Dr.Tinder patted him once on the shoulder, then strolled off down the long hallway.Baz continued to watch his sleeping babies.It was weird how content he felt considering his newborns were in the hospital, yet for some reason, he did.
“You might give ’em a complex if you watch ’em too much.”
The sound of JJ’s voice lightened him even more.She had that way about her.Everything she did made him feel like a better man, a better human.
“Dr.Tinder was just here.”
She smiled, waved behind her.“I passed him.He mentioned dinner with your folks.Wes is insistent about that, huh?”
“Oh, he definitely is.”
When she moved closer, he put his arm over her shoulder and pulled her into his side.He kissed the top of her head.
“I thought maybe we’d work in the cafeteria if that’s okay with you,” she told him as they both admired the little miracles they’d created.“I’d like to look into the doctor who signed Kylie’s death certificate.Since she was pronounced in this hospital, there’s a good chance he’s around here somewhere.”
Baz peered down at her.“Provided you don’t intend to confront him.”
She plastered on a winning smile.“Why shouldn’t I?”
That was a damn good question.One he couldn’t answer.Or rather, one he knew heshouldn’tanswer.The fastest way to get on JJ’s bad side was to stand between her and a goal.The woman was as independent as they came, and since that was one of many things he loved about her, it would make him an idiot to try to stifle that.
“Fine,” he said, dropping his arm and taking her hand.“But if you talk to him, I go with you.”
“If you insist.”
“I do.”
JJ peered through the window.“Sleep tight, peanuts.We’ll be back soon.”
They most certainly would.
“Mind if we give Tesha a break?”Reese prompted from the passenger seat.
Brantley grinned.He’d been waiting for it ever since they saw the sign for Hillsboro.In fact, he was surprised Reese had waited this long.
“You timed that perfectly, didn’t you?”
“Timed it?For what?”Reese’s words were thick with innocence.
“Buc-ee’s.”
“Are we near one?”
Brantley glanced over, cocked an eyebrow.He knew Reese was well aware of the location of every Buc-ee’s in the state.The man was oddly obsessed with them.Not that Brantley would turn his nose up at one.They were just shy of being a superstore rather than a convenience store.Plus, it was rarely difficult to find an available gas pump.
Since they were currently driving on I-35, coming into Hillsboro, the next location wasn’t too far ahead.And Reese’s well-timed request gave Brantley plenty of time to exit.
Very thoughtful of him.
He sensed Reese’s smile as he worked his way to the right lane to exit.When they pulled in a few minutes later, Tesha’s head popped up, and her tongue lolled out of her mouth.She panted with excitement as she always did when they stopped during long trips.
“I’ll drop you off in the grass, then fill the tank.When I’m done, I’ll meet you inside.”
Brantley pulled alongside a large grassy area that was a decent pet stop if he did say so himself.Plenty of gas stations had none, which was stupid if you asked him.A dog was no longer an animal people kept in their backyard and only spent time with when they remembered they had one.Dogs were now in charge of the humans, he was pretty sure.Theirs was.So, yeah, if Buc-ee’s was looking to make any sort of improvement, they could add dog parks to their locations.Then they’d be just about perfect.
It took no time at all to fill the truck.Once he did, he pulled up to the front, parked.As he was getting out, his phone rang.
Travis.
