A Mended Man (The Men of Halfway House Book 4)

by Jaime Reese

  Aidan's birthday wish. A simple backyard barbecue with those he considered closest friends and family—minus Bull, who was at an undisclosed location on assignment.

  Sunny, soon to be godmother to the new Reyes addition, had escaped with Manny's wife to the maternity store since Marcela's baby bump was starting to show. Sunny took her future godmother duties as seriously as she did everything else. But she confessed willingness to do just about anything to escape the testosterone overdose she knew would happen on the football field.

  Hunter, Cameron, and Hunter's father, Thomas, had returned weeks ago and quickly settled into their old lives but new all the same. Thomas was immediately up to his old tricks and flirting with ladies at the nearby community center. Hunter now taught at the university and selectively consulted on cases with Jessie on legal strategies. And Cameron had a permanent grin etched on his face while working at the diner during the week and handling the occasional landscaping job in the evening and on weekends.

  But none of that compared to Aidan's transformation. He had become Home-Video Aidan—vibrant and in full-color.

  He talked more.

  He smiled bigger.

  He laughed louder.

  And his love was boundless.

  Jessie would willingly share his Aidan with the world—but only enough so they'd witness how amazing he truly was. He still saw the bristly personality at work on those occasions when they brought Jessie in to consult on another task force case. But behind every snarky comment or sharp jab at a fellow team member, hid a playful spark in his eyes hoping for banter.

  Aidan had managed to find his version of inner-peace with the heartbreaking milestones in his life. He still had his moments with painful reminders that stabbed his heart more than he dared to admit, but it was part of Aidan's nature…to care more than most. But he always found the time to talk through those moments, either while they snuggled in bed or during one of his follow-up sessions with Dr. Engel.

  "Second down. You're going down, Boy Toy!" Aidan yelled through his hands, cupped in a megaphone fashion.

  Cameron and Cole laughed in the field as Hunter scowled. They each positioned themselves, crouching close to the ground with their fingertips in the grass.

  "You're going to pay for that," Hunter said with an intense look on his face that contradicted the half smile. His prowl look. The one that let everyone know he was ready to dive in for the kill. Jessie knew that expression well after having worked alongside him for years in the state attorney's office. And Aidan knew his friend well enough to suspect the jab would hit its mark.

  Matt blew the whistle and both teams lunged forward—flag football be damned. There would be bruises and cuts and spatters of blood, and tons of smiles all around. Hunter immediately headed toward Aidan who faked a step to the side to get to Cole, carrying the football.

  "Hunter's going to nail Aidan," Ty said, slightly cringing in the chair beside him.

  "No, he won't. Aidan's covered," Jessie said. "I'm more worried about Cole right now."

  Ty straightened in his seat to get a better view. Wall circled and blocked Hunter, knocking him flat on his ass at the same moment Aidan rammed into Cole and dropped him to the ground.

  Cole rose from the grass, brushing off the dirt from his shorts and straightening the tight-fitting skull cap on his head. "Fuck, man! Whatever happened to the flag?"

  Aidan snatched the flag from Cole's pocket and waved it in the air, laughing so hard it became contagious, rippling laughter to his other teammates—Travis and Manny. Cole shoved Aidan playfully as Wall extended a hand to Hunter, helping him off the ground. Cole shoved Aidan again, baiting him. Julian and Wall immediately stood between them to break it up, Julian slapping the back of Cole's head while Wall stood guard at Aidan's side.

  Jessie sighed, thankful his hard-headed Aidan was protected on the field—flag football and at work. Risks and worry were a package deal, but he was at peace knowing Aidan was part of a rock-solid team where each member had declined several offers for transfers and promotions simply to stay as a unit. Aidan had recovered quickly from his injuries, left with a gunshot scar hidden by the edge of his inked scroll, a permanent mark on his lower torso, and a slash across his pec from the knife.

  A deep groove that served as a constant reminder—a mark Jessie's monster had etched into Aidan's body. A scar, Aidan countered, that proved how much he loved Jessie and how far he'd go to always love and protect him—one he'd proudly wear like a badge of honor. Jessie wouldn't deny he preferred that version better. Seemed after all this time, some of his positivity rubbed off on his prickly, always sexy detective.

  "That's my brother," Ty said, pulling Jessie from his thoughts. He crossed his arms and smiled smugly looking out at the field as Aidan wrapped one arm around Cole's neck and tugged him close so he couldn't escape, then rubbed Cole's head with his knuckles until Cole started laughing.

  "That's my Aidan," Jessie said, absently holding the key on his necklace, running his finger along the top and sliding it across the chain link. He rose from his chair and walked over to the barbecue, raising the cover and tending to the burgers and hot dogs.

  "Hey, Cam! Set up the play we covered in the huddle," Hunter yelled out.

  Cam looked over his shoulder and grinned. "I love it when you yell my name." Everyone in the group knew Cam's excitement stemmed from the use of his given name rather than the WITSEC name, but the double entendre was obvious in his heated stare.

  "Please show some mercy for the heteros in the audience," Manny said, groaning loud enough to trigger a few chuckles.

  Jessie switched his focus between the barbecue grill and the game, shaking his head when Cole tackled Julian in the next down. Even he knew it didn't make any sense to tackle your own team member, but Cole was Cole.

  Aidan called a time-out and Matt blew the whistle. He ran over to Jessie with a lingering smile, grabbing one of the baseball caps from the table. "Here, put this on so you don't burn. The sun's kicking a bit today."

  "I've still got the sunscreen you put on me earlier. I think I'll be okay," he said, flipping the burgers on the grill.

  "Just in case." Aidan put the cap on Jessie's head, positioning it so it was perfectly centered, then leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. "And don't worry about the hat-head. You're still perfect."

  Jessie knew he must have a silly grin on his face. He couldn't contain the happiness that always bubbled to the surface when Aidan kissed him or held his hand in public.

  "Did I earn a point with that?"

  Jessie nodded, still smiling.

  Aidan quieted when Julian approached.

  "Are the burgers ready? I'm starving," Julian said, grabbing a bun from the bag and handing it to Matt before taking another for himself. The others circled the grill, each taking a bit of food before settling at the two round patio tables.

  Cole walked up to them and stood off to the side with a ridiculous grin on his face, watching them. Aidan rolled his eyes and turned his head toward Cole, refusing to distance himself from Jessie. "What's so funny, Mr. Future-brother-in-law?"

  Cole's smile widened as it always did when Aidan threw back his self-proclaimed title. "You two. It's like watching turtle porn."

  Jessie couldn't hide the bubbling happiness when Aidan pushed Cole, laughing as he shoved him away.

  "Seriously, is everyone gay here?" Manny said with an eye roll.

  Aidan smirked. "Asks the only man at this barbecue eating a hot dog instead of a burger."

  Manny stopped the hot dog midway to his mouth, launching another round of laughter from the group before shrugging it off and taking a bite.

  Aidan wrapped his arms around Jessie's waist from behind, pulling him close against his chest. "Thanks for an awesome birthday," he whispered in Jessie's ear.

  Jessie anchored his hands on the strong arms wrapped around his waist, watching their friends laugh and joke with each other. "Birthday's not over yet."

  "Mmm. I'm
guessing there will be balls involved," Aidan whispered in Jessie's ear, pulling his earlobe between his teeth.

  "Yeah. Yours." Jessie chuckled.

  "You're insatiable."

  Jessie turned in the embrace, reaching up to touch Aidan's stubbled jaw, smiling when Aidan leaned into the caress. "And you love that."

  "I do." Aidan guided Jessie's hand from his face to his chest, pressing Jessie's palm over the scar on his pec. He covered Jessie's hand with his own and held his gaze with a solemn expression filled with unmistakable love. "With every breath and heartbeat."

  ~ The End ~

  About the Author

  Jaime Reese is the alter ego of an artist who loves the creative process of writing, just not about herself. Fiction is far more interesting. She has a weakness for broken, misunderstood heroes and feels everyone deserves a chance at love and life. An avid fan of a happy ending, she believes those endings acquired with a little difficulty are more cherished.

  http://www.jaimereese.com/

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  Twitter: @Jaime_Reese

  A Better Man

  A Hunted Man

  A Restored Man

  A Mended Man

  …more to come…