Page 38 of The Wounded Warrior

Hell, the way they snorted at him impatiently, waiting for their feed and grooming, made him laugh every day.

“Seems to me you’re a cowboy.”

His cheeks heated. That was a hell of a compliment and not one he was sure he deserved. “Damn. Thanks.”

“Mr. LeBlanc?” A young woman and her kid, a boy of maybe eight, stopped at the table. “Sorry to interrupt, but Joshua here wanted to say something.”

Luke looked at the kid, trying not to scowl. “Fire away, kiddo.”

“Thank you for your service,” Joshua said solemnly, then held out a hand to shake.

“You’re welcome, son.” Luke shook the kid’s hand and held his gaze.

Joshua nodded and they moved on, leaving him with a goofy grin on his face. From the kid it was sweet, not unnerving.

Rory didn’t mock, didn’t say a word actually, just nodded once.

“Every time someone says that I want to look over my shoulder to see who they mean,” Luke confessed.

“Yeah? I bet it’s weird. Do you miss it?”

“No.” Luke had thought he would. He didn’t, not at all.

“Good.”

He blinked and Rory shrugged in an incredibly expressive move. “I intend to seduce you and have a torrid affair. I’d like you to stick around.”

Luke’s surprise turned to laughter again, and he liked that, how he and Rory could just wheeze and slap their knees together.

“Pancakes are all you can eat,” Sue Ann said while refilling drinks.

“Yeah. I could have another serving, if you have time.” Luke was all over that. “You want to share some? Could be dessert for you.”

“I have time, and sure, why not? I’ll share a bite or two.”

Tickled as anything, Luke nodded at Sue Ann. “Make it a double.”

“You boys and your hollow legs…” she muttered, giving him a wink.

He laughed, and when Rory raised an eyebrow he jerkedhis chin at the tabletop. “You get too full, your stitches will pop.”

“There’s only three and my pop can fix them.”

“Yeah? Your dad is a…what, a surgeon? I kinda remember that.”

“Yep. Orthopedics. He works with the Rangers, the Mavs, some of the local rodeo riders.”

“Cool. Your mom work?” He felt like he should know this stuff, but he didn’t. He would bet Rory knew everything about Momma and Preacher.

“She’s a social worker in Dallas part-time.”

“Y’all all do brainy shit.” Luke chuckled. His people worked with their hands. Mostly.

“Now I know John is a computer geek of massive proportions. What does Mark do?”

“Mark is a bartender in Mexico. Like whoa, cantina of doom. VeryDusk Till Dawn.”

“No shit?” Rory gave him a wide-eyed look.

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