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

“Thank you,” I said quietly after I shut off the water. I set the pitcher on the counter, then quickly opened the roses and placed them inside. Noah took the cellophane and threw it in the trash, and then he came back to fuss with the roses a little until he was happy.


He stepped up close to my left side, and one of his hands landed on my waist. “You really like them? I worried it was too much.”


His gaze searched mine, looking for the truth, and I smiled and wrapped my arms around him, pulling him into a hug. I would have loved to squeeze him tightly, but my body wasn’t quite up to that yet. Instead, I kissed the top of his head, and then, when he tilted his face back to look at me, leaned down far enough to give him a gentle, soft kiss on the lips.


Chapter 24