Dax (The Theriot Family 4)

5

Dax

My phone buzzed, and I jumped. Travis and I stared at each other. I didn’t know whether to kill whoever was calling me or thank them. Travis’s lips looked so soft. I wanted to taste them. I wanted a hell of a lot more than that, but kissing him would have been a mistake, one I would have regretted, though maybe not for a while.

Travis’s cheeks were flushed, his eyes big and bright, but as soon as I reached for my phone, he looked away.

“It’s Beau.”

He shook his head and started to get up, but I held onto his hand and mouthed, “Stay.”

He leaned against the back of the sofa and laid an arm over his face. I let him be while I took the call.

“Is Travis still there?” Beau asked.

“He sure is.”

“Is it all right if I come over? I need to talk to him, and thank him, and figure out what the hell we should do now.”

“I agree. Come on, but be gentle, okay?”

Travis looked up at me, scowling, and Beau laughed. “That’s cute coming from you.”

“I’m serious.” I hadn’t meant to snap. I didn’t need Beau questioning my motivation too deeply. That would only lead to trouble. “Sorry, he’s just—”

“I know he saved my life. I’m planning to offer him a job.”

I relaxed then. I hadn’t expected it would be easy to convince Beau that Travis needed to stay close by.

“I’ll be there soon.”

“See you then.” I ended the call.

“He knows everything, doesn’t he?” Travis asked.

I shook my head. “We haven’t said anything to him.”

“Really?”

“Remington thought it should be up to you to decide how much to tell him.”

He sighed and brushed a hand over his hair. “I don’t want to tell him anything.”

“Why not?” I tried to keep my voice neutral. Beau needed to know, but I didn’t want Travis to think I was judging him for not telling.

“I don’t want pity from him or for him to think I’m so weak that I—”

“No.”

The force of the word made Travis jump. I reached for his hands again. “I’m sorry. I’m just so angry Rob made you think… That you ever felt like you were less than worthy. Travis, you were still a kid when he started this shit with you.”

“I could have told Beau what was happening, but I didn’t because I liked having a secret. I liked having a part of my life that he wasn’t in charge of.”

“That’s understandable, but Beau needs to know you were in danger, that Rob used Beau’s safety to manipulate you. I think it would help the two of you forgive each other.”

He frowned. “What do I need to forgive Beau for?”

“For not fighting for you.”

Travis sucked in his breath. “What? How was he supposed to—”

“He knew Rob was a piece of shit long before Rob forced you to set him up.”

“Beau told me to walk away from him. At first, I didn’t want to, then I couldn’t. You can’t blame him for what happened.”

I knew I wasn’t being fair. I was sure Beau had tried to make his brother see what a mistake he was making, but why didn’t he understand Rob was manipulating Travis just like he had Beau.

Just like you were supposed to know Ambrose was unhappy enough to run off and join the army without saying a word to you?

Fuck. It was easy not to see how pissed off Ambrose had been, but when I was in the middle of that shit, it was like I was blind to everything Ambrose felt.

“Do you want me to stay while you talk to Beau?”

“I want to leave before he gets here.”

I laid my hand over his. “Don’t. He’s… He wants to thank you, and he needs to know about LePlatt and the others who might come for you.”

“That’s exactly why I need to leave.”

“It’s why you need to stay. I’m going to protect you, and I’m going to keep you right here.”

“You can’t…”

“Try me.”

“Fuck, Dax. I…”

“Hear Beau out and tell him—”

“Or you will.”

“No, but I’ll make sure you stay with me until you’re ready to, and I’ll make sure Beau and my cousins are well protected.”

“Is Corbin living with Beau now?”

“Yes, and they are very much in love and—”

“Fine. I’ll tell him, but I’m not promising anything else.”

He would do what I wanted. I was going to make damn sure of that, but right then, he needed care, not more demands. I wished like hell I could kiss him.

What if that kiss was exactly what he wanted?

It wasn’t what he needed. He needed someone sweet and nurturing, someone who could help him heal, not a man like me. I hurt people; I didn’t fix them, but I could make sure Travis lived long enough to find that kind of man.

Beau knocked on the door a few minutes later. I left him and Travis in the living room and stepped into my office, but I kept the door cracked. I couldn’t stand not knowing how their conversation went. Travis was bringing out every protective instinct I had.