Page 36 of The Wounded Warrior

“Shoot.” Rory held his gaze, direct as all get out.

“Why are you trying to buy out all the land? Matt is my big concern, but you’ve bought a lot, and you’re not developing it or moving the owners off.”

“Because I intend to make sure Doug Harris can’t have one acre more than he does right now.” The goofy, dear man he knew faded, leaving an ice-cold bastard with venom on his lips.

“So, this is all about Harris?” Luke watched Rory carefully. “What’s your beef?”

“We have history.”

The clipped answer spoke of a history of deep hatred. The expression in those bright blue eyes was forbidding enough that he dropped asking what history. “So, you’re just spending money for revenge?”

Rory’s smile returned. “Consider it an investment in agriculture in our county.”

“Uh-huh. Remind me not to piss you off, man.”

“It’s a deal.” Rory leaned back in his chair, stretching gently. “Man, my hand is throbbing, and so is the leg with the stitches.”

“Shit, man. I could have brought lunch to your place.” Well, Matt could have brought him bringing it.

“I’m apologizing. I buy and bring and all.”

“Still, stitches.”

“I’ll live. I promise.” Rory winked at him, that smile making all sorts of things sit up and take notice.

Man, Luke was all of a sudden worried his body was gonna betray him.

Worse, he was afraid that Rory would be all over it. Maybe in a way he wasn’t ready for yet, and God knew, the man had stitches in his leg.

Rory sobered. “You look like a thundercloud. Did I do something wrong?”

“No. No. Of course not. What could you have done?”

“Well, I promised to live.”

Luke hooted. “Matt might want you out of the way, but I’m getting to like you well enough.”

“I’m a basically decent guy.” Rory shook his head sorrowfully. “But that’s not the most ringing endorsement ever.”

“You didn’t let them hurt the horses.”

Rory went serious on him again. “No. No, I couldn’t do that. That’s a shitty way to get back at Matt or me or anyone.”

“That means a lot. Do you have any?”

“Horses?”

He nodded, and Rory shook his head. “No. I have enough land, but that requires a commitment to being home that I don’t have yet.”

“You travel a lot?” He grabbed his iced tea, wanting something to do with his hands.

“Mostly between here, Austin, and Houston.”

“Ah. I got the impression you were like, a globetrotter. The way people talk you’re as exotic as a tropical bird.”

“I’ve been to Mexico, Canada. London once for a weekend.”

“Just a weekend? I had a layover in Paris once, but it was a military hop, so I saw nothing.”

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