When State Trooper Travis Kinslow is injured right before Thanksgiving, the only positive is that for once he won't be working during the holidays. Since he has no family, Travis was absorbed into his best friend Joe's, and he considers them as good as his own. Everyone except Joe's brother Noah. Travis has been in love with the younger man for much of his life, but he's always kept his distance.<br><br>As an ER nurse, Noah is a caretaker by nature. When his brother's best friend is hurt, he's happy to help Travis while he heals. He's only ever allowed himself to think of Travis as the next best thing to an older brother, but by the light of the Christmas tree, Noah finally sees Travis's true feelings. And in that moment, everything changes.<br><br>When faced with opposition and a Christmas nothing like they imagined, will their hopes for the future be enough to carry them through?

His Needs

“What do you need me to do?” Noah kept his voice quiet, and I appreciated he wasn’t forcing help on me. I liked that he let me do the things I could, and I wasn’t too proud to ask for help. It rankled when I had to, but it never stopped me from asking when I truly needed it.


“Help me get out of the car,” I responded in a murmur, hating it but knowing it was necessary. His car was tiny, and I’d barely been able to fold myself into it in the first place. “I can make the walk, but it’s going to hurt standing up.”


Noah nodded and was out of the car in a flash. He opened my door and then carefully helped me move my legs until they were outside. When my feet were planted on the pavement, he bent down to wrap his arms around my waist.


“Put your hands on my shoulders,” he instructed, his lips practically touching my ear. I did as he said, holding in the groan that wanted to escape. “Good, now lean forward, and let me do the lifting. Ready? Three.”


Chapter 12