Page 117 of The Wounded Warrior

“Who the fuck knows. I don’t care. I mean, I do, but I don’t, you know?”

“I get you. You need me to come into town, babe? I can.”

“Look at you, being all mobile.” He smiled, feeling his chest let go a little. “No. No, I have a shit ton of work. I’ll probably have Lori grab me lunch from the diner and bring it back. I just needed to talk to you a second.”

He imagined it would happen more than once today.

“You know I’m here. Anything you need.” Luke was a freaking tower of strength, which was amazing, considering how torn up he’d been when he first came home.

“You. I need you. You want me to pick uppizza on the way home?”

“I do. I could eat three.” Luke chuckled, the sound warm. “Got a double load of shit to do before I can quit.” That didn’t sound like a complaint.

“Well, get to it. I’ll call later. Love you.”

“Love you too. Holler if you need me.” Luke hung up, the line going flat.

“I will.” He totally would. Rory laughed at himself and opened up his laptop.

Time to get to work.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Luke scrawled his signature on the form the inspector handed him. The main ranch house was the last thing to get approval, as he’d had to improve the older bathrooms with ADA-approved materials and layouts.

That was it, though. They were done. Fifteen fucking months and they were done. “Thanks for coming out,” he told the inspector, Lane, who was very used to his face now.

“Congratulations, buddy.” Lane clapped him on the shoulder, careful not to tip him over. He was on his crutches a lot lately. He had too much shit to do to get up and down all the time.

The chair was mostly reserved for nights at home when he was Rory, who didn’t give a shit if he was too tired to do more than sit on his ass for an hour or two.

“Thanks.” He beamed, because the place looked like a cross between a vacation lodge and a really swank rehab facility. “I’m pleased as punch. We have two clients coming in next week.”

“Already? Good on you! I bet you do a shit load of good. How many horses you running?”

“I’ve got two riding horses and four rescues who need a lot of love. A donkey. A llama.” The momma dog he and Rory had finally found in a hay barn wandered up, her teats swinging. “This lady. We named her Mother Goose.”

“Oh, that’s great. How many pups?”

“Twelve. You need a shepherd pit mix pup? They’ll be ready in about six more weeks.”

“I totally do. I need a new ratter, a male. Miss Bisby is getting on in age.”

“You got it. There’s a real energetic boy who looks like his daddy, I reckon. More pit than shepherd like this girl.”

“Mark him for me, then. I’ve got to get on, but I’ll come by with the missus and check him out in a few weeks.”

“Will do.” They shook hands one more time before Lane left. Luke pulled out his phone and tapped out a note.Number 3 pup for Lane. Then he called Rory.

“Hey, honey, I’m going to be home in twenty. How’s it going?”

“We got approved.” He fist-pumped even if Rory couldn’t see him, making Mother dance. “Sorry, girl. C’mere.”

“All right! I told you it would happen this time. I’ll grab a bottle of champagne and head to the ranch. Call Matt.”

“I will. Love you.” He hung up just to call Matt’s number.

“Yo.”

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