from smiling.

Walker was the only living blood relative Brax had besides Robert. Not that he felt alone. He hadn’t for years, ever since his mom and dad had taken him in at twelve and shown him what family could mean.

Walker was his blood. Brax couldn’t willingly, knowingly dump the kid into the foster care system. Not with his personal history.

By late morning, it was clear everybody had needed a break. Luke was still off in his personal happy place with his fiancée and would be in later. Chance was out shopping for baby supplies. Weston was following a lead for a client, though Brax knew leaving the office hadn’t been necessary. Maci had volunteered to pick up lunch.

Brax was alone with Walker.

At least the baby was sleeping, swaddled up in his car seat. He was so much cuter that way. Was it wrong to think that?

A soft, female voice floated over from the reception area. “Hello?”

He was up in a flash, if only to keep whoever was out there from waking Walker. “Yes? Can I help you?” he asked as he closed his door behind him.

She was beautiful. That struck him first. Petite with delicate features. Brown hair pulled back into a ponytail. A full mouth that tugged downward at the corners, and dark brown eyes that met his and held his gaze without flinching.

She looked confused. Tired. Troubled.

Instantly, something tightened in his chest. He wanted to help her. He needed to.

She opened her mouth, then closed it. Her brows lifted before drawing together. “Uh, yes. I think so?”

He waited, watching her. She carried a cheap fake-leather bag over one shoulder. A jittery hand plucked at the strap; her teeth dug into her bottom lip.

Nervous. His senses sharpened, tuned in to her every move, her every breath. The image of a wounded bird formed in his mind.

If he pushed too hard or came on too strong, the bird would fly away. “Would you like to sit down? Can I get you something to drink?”

“Um, I guess? Water?”

Was it a question? Why was she so uncertain?

He was about to ask that very question when a familiar noise started up from inside his office.

“Is that Walker?” she asked, eyes leaving Brax’s face for the first time since they’d met.

Brax tensed. Just when he’d thought his protective instincts couldn’t rev any higher. “Who are you? How do you know the baby’s name?”

It was rare for anybody to relax in his presence once he’d barked at them that way, but she did. “I’m Tessa. We spoke on the phone yesterday. ‘Swaddling’?”

He relaxed. Maci must’ve called the agency she was talking about, and they’d probably reached out to Tessa since she’d taken care of Walker before. “Of course. Sorry for sounding suspicious. It’s been a long few days.”

“I understand.” She pointed to his office, brows lifting in silent question, and he nodded.

She hurried toward the baby. “Hey, Walker!” Her sweet voice was soft as she unlatched the straps holding Walker in place. “How’s my buddy? How come you’re crying, huh?”

It was magic. The second the baby was in her arms, he quieted down. “There he is,” she whispered, stroking his downy cheek with one finger and smiling down at him. “Missed you, buddy.”

“You’re incredible with him,” Brax murmured. “He likes you.”

She couldn’t have been older than her early twenties, yet she handled the baby like she’d been caring for children for decades. Some people had the magic touch, he guessed, and thank heaven, again, Tessa had found her way to him.

By the time the guys showed up and Maci arrived with lunch, Tessa had fed and changed Walker and was rocking him to sleep in her arms.

“All right. Hold on.” Luke stopped in front of Brax’s office. “I heard there was a baby, but for some reason I still imagined it was a joke.”

“Wow, that agency was quick,” Weston muttered to Brax while Luke and Chance introduced themselves to Tessa.

“I know. Barely quick enough, though.” Brax rolled his head back and forth, rubbing his neck. Why did his neck hurt? The damage a baby could do.

“Let’s get you set up in the conference room,” Weston offered. “If you don’t mind working out of the office, that is.”

“Not at all.” Tessa looked at Brax with a smile. “This is unexpected. All this attention.”

“Yeah. My brothers are always ready to jump in and help. It’s just that we have to work, of course, and Robert dropped Walker on me without warning.”

Tessa tilted her face away, but not in time to hide the way she grimaced at Robert’s name.

Brax could understand that. It was obvious from the way she’d lit up when she’d seen the baby that she cared about Walker and couldn’t believe Robert would do something as stupid as walking away from his child.

That was something they agreed on.

He left her in the conference room, softly singing to the baby in hopes of getting him to sleep. There was something so sweet and perfect about Tessa and Walker together that he couldn’t stop looking over his shoulder at them. He forced his feet toward his office knowing the rest of him wanted to stay.