Page 15 of The Story of Danny Rose

“I’m not insecure,” he scoffed.

“Yes, you are.” I leveled him with a patient but firm look. “You assume people think the worst of you, you constantly work for outstanding results in hopes someone will validate you—give you the time of day—but you push them away if their response takes a few seconds.”

I saw the anger ignite once more, and I predicted his next move before he could execute it and shove me away. Acting on instinct, I closed the distance between us and hugged him tightly. He went rigid and pressed his hands against my stomach, but it seemed he couldn’t make himself push.

“Do yourself a favor and stay quiet,” I told him. “I’m not gonna let go for a while, so get comfortable.”

I heard his shallow breath through clenched teeth, and I felt the tension radiating off him.

It made me tighten my hold on him.

I was committed.

I’d been royally screwed since my call with Arden.

“Do you want me to train you?” I murmured. “Just nod.”

Danny felt a little too good in my arms, but I refused to let go. With his anger toward me and my reluctance to see him in the field without proper backup, maybe this was a rabbit hole we had to fall down together. I couldn’t be the drill sergeant who never got personal, and he couldn’t keep people at arm’s length when he was so desperate for a connection. We both had to trust each other if we were going to do this.

It took him a couple beats, but eventually, he managed a stiff nod, and that settled things for me.

This was happening.

“Then you’re under my care.” I rubbed his back slowly, feeling all the contrasts that made up Danny Rose under my fingertips. His sleek, trim muscles. Soft flesh. His warmth.

Welcome to my personal hell.

I’d been struck by his appearance two years ago too. Especially those eyes and his rare, genuine grins. But Danny was right—I’d been closed off. That was how I coped easier. Seeing so many soldiers, being in and out of so many people’s lives…and never lingering.

If it weren’t for my family, I wouldn’t have anybody either. Before I’d taken on the twins, I was used to coming home to an empty flat and having dinner by myself. Which stung a bit more when I placed Danny in the same shoes. I didn’t want him to feel lonely.

“What do you need money for?”

“My future,” he croaked and cleared his throat. He let his hands fall too.

“Elaborate.”

“Are we just gonna stand here and hug?”

“Yes.” I felt a smirk tug at my lips. “Although, you’re not really hugging me back.”

“Because it’s weird. You’re weird as fuck, Payne.”

I chuckled under my breath and had to fight the urge to do something stupid. Like kiss the side of his head. For a fraction of a second, that was all I wanted.

He was right. I was weird as fuck.

“Tell me about your future,” I repeated.

He let out a steadying breath. “I wanna buy a farm and have a bunch of rescue animals, but I gotta pay someone to watch them when I work.”

Goddamn. Yeah, that fit his profile. It spoke volumes of his character, too. Those animals would love him back unconditionally and never leave his side.

It gave me insight into more than that. Maybe he’d given up on finding another person to share his life with. Maybe he didn’t dare try. Maybe he didn’t believe he was worthy of friends. Maybe he thought they would bail anyway. Maybe a wife and kids didn’t interest him. Maybe I was thick in the head for pretending I didn’t already know he was gay. I mean, I was fairly certain.

“That’s a good dream,” I murmured.

He took another breath, a longer and deeper one, and rested his forehead on my shoulder.

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