Page 12 of The Wounded Mountain Man

He tilts his head forward and shrugs. "I don't know. Haven't you ever wondered if there could be something more between us?"

"Of course I have. I just…"

"What?" he presses.

I push to my feet and start pacing. "I just didn't think it was possible that a guy like you would be interested in a guy like me."

Wade tries to get up too quickly and grimaces, cursing as he rubs his leg and straightens. I move toward him to save him coming to me. He cups my cheek. "Don'teversay that again." His voice is deep, commanding. "You are the best person I know, Logan Parker-Gillis."

"Thank you. I think you're pretty—" I get interrupted by a sharp, hacking cough. My eyes shift to the doorway. "Shit. Rufus."

I run over to him, watching, horrified, as he coughs and gags, finally arching his back and dislodging a small, furry mass onto the floor. It's not the first furball he's had, and the receptionist at the vet clinic said if it happens again, I should take him in.

Patting Rufus, I turn to Logan. "I need to get him checked out. This has happened before."

"Of course. I'll come with you."

"You don't have to."

"Maybe not." He smiles, and even though it's similar to the smile I've seen a million times before, there's something about it that sends a warm current through my bones. "But I want to."

I scoop Rufus up in my arms, and Wade and I take him to the vet together.

7

Wade

"I'm glad Rufus is okay," I say over breakfast the next morning.

"Me, too." Logan finishes munching, then says, "I felt a little silly taking him in about a furball, but I'm glad I did."

"You did the right thing." Looks like Rufus might have a respiratory infection based on the chest X-rays the vet took. They did a blood test as well, and we'll know more in a couple of days when the results come back, but in the meantime, he was prescribed a broad-spectrum antibiotic, and we're keeping a close eye on his food and liquid intake to make sure he stays fed and hydrated. "Even if it means I got cockblocked by your cat yesterday. Twice."

Logan grins. "Well, today's a new day."

I grin back. "It certainly is."

Yesterday's developments were unexpected, overdue, andverywelcome. By the time we got back from the vet, it was late, and we were both tired, so nothing else happened. Logan fussed over Rufus, while I fussed over him, making him a grilled cheese sandwich. It didn't feel like the right time to continue our conversation from earlier.

I wasn't able to fall asleep for a long time, so I stared at the ceiling and let my thoughts drift from topic to topic in the random, chaotic way my mind operates. About the accident. About whether I'll ever be able to move again like I used to. About how good a life without pain would feel, and if I'm ever lucky enough to experience that again, I won't take it for granted, not even for a second. About Hattie and the kids, and how Jax could be acting out because his dad is away, the same way I did when I was a kid. About Logan and me and how we're the two biggest lunkheads in the world. If we'd just hada conversation all those years ago, who knows what would have happened?

In all likelihood, I would have still enlisted, and he would've probably stayed and gone to community college, but would we be together? Long-distance sucks, but if there's anyone who could make it work, it'd be us.

We never had the chance to find out. But could we? Now?

And that led me straight to the biggest question mark in my life—what the fuck do I do next?

I have no money, no job, no education, no place to live—I can't crash at Logan's forever—and no plan on how to address any of it. I. Am. Screwed.

All I know for sure is that I don't want to mess things up with Logan. I care about him too much to risk hurting him. It wouldn't be fair to start something with him until I have my shit figured out, and I am alooongway from doing that.

Then I remembered the look in his eye when he grabbed my belt buckle, his eyebrow raised, his intention perfectly clear. He wanted me. Like I wanted him. And then my cock got hard, and I jerked off, fantasizing about bending Logan over the kitchen counter, the very place where he just fixed our cereal, and stuffing his, what I'm sure is pretty, pink hole with my cock. Had a terrific night's sleep after that.

"What are your plans for the day?" Logan asks, scooping up our bowls once we've finished eating and taking them to the sink.

He's in his sexy corporate outfit again—this time it's a sharp, slim-cut charcoal-gray suit that hugs his frame just right. From the dining nook, I've got a clear line of vision to the sexy curve of his peachy ass. His light-blue shirt complements the gray, and he rolls his sleeves up and flings his skinny burgundy tie over his shoulder to avoid it getting wet as he begins washing up.

"I was thinking of going to the diner to make a start on some of the stuff that needs fixing," I reply, trying to quash the erection forming in my jeans. "Oh, that reminds me, Hattie invited us for dinner. When are you free?"

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