Page 23 of Wicked Healing

By the time they walked into his room a couple hours later, Erin was actually excited to offer him the space.

As soon as she walked in and saw the devastatingly handsome, excited grin on his face, though, she knew she was too late.

Wicked lunged across the room and jumped onto the bed, greeting Luca like he hadn’t seen him in years instead of just a few hours. Luca laughed, rolling with the dog and patting him strongly. Erin grinned as well. It was really something special to see the two of them together this way. Luca’s coal black hair looked damp, like he’d just gotten out of the shower, and he wore a black T and a pair of black sweatpants. She could see the metal of his prosthetic at the ankle, but he wore regular tennis shoes. He looked excited and ready to do something.

Even when Wicked settled down, though, she could tell by Luca’s expression that he had something to tell her. “What?” she asked.

“I think I found a house,” he told her. “The owner is supposed to get back to me this morning after he hears from another guy on whether or not he wants it. Sounds perfect, just about an hour from here. Big back yard, trees, a couple of bedrooms. It sounds like there will be plenty of space. And he’s former military so I think that helped me out a little.”

“I’m sure,” she murmured.

His gaze sharpened on her. “What?”

Did she offer or not? Sure. What the hell. “Well, I was talking to my mother last night, and I wanted to let you know that if you wanted, you could come home with me.”

Immediately she could feel color suffuse her face. Damn it, she hadn’t meant to say it that way, and judging by the way he looked he hadn’t expected to hear anything of the kind.

“Let me clarify,” she said quickly. “I live on a ranch. And I have this big horse barn that has an apartment in the top. No one has lived there for a while, but it’d be easy enough to sweep out. It’s stocked with everything except food.”

Something changed about his face. His eyes chilled and his jaw clamped and she hoped he wasn’t thinking this was charity. She shifted under his gaze. “I know it’s a long way from here, but if you needed some distance from what you know, it might be an option. We’re a few miles outside of Phoenix, but we have a huge VA. Everything that you get here you can get there. Well,” she said with a grin, “not the ocean. You can have an ocean of sand and rocks and cholla cactus, instead. And this is not charity,” she stressed. “You will pay rent. But you’ll also have someone to care for Wicked when you have appointments or when you need to go out.”

Luca looked down at the dog laying in front of him, and she could tell he was thinking about what she’d said. His dark eyes lifted to hers. “That’s an incredible offer, Erin. Thank you very much. I’ll have to think about it.”

She nodded. “I just wanted you to have an option to fall back on if all else fails.”

“I appreciate that, I really do.” He stared at her for a long moment, then looked down at his hands. “You know, when I look back on my life as a SEAL, I really thought I was bulletproof. When you’re thrust into situations where you’re fighting for your life over and over again, and you win over and over again, it gives you an ego. I’m not gonna lie. And I’m probably even worse because I had him backing me up in everything.” He patted Wicked’s side. “Then, within seconds, everything changes. Your entire life and that of those around you goes to hell, and you’re left floundering. Literally and figuratively. I’m still floundering.”

Clearing his throat, he shifted on the bed. “But I have to say, when you’re injured the way we were, you realize who your friends are and who has your back. My team has really been pulling for me. More than I expected, actually. And my dad pulls for me. Mom, on the other hand, seems to just be waiting for me to fall on my face.” He gave her a grim smile, and Erin wished she could disagree with him on that, but she couldn’t.

“But I can tell you’re one of the ones that only has my best interests at heart. And I really do appreciate it.”

Erin sighed, her heart aching for him. “It’s just the dog,” she argued. “I’ve fallen in love with him,” she said, then winked.

Luca grinned, then laughed. “Yeah, he is pretty cute, I suppose.”

“His owner’s not too bad either,” she admitted softly.

Luca looked startled, then he snorted. “Yeah, okay.”

Erin could tell he didn’t believe her. “We didn’t get a chance to visit with anyone when we were here last time. If you don’t mind I’d like to see how Wicked reacts to people with you at his side.”

Luca nodded, shifting off the bed and to his feet. His prosthetic was on and she saw a glint of metal beneath the cuff of his sweatpants. She didn’t see the cane he’d been using. Maybe he didn’t need it all the time.

“Boss, k noze.”

Immediately, Wicked jumped from the bed and positioned himself at Luca’s side. Erin watched for any kind of give in the dog’s prosthetic, but it didn’t happen. Wicked was getting so used to the piece she didn’t think he was even aware of it being there.

Erin followed along as they left the room and walked down the hallway. Luca stopped at a room with a closed door and knocked softly, but there was no response.

“Marcus might be at rehab,” Luca told her. “We’ll come back.”

They moved on down the hallway to an open door. Luca walked in and leaned over to do a man hug with a guy sitting in the recliner chair. Erin took a deep breath as she saw the devastation of the man’s face and body. It was obvious he’d been burned, and his right arm appeared to be gone at the shoulder. But there was excitement in his eyes as he looked at the dog.

“Dude,” his voice rasped. “Is this Wicked?”

Luca nodded. “This is him. And Oliver, this is Erin. She’s been taking care of Boss for the past two months.”

The man held out his left hand and Erin took it, smiling. “No, he’s been tolerating me for two months. Just waiting to get back to Luca.”

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