She pushed the door open and gestured toward the couch.
He could see West sitting back on a recliner, his feet up and their baby sprawled on chest.
West lifted a hand from the baby’s back and gestured for him to step inside.
Duval shook his head and then scraped the bottoms of his boots off on the boot scrubber beside the welcome mat, then lifting one boot and then the other to make sure he wasn’t tracking anything inside.
When he stepped in he pressed a quick kiss to Tracy’s upturned cheek. “How are you, mama?”
“Good. Very good.” Tracy blushed and gave him a playful smack on his arm. “What can I get you to drink?”
He gave it a thought and shook his head. “I’m good, thanks.”
She nodded. “Okay.” She looked at West. “I’m going to go get a shower while you two talk.”
He lifted his chin, grinning at his wife. “All right, babe. Take your time. I’ve got everything.”
Tracy closed the door and locked it while Duval moved across the room. He sat down in a chair where he could look at West and talk to him without having to speak much above a whisper.
As he watched, West rubbed his hand over the baby’s back.
From what Duval could see, the baby was sprawled on West’s chest, face turned toward him, drool pooling on his boss’ shirt.
“You look good, West.”
“I am good,” he agreed. “Better than I’ve ever been before.”
Duval could hear how much West meant those words.
The man looked every inch a man satisfied with life and soaking in every minute.
They sat there in companionable silence for a few moments before he let out a breath.
“You look like a man which a heavy shadow sitting on his back.”
Duval sat forward, bracing his forearms on his knees. “That’s about the extent of it.”
West’s brows lifted, his lips pressed tight for a moment and then relaxed. “You want to talk about it?”
Duval saw West smile before he even answered him.
“Want to?”
West shrugged and the baby on his chest stirred.
Duval held his breath as West shushed and patted the baby, settling it back to sleep.
When the baby let out a long exhale and got a fistful of West’s shirt, Duval started to speak.
He gave West a quick rundown of what happened at Noelle’s house and when he was done, he sat up and leaned back against the chair. “How badly did I mess up?”
West opened his eyes wider and frowned with just the skin between his brows, furrowing it. “What makes you think you messed things up?”
Duval frowned at him, turning his head slightly to the side. “Didn’t I?”
He lifted a hand and pushed it through his hair, frowning.
“I could have waited to give her the pass.” He nodded his head, going through his thoughts. “I could have taken off my badge.” He shrugged. “I don’t know what I could have done, but I could have done something. Or I could have done less?”
