Page 5 of Luck Be Mine
Hunt pressed a hand to his face, half in shame, half trying not to laugh.
“She’ll need chocolate and healthy stuff, and something besides coffee to drink, and have you two even eaten anything not in a restaurant or a fast-food place in the last couple months?” He shot Hunt a look that saidhow are you still alive?
Hunt stepped back and pulled out the chair from the table, sinking into it with as much fatigue as Cait. “It was a bit of a grueling trip, and the answer would be no.”
“Well, good news. I brought the fixings to make you homemade tacos and guac.” Doogie flicked on the kitchen light and settled the bags on the counter. “If I can find a frying pan.”
The plastic grocery bags bulged with milk, cereal, fruit, toilet paper, and a host of not yet identified other things.
Hunt groaned. “I have one. In the cupboard. Not that I ever eat here.”
The man turned with mock alarm, scanning the room like he expected disaster in every corner. “You do have a bed, right? She’s not in there curled on the floor, is she?”
Hunt took the hit of sarcasm. “She’s curled on a queen size bed fully made and sound asleep.”
He stood, stretching to wake muscles.
Before he got too comfortable, he needed to do a couple things. “Stay with Cait. I need to go to the apartment office, get my wife added to the lease, and unload the truck.”
Doogie’s eyebrows lifted. “You have too much satisfaction in your tone saying the wife word, and how much could there be to unload?”
“Only our bags. Won’t take me long.”
“Take your time, bro. I must find things in your kitchen.” The man would face a ten-day seek and destroy mission with more enthusiasm.
Hunt got to his feet and grabbed his keys. “Asshole.”
“I’m not the one without even a potholder.”
“Make a list and take care of my wife, please. That’s the one thing I do have that you don’t.” Hunt smirked and went to the door.
“Rub it in, mister.” Doogie froze and gave Hunt the evil eye. “You’re not getting any, are you? Because if you are, I’ll beat you to a pulp. Let the woman heal.”
Hunt flipped him off. “I can take care of my wife. No worries there,” he promised, softly.
He did have certain urges, but what he wanted wasn’t sex. He wanted herwhole again.The feisty woman fromAfghanistan. Not this pale, hurting version of her he cradled like the teddy bear he never had.
Hugs had never made things right in his young world.
Maybe now they could.
“You know I’m kidding, right?” Doogie came in behind him. His friend had been at his back so long he didn’t even jerk when the hand hit his shoulder.
“Yeah, keep it up. I need some normalcy. So does Cait.”
“Her I can handle. A few phone calls to my mama, and we’ll get her squared away.” Doogie’s mama, Adele, was a diva of the finest order. If she was in Cait’s corner, they would have no worries. “Get your errands done. I’ll text you if she wakes.”
“She won’t. She’s bone tired. I’ll tell you the rest when I get back.” Hunt left.
Even with Doogie on watch, it wasn’t easy to walk away – but that was being her husband now.
Halfway down the iron stairs, his phone rang. Scott.
He pushed the button to answer while walking. “Commander.”
“Welcome back to San Diego. I trust all is well.”
“Yes, sir. We made it safely.”
