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

“You okay?” Joe fixed me with a knowing stare.


That was it. Nothing more. He didn’t need to ask all sorts of questions. Joe didn’t beat around the bush. He was direct and I knew he expected me to be as honest and blunt as he’d been.


He grinned and sat up a little so there was room at the end of the couch if I wanted to sit. I eased myself into the recliner instead. I didn’t bother to offer him a drink. He knew where everything was, and if he was thirsty he could get it himself. I settled in and waited for him to get to the point of his visit.


“Aimee wanted me to check on you ‘in person.’” He rolled his eyes, and his inflection put in the quotes. “She seemed to think you might be sugarcoating things in all the texts and phone conversations we’ve been having.”


I grinned. “That’s because your wife knows me.”


Chapter 31