Page 61 of Freedom Mine
“No need. Glad to help out.” Kayo flashed a smile, a forced one, then walked Qasig back to the landglider, every step clearly a challenge as the pain registered in his shoulders, his back, even the way he clenched his hands behind his back.
Once Qasig’s landglider disappeared from view, Jace ran over and flung Kayo’s arm over his shoulder to support him. “The men aren’t going to be happy,” Jace said as they neared the steps.
“Then make it volunteers only. And if no one volunteers, you and I will head over and do what we can by ourselves.”
“You’re lucky you’re even walking right now.” Jace scowled. “I’m sure I can get a few men to agree. But they won’t like it.”
“Tell them it’s what neighbors do.”
“Never saw Qasig do anything for you.”
“He was good to Mac.”
“You do a lot for a dead man.”
Kayo stopped dead in his tracks. “Go, Jace, before either one of us says something we’ll regret later.”
“This isn’t right and you know it,” Jace said as he stormed off.
Kayo took a moment to collect himself before climbing the steps. Alli rushed out to help him. She could see the pain in his face, though she had a feeling it wasn’t all from his leg injury.
“What’s going on between you and Jace?” she asked.
“We don’t always agree on everything.”
No, they didn’t, but Jace hadn’t simply walked away with his usual shrug of indifference. He’d stormed off, mad.
“Come, I’ll help you back to bed,” Kayo said.
“Funny, I was thinking the same thing about you. You’re the one who’s limping.”
“And you have a head injury. Head beats leg.”
“This isn’t a competition.”
“We can make it one,” he said, waggling his eyebrows.
“How about this. We both return to bed.”
“Deal. Yours or mine?” he asked, his eyes sparkling with the most devilish look, one that almost made her consider the idea.
“I think I’ll sleep better alone,” she said, slightly surprised that she was hesitating. She’d been wondering what it would be like to sleep with him.
“Are you sure?” he asked, undaunted.
She couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped her, not when he was so persistent yet sweet at the same time.
“I’ll help you to your room, then I’ll head upstairs.”
He didn’t protest when she helped him inside. He leaned on her more than she’d expected. When they reached his room, he plopped onto the bed, looking as tired as she felt.
“How is it you’re walking on a broken leg? Do you have a bone generator here?”
“It’s not broken,” he hissed as she helped lift his bad leg onto the bed. “Just a bad gash. It only required a few dozen stitches, and before you ask, no, I don’t own a skin generator either. But I think I’m moving that to the top of my wish list.”
“What’s at the top of your wish list now?”
The seductive glint in his eyes sent goosebumps up and down her arms. “I guess that’s why they call it a wish list,” she said, putting an end to his flirting.
