Uncle (9 page)

Jason laughed and went running, diving in beside him, and water splashing back over the patio.

Travis watched as Evan grabbed Jason around the waist and tossed him across the pool, splashing even more water. His heart swelled seeing the two laughing, and wrestling together. Refusing to think how easily all this could disappear he forced the thought from his mind and jumped into the water.

*****

Evan sat on the edge of the pool, his feet still in the water as he watched Jason and Travis race as they dived for rings at the bottom of the pool. He was having a great time and couldn't remember the last time he'd laughed so much.

He combed his fingers through his wet hair. His attraction to Travis was growing and even his attachment to Jason. He sighed. He should remove himself from this case, but he was sure Travis wouldn't get a fair report from any other person.

He had hardly met the Steeles and he was ready to recommend Jason stay with Travis. How fair was that? Swinging his legs in the water, he thought back to Jason's reaction about maybe having to live with the Steeles. In his mind, the boy's desires meant a lot. The court would take it into consideration but it wouldn't matter as much to them as it did to him. He frowned as he tried to think of a way to make the case for Travis easier.

"You're in deep thought." Travis swam toward him, stopping and resting his hands on Evan's thighs to hold him up in the water as he settled slightly between his legs, and stared up at him.

Evan smiled, reaching down to rest his hands over Travis's. "I was just watching you two."

Travis frowned. "Lying to me already?"

Evan laughed. "No, but maybe it's a conversation that should wait." He glanced over Travis's head to where Jason was trying to coax Flossie into the pool.

"Fair enough." Travis brushed his thumbs over Evan's legs. "It's getting late. I will get him out and if you want to stay while I get him showered and to bed, we can talk after."

He should leave. Nothing good was going to come of this. No matter how right it felt. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, smelling the chlorine from the pool. Every moment he spent here only strengthened the connection he was feeling with Travis. His heart and mind did a silent battle before he looked back at Travis and nodded. "I'll wait."

"Good." Travis glanced over his shoulder at Jason. "About time to get out, Cowboy. We've got to get you a shower before bed."

Jason swam up behind Travis and laced his arms around his neck, pulling his body down into the water. Travis tightened his grip on Evan's legs to keep from sinking.

"Can't I stay up?" Jason begged.

"Not tonight. You have to be up early." Travis let go of one of Evan's legs and reached for the edge of the pool, twisting around until he could set Jason off his back onto the pool coping. Once Jason stood up, Travis pulled himself out of the pool. Gently touching Evan's shoulder he bent toward him. "I'll be about ten minutes. Make yourself at home."

"I think I might just stay right here and enjoy the quiet." Evan looked up at him, reaching out and brushing his hand down his leg.

"I'll hurry." Travis turned to grab his towel.

"Goodnight, Jason," Evan called as the boy headed for the door.

"Night, Evan. See you tomorrow." Jason waved and ran inside, dripping water in his path.

Travis rolled his eyes as he followed him inside.

Evan smiled as he pushed off the edge and sank into the water.

The pool was quiet and calm as he floated on his back, closing his eyes and getting lost in the solitude. He loved the ranch. It was so different out here than in the city. Other than an occasional horse neighing or bird chirping, it was quiet. He imagined it late at night with crickets and darkness covering everything. He could get used to this.

But did he dare?

He could still feel where Travis's hands had rested against his legs, and even if it was just casual touches and things like a soft caress, each and every one of them drew him and Travis closer. No matter how dangerous it was to peruse a relationship with Travis, Evan somehow knew it would be worth the risk.

A soft breeze blew over him as he floated and he couldn't help wondering if God had somehow sent him here, not only to help Travis and Jason, but maybe himself as well. He'd been so lonely, almost to the point of moving out of Montana and back into a larger city where he had a better chance of meeting other men.

He pondered the thought as he waited for Travis. Trying not to let his emotions take control and somehow find a way to keep a clear mind as they worked through all this. The case had to be his priority. If Travis lost Jason, he feared everything else might be lost as well.

The soft wave of water alerted him and he opened his eyes to find Travis in the water, moving slowly toward him. He smiled as he righted himself and moved toward shallower water. Once his feet touched the bottom, he stood and waited for Travis to come to him.

Travis stopped about a foot from him, staring at him silently.

"He in bed?" Evan took a single step forward.

"He was almost asleep before I left the room." Travis reached out and softly ran his fingers down Evan's arm.

"We shouldn't…" Evan swallowed the rest of what he was going to say, knowing it would do no good.

"But we both want to."

Evan nodded. "Doesn't mean we should."

"I'm tired of everyone telling me what I should do. Just once I want to do what I want to do." Travis took another step forward as he reached up and brushed the back of his hand down Evan's cheek. "Tell me to stop." It came out more of a challenge than a request.

Evan shook his head. "I can't."

"Good." Travis's arm went around his waist and he turned them, backing Evan up until he felt the side of the pool against his back and Travis's body press against his front.

They stared at each other for a moment as if waiting for the other to say no, but neither spoke. Travis's fingers splayed over the small of his back as he bent his head and lowered his mouth to Evan's.

Instant heat rushed through him at the first touch of their lips and Evan grasped Travis's arms for support. Travis's lips were soft, yet strong, and as he moved them against his, Evan returned the kiss with just as much passion. When Travis slid his tongue over his lips seeking entry, he opened willingly to deepen the kiss.

Evan swept his tongue against Travis's as he released his hands from his arms, wrapped them around Travis's waist and pulled him closer. His blood ran hot through his body as an inferno built inside him. For a first kiss it held more potential and promise than kisses he shared with others he had dated for much longer. His body grew hard and he could feel Travis's doing the same against his thigh. How easily this could get out of control. Going against every urge in his body, Evan slowly pulled back, licking Travis's taste from his lips as he tried to catch his breath.

Travis dropped his head, pressing his forehead against his, his arms still tight around him. The stood silent for several moments before Travis pulled back.

"I knew it would be good between us." Travis brushed his lips over Evan's temple.

"That was better than good." Evan moved his hand to Travis's chest, running his fingers through the wet mass of hair that covered it, curling his fingers so his short nails gently scratched at his skin.

"Still say we shouldn't?" Travis's mouth quirked up in a grin.

"I still say it's dangerous. We both have a lot to lose if anyone finds out."

"They won't."

"They could."

"But they won't. We will be careful."

Evan sighed as he laid his head against Travis's shoulder. "I should withdraw from the case."

Travis stared at him silently for a moment. "If you need to, then you need to. I don't want what is between us to make things hard for you. I don't want you to risk your job." Travis stepped back, but kept his arm around Evan's waist. "If you choose to withdraw it won't change anything between us. I still want to explore this."

"I know, but you might not get a fair review if I don't stay."

"And you still feel you can be fair?"

"I saw the way Mrs. Steele was at church today in front of Jason. Besides, you heard him tonight. He wants to be here, and in my opinion, unless there is a case for abuse, his choice matters more than almost anything."

Travis smiled. "I hope the court thinks like you do."

Evan shook his head. "Not always, but I am going to do my damnedest to make sure they do. I've fought myself on my attraction for you, this case, and doing the right thing. In my heart I believe God wants me to stay on and fight for you and Jason. I might have lost my ability to not be bias, but I have no doubt in my mind that Jason belongs here with you. No matter what happens with you and me, it is in Jason's best interest to stay here."

Travis pulled Evan back against his chest. "Thank you."

Evan smiled as he looked up. "But we have to hide this until the case is over. I think I can prove your side, but if anyone finds out about us they will pull me off and send in someone else and investigate you even harder. It will only help the Steele's claims."

Travis bowed his head again, brushing his lips softly over Evan's. "I hate hiding, but this one time, you are right. But once this case is over, we go out. No more hiding."

"That sounds fine to me." He closed the distance between them again and took Travis's mouth in another long kiss. As they pulled back again, Evan shook his head. "I need to go."

Travis nodded but didn't release him. "Are we still on for tomorrow night?"

Evan cupped Travis's cheek in his palm. "I wouldn't miss it."

"Good. I will have dinner ready at six. Is that okay?" Travis took his hand as they started to walk out of the pool.

"I'll be here a little before to help you." Evan took the towel Travis tossed at him and started to dry off. "Might even bring a bottle of wine."

Travis laughed. "Getting me drunk so you can take advantage of me?"

"Do I need to?"

Travis stepped to him and pulled him back into his arms. "No. In time, I'll give you everything you want."

Evan smiled. "I think I already have it."

CHAPTER NINE

Travis pulled the lasagna from the oven. He was lost without Jason running around him and the extra noise in the house. How quickly he had grown accustom to Jason's presence. As much as he missed him, it was a nice break. He finally gotten work done around the ranch he had been putting off, and sent the hands home early, telling them they had stepped up so much over the last few weeks while he dealt with Jason, they deserved extra time off.

He watched the clock, counting down the minutes until Evan arrived, and when the doorbell finally rang, he nearly ran for the door. He pulled it open and smiled. "Hi." He stepped back to let Evan inside.

"Hi." Evan stepped past him with a bottle of wine in his hand.

Travis shut the door and turned back to Evan. "You look great."

Evan looked down at his casual Levi's and t-shirt, raising a brow.

Travis laughed. "I wasn't looking at the clothes." He bent in close and brushed his mouth over Evan's. "I'm glad you’re here."

Evan pressed his free hand against Travis's chest and then pulled him back for another kiss. "House too quiet for you without a six year old running around?"

"Crazy, isn't it? In just a few weeks I miss the sound of him yelling at me from the other room. The first week he was here I couldn't wait for him to go to bed so it would be quiet, and now I miss it." Travis reached for the wine. "Thank you for bringing this."

"You're welcome. Glad to have someone to drink it with. Wine just isn't the same when you drink it alone." Evan followed him toward the kitchen. "As for Jason, I think he is missing you just as much as you are him. He is walking around the Steeles trying to act like a monk, when what he really wants is to run, shout and laugh. By the time he gets home I think he will be more than ready to give you all the noise you can handle."

Travis frowned as he set the wine on the counter and then reached for two glasses from the cupboard. "He's okay?"

Evan reached for the wine bottle and started to work the cork. "He is fine. Just bored. They are pretty strict. I was there about three hours. I don't know if it was show for me, but they had him working on his letters and numbers almost the whole time I was there. They have hardly any toys for him —"

"They have a garage full of toys. Boxes of them that we packed from my sisters. They won't let me take them and sounds like they won't let him play with them there either." Travis shook his head. "I really don't want to hate these people, but it's getting harder and harder."

The cork came out with a small pop and Evan started to pour a little into each glass. "I haven't decided if they are just that old fashioned or what it is with them. The house was so clean I almost felt like taking my shoes off before I walked in." He took a deep breath. "I really shouldn't be talking to you about any of this."

"I know, but I can't help but be curious." Travis moved the salad and then the lasagna to the table. "I didn't invite you over to talk about them anyway. I want to get to know you. The rest of the night I promise to do my best to not bring up the case or the Steeles." He took a glass of wine and handed it to Evan before grabbing his own. "Hungry?"

Evan took the wine and nodded as he glanced at the table. "Starving. The smell hit me the second I walked in the door."

Travis brushed his hand down Evan's back as he turned toward the table. "I hope it tastes as good as it smells. Been years since I made it."

"You like to cook?" Evan took a seat at the table.

"Some. I won't complain when someone else does it, but I don't mind cooking. I can hold my own."

"I never learned how. My parents weren't home much. Both worked long hours. I grew up on TV dinners and quick things like that."

"Your parents still alive?" Travis scooped a large portion of lasagna onto Evan's plate, the cheese trailing from the pan to his plate.