Page 103 of Cowboy SEAL Homecoming

“I’m not leaving without your word. That’s one thing I know you won’t go back on,” Jack pressed.

“Fine,” Alex muttered. “You have my word.” He’d just make sure he fixed this whole thing before the shrink got here. Before he had to do anything.

He was going to solve his own problems. He didn’t need anyone’s help and he didn’t need anyone’s pity. He hadn’t expected to have a timeline on that, but that was fine. It was probably best. Because the sooner he got over all this crap, the sooner he could give Becca more. She deserved more.

“On one condition,” Alex added, because hell if he was getting his shit poked into without giving it right back.

Jack tensed and that was when Alex knew he had, maybe not the upper hand, but at least an even hand.

“The same goes for you. You make the same deal with me.”

“Last time I checked I haven’t tried to lunge at you in some sort of waking fugue state.”

“No, but I know you’re not sleeping. At least not at night.”

“Some of us are still in a lot of pain from our injuries,” Jack returned in a growl. “And I’m not going to take those damn painkillers. Last fucking thing I need.”

“That’s fine. But if by the time the shrink gets here you’re not sleeping better, then you need to talk to her or you go back to the doctor about your pain.”

“I’m fucking done with hospitals.”

“Is it a deal or what?”

Jack ran a hand over his hair. “I don’t have a nice, sweet woman waiting for me to get my shit together, Alex.”

“So find one.”

Jack laughed a little bitterly. “Thought I had.” He shook his head.

“It’s been a long time.” For the first time, Alex wondered if it would have been better for Jack to go home and deal with the aftermath of his cheating fiancée.

“Yeah, well, I loved her for a long fucking time. Whatever. You’re right. Been a long time. You giving me your word?”

Alex held out a hand. “If you’re giving me yours, it’s a deal.”

Jack reluctantly shook, which meant Alex had to make sure he worked hard enough not to have to regret it.

* * *

“I have some great news,” Becca said to the three men sitting around her dinner table. She placed the lasagna she’d made in the middle and could barely contain her excitement.

“If this is about the shrink, you’re the only one who’s excited,” Gabe muttered.

“Well, you should be excited. You should be excited that we are building the kind of program you three dreamed up. The Shaws got the cabin on their property all fixed up to be rented out, and Monica should be moving in, in less than a week.”

Jack opened his mouth to say something, likely to complain, so Becca steamrolled right over him. “Which means I can start doing my mentorship hours for the therapeutic horsemanship, and we can start building the program. And if we start building the program, it means we can figure out what your roles will be in terms of the cattle operation.”

“We’ve still got a ways to go on the bunkhouse. We’ve got to get that done before we can bring anyone into the program,” Jack said, clearly needing to get an argument in.

Becca wouldn’t let that deter her excitement in the least. “Thank you, Debbie Downer,” she said, sliding into her seat sandwiched between Alex and Jack. “I am aware of that. But if we get the bunkhouse done and the program done, because we’re working on those two things simultaneously, there’s no reason why we couldn’t open in the fall.”

“You that interested in rushing it?” Gabe asked before shoving a forkful of lasagna in his mouth.

“I’m interested in accomplishing a goal,” Becca returned firmly.

“You two are perfect for each other,” Jack muttered at Alex.

Alex didn’t pay him any attention, so Becca followed suit.

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