Chapter Seventeen

You awake?

Huh. Rory was a night owl, but as far as he could figure, Luke LeBlanc was so not. A little chill raced over him.

You okay?

Yeah, I just wanted to call, but not if you weren’t awake.

I’m just sitting at my laptop and watching infomercials, call away

Luke was totally breaking up with him and they were still at the first blow job stage. Bummer.

What else would keep the man from sleeping this late at night?

The phone rang, and he clicked answer. “Hey.”

“Hey. Sorry, I know it’s late.”

“No worries. You know me. I don’t sleep. What’s up?” Maybe this was a booty call. That would work for him.

“You just need more orgasms, you know? Listen, do you have any property that butts up against Matt’s? Something with infrastructure in place?”

“I do. I mean, need more orgasms, and yeah, I have the fifty acres south of me, and I just signed on Miss Owen’s piece, east of y’all.” He blinked, more confused than tired. “Why?”

“Well, I had this crazy idea. About a therapy ranch for military guys who have injuries or PTSD. Matt’s place is too small.”

“Huh. Okay. I get that. Yeah—there are three separate plots of land. One was a horse property already, great barns, no house. The other two have houses, but they’d have to travel through Matt’s land from Miss Owen’s to the horse property.

” Rory personally thought that might make the grumpy twin, well, super grumpy.

“Hmm. Okay, well, I can work it out if you think I can rent the horse operation from you.” Luke sounded super-excited. No way was he gonna say no.

“Sure. No problem. We’ll draw up papers.” That was easy. Way easier than breaking up. He was more than passing fond of the third LeBlanc brother. The second and a half. Whatever. “I was afraid you were calling to say you didn’t want to see me again.”

“Why would I do that?” Luke’s genuine surprise warmed him. “Hell, if it wasn’t so damned late I would get Matt to run me over.”

“I believe Mr. Up with the Sun might threaten to castrate your ass, and I have only just begun to explore those options.”

“Right? He just went to bed an hour ago. He was brainstorming with me. ”

“Oh, man. He’ll be a grumpy puss in the morning.” Note to self, don’t harass the LeBlanc boys tomorrow. Much.

“I’ll try to let him sleep in. We just had too much coffee, is all.”

“Ah. So tell me about your plans. I love a new venture, so much energy.”

“Well, I still need to do a lot of work, but I was thinking rescue animals and wounded warriors. I mean, the horses have made me a new man.”

He grinned and took a long sip of coffee. Thank God for that. Luke had been thinking about a long, black slide, and Rory was selfish enough that he was glad Luke had clawed himself back out. “That’s cool. Are you going to draw from Fort Cavazos or all over?”

“I reckon that will depend on what kind of assistance I can get. I’d like to draw from all the service branches.”

“Oh, Marines have the best uniforms,” he teased.

“They’re also exceptional cocksuckers,” Luke shot back. “Speed bumps.”

Oh, this was fun. “You have personal experience?” Am I better?

“A few times. It was always weird and rushed, but you get off where you can in the service. Now, when you do it, I want time to stop.”

“Good. Sucking you off is one of my favorite pastimes.” And it felt damn fine—both Luke’s words and the way his made Luke groan.

“Phone sex is weird, Rory. You’re either going to have to come get me, or I’m going to have to go jack off.”

“Showing up at your brother’s house at two-thirty in the morning would be even weirder.” And he didn’t want to imagine wheelchair wrangling with a hard-on in the wee hours. It was too much .

“It might get you shot, for sure.” Luke sighed. “Tell me I can see you by Monday.”

“I will pick you up after work. We’ll make burgers or pick up tacos or just starve and touch each other for hours. I’m easy.”

“Sounds like a plan. I have lunch with Momma and Preacher Sunday, and tomorrow I have to hit the auction with Matt. There’s a foal he wants to look at, and I want to see llamas.”

“Llamas? Do they spit?”

“They do, but they don’t bite much, and if they kick, it hurts but it won’t kill you.”

“Good to know.” His people weren’t ranchers. A couple of horses, tax-deduction cows, but that was really it.

Maleficent jumped into his lap, yowling imperiously.

“Is that my girl?” Luke asked.

“It is.” Mal was already ridiculously attached to Luke.

“Tell her and the girls I’ll bring them tuna.”

“You spoil them.”

“Excuse me? I’ve seen the kitty condo set up in your office. They have a better set-up than most people.”

“Everyone needs a hobby.”

Luke yawned loud enough for him to hear that strong jaw pop. “Sorry about that. I guess I ought to head to bed. Thanks for listening.”

“Any time, honey. I’ll talk to you later. You get some rest.” Think about me a little .

“I will. After I jack myself to sleep.” Luke chuckled. “See you soon.” The line went dead.

“Shithead.” He laughed as Maleficent head-butted him. “It’s true. He’s a shithead.”

Mal yowled at him, for lo, she would never hear a bad word against her Luke. He rubbed her ears, nodding. “I know, but now I need a cold shower. How’s that gonna help me sleep?”

Eh, he’d just jack off in bed. That would relax him and if he still couldn’t sleep he’d watch QVC. That shit always knocked him right out. Weird but true.

He climbed to his feet, leaving his laptop open. There was always work if nothing else relieved him.