Page 9 of The Wounded Warrior

“Just help me get through the doors.” They had a revolving monstrosity here.

“It’s a deal.” Matt eased him in, then shot him a grin. “Thanks for the company, Lu. I appreciate it.”

“Yeah, yeah. Just because you can’t find a nice man to hook up with.”

“Shut up, fuckmonkey.”

Yeah, Matt wasn’t in the closet as much as he was the pickiest motherfucker on earth.

They squeezed his chair through the door, and boom. Sparkly ballroom with lots of glamorous folks in cowboy finery. Jesus. His balls actually tried to crawl up into his body at the thought of dealing with this.

“We’ll stay through my part of the auction, I’ll go up and stand and smile, and we’ll leave. Okay?”

“Yeah.” Luke bared his teeth in what he hoped was a smile. “Thanks, bro.”

“Yeah, yeah. I know. I owe you. I’ll cook for a week.”

“Mac and cheese, and it’s all good.” Luke winked.

“You know it.” Matt grinned, then sighed. “I see old man Lefevre waving. You got this?”

“Yeah. Hopefully, the chair will terrify folks.”

“If it doesn’t, start drooling. That always works.” Matt patted his shoulder and left him. Asshole.

He glanced around. Ah. Cash bar. He could get a Coke and hide behind the ferns.

He rolled up, managing to get around the side where the bartender could actually see him. “Coke, please.”

“I’ll get this one, Jim, and I need a Corona.” A twenty was handed over, and Rory McConnell leaned over to offer him a grin. “How’s it going?”

“Uh. Well, I feel short.”Brilliant, LeBlanc.Fucking A.

“Yeah. I mean, it’s got to be a little screwed up, talking to people’s crotches all day. That would piss me off.”

“Depends on the crotch.” Did he just say that? Okay, he was officially brain-deficient.

McConnell let out this amazing sound that was part duck call, part horny moose. “That, I also understand, believe it or not. You mind if I sit?”

Did he mind? Probably not, but his twin sure as shit would, and he had to live with Matt. So Luke glanced around and brazened it out. “Where? On my lap?”

“As much as I’d love that, I imagine that your brother would cut my nuts off with a pair of rusty spurs, so I’ll pass. This time. Next time you ask, though, I’ll ride you like a prize pony.”

Luke’s cheeks heated until he thought they might burst into flame. “You don’t need to mess with me, man. That’s not right.” No one would want to ride him in this condition.

McConnell gave him a weird look, then his eyes went wide. “I didn’t mean offense, man. You’re still a stud, even when the big queen makes a pass. I promise.”

“What?” Now, he was confused as fuck.

“I’m the only openly gay guy in this whole county over the age of fifteen, honey. It’s okay. Here’s your Coke.” McConnell handed him his drink, then took a steady pull on the longneck the bartender handed over.

McConnell wasn’t even blushing; the words just straightforward as fuck.

Luke decided to give as good as he got. “Well, woo-hoo for you,honey. That means your gaydar is working. Thing is, you don’t have to try to fool me into thinking you’d look twice at me.”

“Why exactly wouldn’t I?”

Luke blew out a breath, motioning at his wheelchair with a sweep of his bruised, cut hands. “Hello!”

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