Page 44 of The Wounded Warrior

“I can’t wait. Let me grab your chair.”

“Thanks.” He leaned his head back and took a few deep breaths, gathering himself for the effort this was fixin’ to take.

Rory opened his door, the chair unpacked and unfolded for him. “How do you want me?”

“In front of me. You right- or left-handed?”

“Left.”

“Okay. So when you get me up, you turn your butt to the car door, and I go the other way into the chair. Make sure the brakes are on.”

“Right on.”

It shocked him how well Rory did, at least until Luke remembered that Rory had dated someone in his position.

He wasn’t sure whether to be tickled or offended by that.

“Come on in. Watch out for the cats. They love laps.”

“Well, I come with one built in.” He laughed. “Cats go in a barn, you know.”

“Not these babies.” Three gorgeous long-haired cats sat in a line, staring at him. “See? I have Persians. Ariel, Esmerelda, and Merida.”

Persians named after Disney princesses, nonetheless. “You are the queerest man I’ve ever met.”

“Thank you! Wait until you meet Maleficent.”

“Maleficent. Wow.” They were glorious. “Good to know you’re tactile. They take a lot of grooming.”

“They’re neat critters, and they like me.”

“Pretty girls.”Cats aren’t like dogs. You let them come to you.Luke nodded at them. “Ladies.”

They came up, nuzzling him, nudging his fingers, biting the tips gently. Look at that. Sweet babies.

A huge sleek, totally not Persian beast came slinking down the stairs. “Jesus Christ, Rory. Is that a fucking jaguar?”

“My baby girl? No. I’ve had her for twelve years. She’s the first.”

“What the hell is she?” She was fricking glorious.

“She’s a Chartreux. Striking eyes, huh?”

“Amazing.” He wasn’t sure if holding out his hand was okay, but he did it, anyway.

She stared him down with amber eyes that seemed to judge him, then, with one leap, she was in his lap.

“Well, hey!” He kept his voice steady by sheer will. “Chin or ears?”

“Chin. Totally.” Rory shook his head. “You want me to take her?”

“Nah, we’re good.” He stroked her chin, and damned if she didn’t start to purr and lean.

“She’s a sweetheart. I know that it’s weird around here to be a cat person, but I am. I’d have a dog, but I’m not home enough to feel comfortable.”

Luke grinned because, as weird as it might be, that said a lot about Rory McConnell as a man.

“Anytime you need dog time you come on to the ranch. We got ’em.”

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