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Chapter Thirty-Seven

L uke liked the lake house a lot. It was a little fancy, but the view was amazing and the barbecue pit was a dream come true.

The third morning, though, Matt was calling him. “You ever coming home, Lulu?”

“Yep. We’ll leave midday today.” He knew he needed to get back to work, and Jake had texted about some legal shit.

“Good. How’s he doing? He lost his mind?”

“He’s hurting, but better every day.” Rory was bruised but not broken.

“Good on him. Tell him I said we got his back.”

“I will.” His family never ceased to amaze him. “Everything okay on your end?”

“Same old same old. Life. I think we got a bonus horse dropped off at your place and there’s a dog wandering around. She’s had puppies, but I can’t catch shit.”

“Rory said he’d seen a pregnant dog. I’ll get on it when I get back.” Life was never dull in the country. “It’ll be good to get home. I imagine I’ll stay at Rory’s tonight, come back in the morning. ”

“Sure, man. Hell, he needs you there, you stay. You can come back for feeding and shit.”

“You rock, Matty. Thanks for understanding.”

“No prob. Just keep in mind his family is losing their collective shits. They’ll want to see him.”

“I hear that. He’s called home. Helen was pissed.”

“I bet. Can you imagine Momma if we disappeared like that?”

“She called this morning,” Luke said.

“Right. Did you get a lecture?” Matty sounded damn near gleeful. “She’s been crawling up my ass for days.”

“She blistered my ears.” Luke shook his head ruefully. “She wants lunch this week to make up for Sunday.”

“Oh man. Take her to Red Lobster in Greenville.”

“Shit, man. I’m getting home and I’m not driving farther than the Rocking W for a month. I’m still sore.”

“So offer to buy for Preacher, too. He loves their biscuits.”

“Yeah. I bet Rory would drive too.” Actually, he’d put money down on Rory coming to lunch at Momma’s. Those two got along like a house afire.

“I bet he would. He’s the fishy type.”

Rory was actually a brisket-loving Texan, but he liked his shrimp, too. “You want anything from West?” Luke asked.

“Pecan rolls. Raisin bread. Jalapeno kolaches—six of ’em. No, get me a dozen.”

“Damn. You eating for two?”

“Well, I been doing twice the work.”

Oh, jerk face . “I’ll get you a bunch of shit.”

“Good deal. I figure I’ll share with you when you’re working.” Matty was laughing at him. “Come home, Lulu. Please. We’re busy.”

“We just have to grab a bite and close up the house.” He was ready, and he hoped Rory was, too. Austin was…busy.

“Drive safe. ”

He didn’t have to worry about that. Rory loved that Mustang. He had no doubt the Caddy would make it back safe too. Miss Aislin was a force of nature.

All of the McConnells were, he guessed—top to bottom.

“See you in the morning. I’ll text when we get back.”

They said their goodbyes about the time Rory came into the room. “Mom’s car is safe in the garage. I shudder to think how many miles are on it when Aislin brings it home.”

“I know. It’s been safe while we were here, but I bet she takes it on a tour.”

“She loves to go to Fredericksburg to shop.” Rory bounced on his toes. “You all set?”

“I packed us both and checked all the rooms.”

“The cleaners will catch anything we missed.” Rory gave him a crooked smile. “Let’s go.”

“You ready to go home?”

“Nope, but that’s never stopped me.”

Luke wheeled over to tug Rory down for a hug. He’d found the chair much easier than the arm crutches in this house. Plenty of room to move.

Rory nuzzled his jaw, the move damn near catlike.

Speaking of. “Man, the cats are going to be pissed at you.”

“I’ll tell them it’s your fault.”

“Me?” No way was he gonna let Mal take it out on him.

“Totally. I’m totally going to lie.”

“Bitch.” Luke pinched Rory’s butt. “Matty wants like fifty bucks worth of shit from West.”

“Are you starving him? How did he take care of himself before you showed up?”

“No idea. Momma, probably. She makes casseroles.” King Ranch, broccoli chicken, chicken spaghetti…

“Moms are magical things. Seriously. Mine’s never going to cook for me again.”

“Bullshit. She’s making bacon right now.” He wheeled toward the bedroom with Rory on his lap. The new chair wasn’t quite as responsive with two of them. “Did I tell you Momma brought her muffins and coffee the day I left?”

“You did. Bonnie is amazing. I adore her.”

“I know. I do love that about you.” He dumped Rory in the bedroom. “Bags.”

“Yes, boss. Get your ass to the car.”

“Going. I’ll grab my arm crutches.”

“Already in the backseat, honey. Just you and the chair.”

“Just you and me and the chair.” It was an important distinction.

Rory gave him a long look, then nodded. “Of course, you doof.”

“I just want to make sure we’re together.”

“We so are.” Rory hauled bags out, then came to help him over the doorjamb.

“Thanks. Easier not to have to stand up and do it.”

“I know. You’re missing your fun with Avery.”

“I am! Damn.” Luke grinned. “Shit. I need to text him.”

“Like he doesn’t know. Everyone knows.”

“I guess so.” Luke would still send him a note. His session was late in the afternoon so he was still in the realm of politeness.

“Sorry. I’m harping on it. It’s one of my shitty qualities, I know.”

Luke raised an eyebrow. “Harping? Babe, you’ve had a shitty week. You’re allowed to dwell.”

“Yeah? Because I’m nervous. I’m going and I’m going to bluster through, but I’m fucking scared. What if he comes to the office? Seriously, what will I do?”

“Kill him?” Luke laughed when Rory glared at him. “Kick him right in the nuts and call Jake.”

“I bet Lori does both of those.”

“No shit on that.” Jesus, that woman was scary. Word was that she had dealt with reporters and Jake, with looky-loos asking questions and the entire North Baptist Ladies’ Auxiliary.

She was also a wiz at filing permits and browbeating contractors. She was doing two hours of work a week in exchange for free horse boarding. Lori could get more damned work done in two hours than most people could in forty.

They got everything, and both of them, into the car, after locking up behind them. Time to get a move on. Luke grabbed Rory’s hand when they’d settled. “It’s gonna be okay.”

“No it’s not, but I’m going to deal.” Rory shot him a glance. “You and me? We’re gonna be fucking amazing.”

“We are.” What could he say? He believed that with his whole heart. “My PT in the hospital used to tell me I had to get used to the new normal. You make that easy.”

“The new normal. You. Me. Cats. The Rocking W.”

“Uh, what’s your position on dogs?”

“I approve, if there’s someone home often enough to let them out. Why?”

“Well, Matty has spotted that momma dog. We’ve got us some puppies.” Luke liked the idea.

“Huh. Ranches need dogs.”

“They totally do.” He thought about what Mal and the girls would make of puppies and chortled.

“You’re thinking evil thoughts. You have to share.” The Mustang roared to life.

“I was thinking of Mal versus puppies.” Luke knew who would win. Just like her dad, Mal would rule.

“Oh, man… That would be something else.”

“You know it. Dogs would be great at the ranch house, though, especially if we can train them as comfort dogs or helpers.” He loved the possibilities he was discovering .

Rory glanced at him as they pulled through the circular drive. “I love that, you know? How excited you are.”

“Talk to me after we’ve been open a year.” The words warmed him, though, and Luke smiled.

“I intend to.”

Well, okay. “Like at night when we get home?” There. He’d tossed his cards in as well.

“Every single one. And on weekends when I come to help out, except for the one Sunday a month that’s just ours.”

Luke blinked. “You are the man with the plan, babe. Whatever will we do on these Sundays?” This was the best game ever.

“Love on the cats. Cook weird and decadent food. A metric fuckton of sex. Possibly a movie or two.”

“I like movies,” he teased. “The cats are okay. Ow! No titty twisters when you’re driving.”

“The impressive part is that I found it on the first try.”

“Well, you do know my nipples pretty well.” Rory seemed to be a fan of them, in fact.

“I may be the world’s foremost expert in them,” Rory agreed.

“Probably.” He couldn’t think of anyone else who had ever noticed them, come to that. “I like your dick, personally.”

“Yeah? I think it deserves a fan.”

“I could start a website, but that might be awkward.” Luke was laughing now, unable to help himself. Rory never took too long to bounce back. Resilient bastard.

“I think we’ll just spend some quality time with it, you and me and our penises.” Rory grinned, eye lines just barely showing. “That could be a song.”

“Don’t sing.”

“No, seriously.” Rory began to yodel. “You and me! And quality time. With. Our. Peniseseses!”

Oh, Jesus .

“Well, it’s never gonna be a breakout pop hit.”

“Maybe a gay anthem.”

“Oh, God. You’ll be the Lee Greenwood of queers.”

“I’m totally cuter than Lee Greenwood. Let me be the queer Robert Redford or Jon Bon Jovi or Keith Urban or something.”

“Does Robert Redford sing?” Luke liked that the choices were all mostly blond, though.

They hit the highway and Rory cranked up the music, letting them both bellow like bull moose.

They were heading home to face whatever shitstorm was coming and take that motherfucker down. It was time for them to have their lives back.