his face from eye to chin was bandaged. Eden had said

there was a lot of blood and she couldn't see the damage

but Riley had heard the doctor talk to her. Words like blind,

and loss of sight, and nerve damage were thrown about like

they meant nothing.

"Do you need anything?" he asked.

Eden looked up at him. "No. Thank you." Sean had protected Eden when she had come to see

what was happening. A mirror had smashed and was half

hanging on the wall. When one of the photographers had

moved and she was pushed toward it, something had made

Sean twist and shield her as the mirror fell and it had sliced

into his face. The horror of it made Riley sick. Whatever

started the fight, whoever was to blame, Sean had protected

Eden to the end. For that Riley would forever be grateful.

Now they just needed to know what the hell had caused it

all.

CHAPTER 19

Riley shifted and lifted the covers when Jack came back to bed. It was the way things were between them. The rhythm of Jack's breathing and the reassurance of him being in bed were the only two things Riley depended on. They were what he needed so badly tonight and he couldn't sleep without them.

"Horses okay?" he asked as Jack slipped off his clothes and climbed into bed. In seconds they were in each other's arms, in the perfect position, with Jack resting his face on Riley's chest.

They lay in silence for a while and Riley's thoughts played havoc with his breathing. Sean was awake but groggy. It appeared that the photographers had made some comment about the war and Sean had seen just enough to want to make a stand.

Sean had lost a friend that day. A corporal that had been assigned as his guide had been killed by a roadside bomb. That was why the argument started. No one, it seemed, was pressing charges—not one photographer in the group of four came forward and admitted to what had been said, despite witnesses close by telling it exactly as it had been. Christ knows what would happen down the road though.

There was no way about it, Sean had lost his sight in one eye. The optic nerve was severed, the damage too severe. It didn't matter how much money Eden or Riley could throw at the situation, Sean was not going to heal. The scarring on his face could be dealt with, according to the plastic surgeon who had attended him today. Riley was there when Sean just closed his good eye and shook his head. Eden looked at Riley helplessly. Sean would need help to get his head around all of this but at least he wasn't pushing Eden away. Yet.

"Did Stafford talk to you after I left the hospital?" Jack asked.

The detective had been waiting at reception when Jack left and had cornered Riley.

"He didn't say much. Just explained that Sean was free to go when he was well."

Jack settled under the covers and pulled Riley in close.

"Are you still thinking about the bid?"

Riley would be lying if he said he wasn't thinking about the fact CH had won the bid, but in the grand scheme of things it was less important than what his sister was going through.

"I'm pleased… and surprised."

"Bet Josiah is spitting nails."

"Dad thinks they will file to say our new syndicate isn't stable."

"Do they have a case?"

Riley sighed. He wished he had an answer. After what happened with Eden's almost slip-up about the memories of Jeff and Gerald, Riley realized he wasn't anxious about Josiah or anything that would come of this. He had bigger things that should be occupying his thoughts. Eden had been close to losing her control in hospital, and saying what she said could have been heard. Secrets nearly spilled and he couldn't sleep even after Jack was breathing rhythmically. Deliberately he turned his thoughts from the black pit of his family history to his friend Eli and the growing relationship between him and Robbie.

When they got home after dinner Eli was with Robbie, Hayley, and the horses. Eli said the shoot had gone well and that Hayley had been his assistant. Eli had been Hayley's babysitter and judging by the elaborate hair twist up on her head, he was clearly better than Riley with women's hair. Either that or the stylist for the models had been involved. Eli was settled here. The natural progression went from thinking about Eli and how Robbie was a good man and in particular one of the best things to happen to Eli ever. Riley imagined converting some of the older buildings some distance from the main house into a more permanent place for Robbie if he stayed. Family was important.

"Jack? You asleep?"

"Mnnh." Jack was very clearly in sleep zone.

"Do you think Hayley would like a sister or brother?"

Silence. Complete and absolute silence. Riley could have kicked himself. Jack would probably think this was a stupid idea. Hell, he'd taken Hayley on like his own but that didn't mean he wanted a whole ranch of rug rats. Who was he kidding anyway? They were two gay men with careers. What did they know about having another child? Maybe a baby? Who knew what to do with a baby?

"A baby. you mean?" Jack said finally.

"I don't know. Not necessarily. Never mind. We can talk later." Riley wanted the conversation finished. Last thing he needed was to be pressuring Jack into things they didn't need.

"I want to talk now," Jack said.

He didn't sound pissed. Thoughtful and considering maybe, but not angry.

"Okay?" Riley said carefully. He wondered what Jack was going to say.

"I've been thinking on this a lot."

"You have?" So have I.

"How would you feel if we tried for surrogacy first? With me as the donor?" Jack sounded hesitant.

Riley shrugged free of Jack and leaned over to turn on the light until the low wattage filled the room. Jack was blinking in the light and appeared as uncertain as his voice had indicated. Riley couldn't get his words out fast enough.

"A boy with your blue eyes and your ornery stubbornness or a girl who could become the best barrel racer ever seen? Do you mean this for real?" Suddenly the world seemed brighter, like Riley could take on everything and come out winning.