Firefly Lane (Briar County 1)

Roe didn’t press him for a response, just said, “I’d like for you, Marilee, and Sean to stay in this house. The cabin has doors and locks all the same, I get that, but I’d feel better, safer, with you all in here until we know for sure if Adam is going to come around.”

Holden closed his eyes. Jesus, he was pretty sure he loved this man. How had he let that happen? But he knew the truth—he couldn’t have stopped it if he tried. It didn’t matter if they were overreacting. Adam was clearly dangerous and on edge. Marilee and Sean were worth every precaution. “Thank you. I’m not worried about me, but them…I’d feel safer too.”

“I’m worried about you.”

Holden chuckled. “I can take care of myself.”

“I bet your sister would say the same. Still, you worry. And I worry. And I think you’d worry about me too.”

“Goddamn it, Roe.” This wasn’t supposed to happen. He wasn’t supposed to feel anything for Roe.

“I won’t push. No pressure.”

“I know,” he replied. Roe was honest, which was one of the things Holden respected most about him, but he would never push. “I keep seeing it…seeing that woman. Imagining what Adam did to her, only it’s to Marilee or Sean.”

“I’m so sorry.” Another kiss to his shoulder. “I don’t think he’ll come here. He has to know they would look for him here. Harmony is a small town. We’ll take care of them together.”

Holden nodded. Together. He liked that.

“She file a report?” Roe asked.

“Yeah,” Holden replied. “I’d love to stay in this bed all night, but I don’t want to leave them.”

“Just let me hold you for a little while longer.”

Holden turned to face him. Wrapped Roe in his arms, and Roe did the same to him. They lay together for a while, before Holden forced himself out of the bed. Roe brought him a washcloth to clean up, and then they tugged their sweats on again.

They kissed at the door before Holden walked to the cabin, let himself in, locked the door behind him, and peeked in on Marilee and Sean. They were sleeping soundly.

He grabbed his blankets and pillow and went to the couch, even though he knew he wouldn’t get any sleep that night.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Monroe

Roe hadn’t expected Marilee to agree so easily to stay at his house. They left Wyatt’s space alone, Marilee and Sean sharing one of the spare bedrooms upstairs while Holden had the other one. Roe had spoken to Wyatt and let him know what was going on. It was important to him that Wyatt never felt left out. This was his home, his life—Roe was his father.

Roe figured he and Holden were overreacting by moving them out of the cabin, but he would rather that be the case than to not take it seriously and something to go wrong.

He and Holden hadn’t spoken any more about what was going on between them. Roe knew what he wanted—Holden. He knew Holden wanted him too, but that didn’t mean it was easy. He had to deal with whatever was going on inside him, plus decide what he wanted to do with his life. Roe wouldn’t ask him to stay. It was a decision Holden had to come to on his own. He’d asked Rich to move, and look how that turned out. But they’d been out running errands when someone approached Holden about a small job, which he’d taken. Roe couldn’t help wondering what that meant—him taking on more.

Holden had sneaked downstairs into Roe’s room one night, and Roe had fucked him again, but it had been quick, knowing that Sean and Marilee were upstairs. Having them in the house made it all the more clear how much he wanted this, wanted to share his home and his life, how much he wanted Holden in his bed every night.

Roe was at work, and it was slow for a Thursday, so at about three, he pulled one of the lead employees aside. “You all okay if I head out early?”

She nodded, but he could see the question in her gaze. “Of course. You takin’ some time for yourself? You never leave early unless you have something to do for Wyatt, but he’s in Wilmington still, right?”

Maybe it should bother him more that people knew his life so well, but it didn’t. He couldn’t believe he and Holden hadn’t created more rumors. They were there, but he figured Holden having the excuse of being there for Marilee helped keep them at bay. “Yeah, they are. I just have some work I need to get done. If anything changes, call me and I’ll come back in.”

She nodded, and then Roe was on his way. He drove straight out to Covington Acres, knowing Holden and Sean were out there working. He found them standing outside one of the barns, talking with his mom and dad.