“Why?” he prompted, frantically searching another drawer. “Why would you tell me you had them if you didn’t?”
“Because I didn’t want you to spend the whole night worryin’.”
“Great. Now I’ll spend alldayworryin’.”
“They’re around here somewhere.” Brantley’s tone was much too cool and collected.
“Perhaps you’d like to tell me before I lose my shit.”
Brantley laughed.
“This isnotfunny.”
“It’s a little funny.”
Reese spun around, facing Brantley as he approached. “We have to have those rings. We’re gettin’ married on Saturday, Brantley.ThisSaturday. Two more days.”
Brantley reached for him, but Reese stepped back. Unfortunately, he had nowhere to go because the counter stopped his retreat.
“We’ll find them,” Brantley said softly. “I promise.”
Reese exhaled heavily. “What if we don’t?”
Brantley closed the distance between them, getting right up in Reese’s personal space. He wanted to push him away, to insist they find them now, but as was always the case, resisting this man was impossible. Especially when he pinned those beautiful blue-gray eyes on him the way he was now. As though he would and could slay dragons for him.
If only they were dealing with a dragon. Perhaps they stood half a chance of this wedding going off without a hitch.
“If it comes down to it, we’ll get the entire team here to search,” Brantley told him.
Reese shook his head and planted his hand on Brantley’s chest. “No. Donotlet JJ know we can’t find them. If she realizes…”
Brantley chuckled, leaning in closer so that their lips brushed. “We won’t tell her.”
“No one,” Reese insisted. “Don’t tellanyone.”
Brantley’s voice softened. “Okay. We’ll find them. I promise.”
“What if we don’t?” Reese asked again, unable to hide the defeat he was already feeling.
“Then we’ll make do with something temporary.” Brantley tipped Reese’s chin up, meeting his gaze. “The rings aren’t important.”
Maybe not to him, but Reese wanted to exchange them. He wanted the symbolism that came with the gesture. And yes, it seemed silly, even now as he thought about it, but it didn’t change how he felt.
“I’m marryin’ you, Reese. That’s all that matters to me.”
Reese nodded, figuring it would do no good to stand here and argue. As soon as he did, Brantley kissed him, and, as always, that kiss was enough distraction to calm his frazzled nerves.
At least for a minute. Maybe two.
***
“Hey, Becs. Would you mind running abackground check for me on these five people?”
Becs took the stack of papers that Baz passed to her. “Are these the potential new hires?”
“They’re the ones we want to talk to, at least. I hope to get them in here in the next couple of weeks, but I’d like to know what I’m dealing with first.”
“Will do,” she told him, her gaze darting to the door when it opened.
