Chapter 49

Bryson wasn’t going to let the fact that Duke had walked out destroy him, not even with the declaration of love between them. He’d been a participant in this particular rodeo before and no doubt would be again. Soon—in a few minutes, or half an hour, possibly even an hour or two—he’d give his head a shake, get off the bed, and check his voicemail. He’d go see how Beau was doing and work with Lew to make some fresh decisions on Beau’s care. They’d move on without Duke and, after a little bit of healing and a new hire or two, they’d be just fine.

Then he’d call his mom back and tell her everything that happened with Beau, Rebecca, and Rebecca’s co-conspirator, and after a few minutes of stalling, he’d finally tell her what went down between him and Duke. She’d ask him how he felt, what she could do to help, and he would tell her that he was just fine.