In the very best place he could ever imagine himself being.
His gaze swept the room, from table to table, face to face. His entire team was here tonight. Every single person he worked day in and day out with had shown up to celebrate with him. They’d become his second family over the past two years, and though he never would’ve predicted he would one day behere, back in Coyote Ridge with an incredible job where he got to work side by side with the most amazing man, Brantley wouldn’t trade it for the world.
“Did you know I hate dancing?” Brantley asked Reese as they moved synchronously around the dance floor that had been created in the center of the large round tables. It wasn’t his first trek around this floor, but he hoped it would be his last. He’d danced enough for a lifetime, and while he would begrudgingly endure all night if that were what Reese wanted, Brantley preferred to take a seat and grab another drink.
“You’re pretty good at it,” Reese told him.
Brantley grinned. “Liar.”
Reese’s eyes glittered with amusement. Those golden-brown irises had done that a lot today, and Brantley found himself getting lost in the warmth and love he saw there. It didn’t even matter that several dozen people were watching them right now. Let them watch because, as far as he was concerned, no one else was in the room.
“Thank you for lettin’ me make you mine,” Brantley told him, his grin still lingering.
“Who said I didn’t makeyoumine?”
“I’ve been yours since the day I met you, Reese Tavoularis. Don’t you know that?”
“Yeah.” Reese leaned in and kissed him.
“In fact, I’m pretty sure I was yours quite a while before you were mine.”
Reese’s forehead creased. “Are you referrin’ to the fact I was straight when we met?”
Brantley barked a laugh. “Baby, you were never straight. You just played the role until I came along.”
“That’s an interesting way of puttin’ it.”
Brantley kissed Reese and whispered, “I would’ve waited a lifetime for just five minutes.”
“If you make me cry in front of all these people—”
“Again,” Brantley stated.
“—I’m gonna do filthy things to you, Navy boy.”
“Promises, promises. I love you,” Brantley whispered.
“I love you, too.”
They continued to ride out the song—which might possibly be the longest song in the history of songs. They were nearing the blessed end when Reese stopped.
Brantley immediately went on high alert. “What’s wrong?”
Reese nodded his chin, and Brantley looked in that direction. JJ was sitting in a chair, her hands clutching her belly as she breathed in deep and slow.
Brantley took Reese’s hand and headed toward her. “Are you feelin’ all right?”
“Peachy,” she said on a pained exhale.
“Tell me you’re not in labor,” Reese said, moving closer.
“I’m not in labor,” she said through gritted teeth.
“Where’s Baz?”
JJ shrugged.
“I’ll find him,” Reese said, releasing Brantley’s hand.
