Page 26 of The Wounded Warrior

“Y’all get together a lot?” Luke asked. John was living outside San Fran, working at Google and making babies as fast as he could. Totally different from them and Mark, who was bartending at some little dive in Guadalajara and being clear about how he wasn’t interested in familial complications.

“We Skype sometimes, yeah, and I see him when I’m on the West Coast.”

“You get around, huh?” Luke had really had enough travel being deployed all the damned time. He was ready to settle for a bit.

“Less than he used to. He’s becoming a regular homebody.” Lori waggled her painted-on eyebrows playfully.

“I have teenaged sisters.”

Like that explained anything. Luke shook his head. Maybe Rory was a little addled from the dragging after all.

Rory smiled. “Sorry. I get cryptic.” He set aside his chili. “I think I’d better head home.”

“Are you sure you can drive, boss? I’ll…”

“I got this. I came to apologize, which I did. Now I need to get home to lick my wounds.”

Luke stared a moment. “Look, let Matt follow you, at least.”

“Thanks, but I’m starting to hurt and, let’s be honest, so far I’ve handed you paper towels, almost puked on your lap, and let you check out my bloody cock. It’s not a love match, I’m thinking.” Rory winked at him, the expression shockingly self-deprecating. “Shame as it is. Someone is a lucky guy.”

Luke opened his mouth, then snapped it shut, not sure what the fuck to say to that. Then he pulled out his phone. “Give me your number.”

Rory rattled it off, and Lori handed him a business card, the action automatic.

“Thanks. This way I can call you when you’re not so addled. About lunch.”

Matt stared at him as if he’d lost his mind, but Luke trained his gaze on Rory.

“I’d like that, Luke. Very much.”

The soft, serious words went right to his balls. Rory McConnell was not teasing him, not at all. Rory wanted him and wasn’t ashamed of that fact, not one bit. His mouth went dry, and he set his chili aside in favor of rolling toward the door.

“Come on, man. I’ll see you to your truck.”

“Thank you. Thanks for the rescue and the chili, Matt.”

“I owe you one, man.”

Rory winked again, all his sly humor back in evidence. “You so do.”

“I’m going to head out, boss. I’ll call first thing and get you in at the clinic.” Lori kissed Rory’s cheek. “Stay home until I call.”

Rory nodded easily, but his mouth firmed in a stubborn line. “Sure, hon.”

The way she rolled her eyes proved that Lori and Rory played this game together a lot.

A lot like him and Matt, he thought.

Rory walked next to him, limping a little, but otherwise steady. Surprisingly so.

“You sure you’re good, man?”

“I’ve driven more torn up than this, Luke, but thank you.”

Luke stared. “That’s a story you’ll have to tell me sometime.”

“Mmm.” Rory shut right down. Luke saw it happen. “Thanks for the meal.”

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