He found him leaning against a pillar, sharp-eyed and handsome in that clean, effortless way. Roland. Tall, dark, and dangerous when he wanted to be. Today, just tired from a long business trip. And smiling when he saw Levi approach.
They embraced, solid and grounding. A long hug.
“You okay?” Roland murmured into his shoulder.
Levi nodded, but his jaw clenched.
Roland pulled back slightly, studying his face. “What is it?”
Levi exhaled, his voice low. “There was a girl. Well... a woman, really. Young. Everything about her was screaming Little. Looked completely lost and alone. She was crying, Ro. Just standing there clutching this poor old bunny like it was all she had.”
Roland’s expression softened immediately. “That’s where you were. You were helping her?”
“Yeah. Got her to the travel desk. But she didn’t tell me where she was going. Didn’t even give me a name.”
“Want to check if she’s still there?”
Levi hesitated, then nodded. “Just... I just need to see that she’s okay.”
They walked back through the crowd, weaving past families, tired travelers, and bustling staff. When they reached the counter, it was empty. A new person had stepped up, and there was no sign of the girl with the bunny.
“Looks like she got where she needed to go,” Roland said gently.
Levi nodded once, rubbing the back of his neck.
“I know she’s probably fine,” he muttered. “And she’s going to her damn boyfriend, but still.”
Roland leaned in and kissed his cheek, subtle and comforting. “Good, then someone will be happy to see her.”
“Yeah,” Levi said, though the word soured in his mouth a bit.
“Then let’s hope whoever he is, he knows how lucky he is.”
Levi didn’t answer right away.
Instead, he looked back toward the empty desk, the place he’d left her, and felt the loss.
But he only allowed it for a moment before he looked to his partner. “Come on, lover boy. Let’s get you home. I’ve missed you.”
Roland smiled. “Not as much as I’ve missed you.”
The words had the last of the tension slowly bleeding out of Levi’s shoulders. The girl was gone, yes, but he wasn’t alone. He never really was. And as they made their way through the terminal, Levi laced his fingers through Roland’s and gave one last glance over his shoulder. Just in case.
But there was nothing there.
Chapter Four
Sydney
The landscape had changed from freeway sprawl to wide open sky and endless fences, and for the first time since she stepped off the plane, Sydney could breathe again.
The driver, a bored-looking man who hadn’t spoken more than a dozen words since picking her up, tapped his fingers against the steering wheel as they followed the long gravel driveway toward the main gates of Rawhide Ranch. Her heart gave a hopeful flutter at the sight of the large arches up ahead, carved with the double Rs she’d dreamed about so many times.
This was it.
This wasreal.
Sydney was finally here. After months of late-night and early morning calls, juggling time zones, little care packages, stickers in the mail, and sweet rules whispered over a screen, she was finally going to see her Daddy in person.
