Up in Smoke (Hotshots 4)

Funny how they’d gone from skipping most holidays to taking turns outdoing each other to make memories for Jewel. And each other.

“Says the guy who had me up to three a.m. building that play kitchen at Christmas.”

“You loved it and you know it.” Shane scooped up Jewel as she wandered away from the rack of clothes.

“Maybe I just love you,” Brandt countered, dropping kisses on both Shane’s and Jewel’s heads. “I mean, I can’t write an award-winning song about it—”

“It wasn’t even a Grammy!” Shane acted like his best new entertainer award from one of the bigger music awards was no big deal. Brandt snorted because he knew under the modesty Shane was damn proud of where his career was heading.

“That’s coming and you know it.” Brandt believed. In Shane. In what they were building, the three of them. And in himself, in his ability to hold his little family together.

“As long as I have you guys here for it.” Shane laughed as Jewel arranged herself so she was draped over both of them. Brandt wasn’t sure his heart could hold the sweetness as she hugged them at the same time.

“I’m not going anywhere.” Brandt wasn’t ever letting go. He’d spent enough years running from attachment, but now all he wanted was to harness these two to him. Even when Shane was on the road, he was still part of Brandt’s heart. Hell, he was Brandt’s heart, the song that made it beat.

As he gathered Jewel and Shane into a tighter embrace, he met Shane’s eyes. The love there made his breath catch. Yup. He’d hold tight to this, to their family, to this man who was everything Brandt had never known he needed, but now was the one thing Brandt wanted to hold on to forever.

* * *