Chapter Two
The desert was cold. Bitterly cold, and Greyson hid, hunkered down, terrified to move. There was a mine. He knew it. He knew it, but he didn’t know which direction he should step.
Oh God. Where? Where should he go?
“Come to me.” The words were spoken by someone with a low, deep voice.
Greyson couldn’t let anyone else get hurt. “There’s a bomb. Stay back. Stay back, soldier. There’s a bomb.”
“No, Greyson, I said come here.” The speaker stepped toward him, tall and strong, handsome and whole.
“Oh God. Please. Please, you’ll get hurt.” He was going to have to move, to save the guy.
Somebody shook him. “Stop it. Come on now. Stop.”
He stepped forward and his eyes opened, seconds before the bomb blew.
The guy was right there, bent over him, eyes dark green and deep enough to fall into. “You with me, Greyson?”
“Uh-huh. Hey. I must have dozed off.” He was so cozy and comfy, a blanket not just over him but tucked in around him. A fire blazed in the hearth, and the man—Luke—sitting against him seemed even warmer.
“You were dreaming. Having a nightmare, I think.”
“Sorry.” Those happened. A lot.
“It’s not surprising, given what you’ve been through.” Luke paused a moment, staring at him, as if waiting for him to expand on either the nightmare or what had happened.
Greyson stared back; he wasn’t discussing his issues with a complete stranger.
“I hope you’re hungry. The lasagna is ready.”
“It smells good. Thank you.” Now tell me why you’re really here.
Luke stood, and he was big, sexy. Stunning, really. Even if Greyson wasn’t interested in that kind of thing right now. Maybe ever again. Still, when Luke bent over to take the lasagna out of the oven...
Okay, he was a perv. Seriously. Like a high-dollar perv. He didn’t let himself think like that.
Luke pulled the pan out of the oven and looked through the cupboards until he found the plates. He took two down along with two glasses, then did the same search through the drawers until he found the one containing the utensils.
Greyson hadn’t done more than a cursory search himself. Hell, he’d been willing to rent the cabin indefinitely sight unseen. He had wanted somewhere to sleep, a roof, a bathroom. That was all.
Luke put everything on the rickety little table near the kitchen area.
“Come and eat, Greyson.” The words did not sound like a suggestion.
“Okay.” He stood and made his way from the couch to the table, taking careful steps.
“You’re not doing too badly without the crutches. What’s the prognosis?” Luke asked as he sat down, watching Greyson make his way to his own chair.
The prognosis was none of Luke’s business. “I left the hospital. I’m fine.”
Luke snorted. “I did mean, full recovery, this is as good as it’s going to get, something in between...”
Fuck, this guy was pushy. “I lost a bunch of muscles. I have some nerve damage. Normal shit.”
“Stepping on landmines isn’t normal shit. You got physio you’re supposed to be doing?” Luke didn’t wait for an answer before shoving a forkful of lasagna into his mouth and making a happy food noise.
That meant Greyson didn’t have to answer and that worked for him.
“You know, when you don’t answer, I assume it’s because you do have them, but aren’t doing them,” Luke noted between bites.
“I’ve had enough of doctors and shit. Enough of hospitals.”
Luke raised an eyebrow. “So, you’d rather not get better than have to deal with it?”
“Yup.” Like that was unusual. The army hospital was filled with men like him.
“Well, maybe you came to the one place that can help you as well as any hospital,” Luke muttered.
“That’s what I’m hoping.” That was what he needed, more than anything.
Luke cut into the lasagna and dished himself up another large piece, the cheese gooey and stretching at one point from the serving dish to the piece on Luke’s plate. “These woods are special.”
“They’re quiet for sure.” And he was happy here. Well, as happy as he was going to get, anyway.
“They were.” Luke looked at him. “They didn’t used to be crowded, either.”
“Fuck you.” He stood, heading for his crutches. He’d go take a walk and wait for the motherfucker to leave.
“Oversensitive much?” Luke asked. “It was mostly a joke.”
The bastard had no idea. He slipped his crutches under his arms and headed for the door.
“Stop. You’re not going out there without a coat on. Not to mention boots and mitts, a hat, a scarf.”
Greyson didn’t take orders, not anymore.
All of a sudden Luke’s hand wrapped around his arm. “I’m not letting you go out to freeze to death.”
“Just going to leave you to your quiet.” Asshole.
“Don’t be an idiot.”
Being an idiot was his fucking job. “I rented this place on the up and up.”
“I’m not saying you didn’t. Look, I’m not used to sharing the woods, I’ll give you that. And I’m a grumpy ass, I know that. But regardless, you need to dress for the weather or you will die.” Luke slowly turned him. “And the cold will make you ache. Not in the fun way, either.”
Luke led him to the couch, and put the blanket around his shoulders again, then the plate of food was pushed into his hands.
“Eat.”
Just like that. “Eat.” Like he was going to do what this grouchy asshole told him to do.
Still, it smelled good and he was hungry, so what would it hurt? He dug in, a little more eagerly than he’d meant to, but damn, now that he’d had a couple of bites on top of being sober and having spent the last hour smelling the dish, he realized he was starving.
Luke didn’t have to look so pleased as he ate. He was going to bite the son of a bitch.
Luke had yet another piece while Greyson ate his first. “I have a large appetite,” Luke told him.
“I don’t. Have what you want.”
“I have plenty at home, so I’m leaving the other half for you. It even tastes decent cold if you don’t feel like heating it up.”
“You don’t have to do that, but it’s nice of you.”
“You’re welcome.” Luke drank down the glass of milk he’d poured and sat back in his chair. “So, what are your plans for the next few days?”
“Plans?” He didn’t have any plans for the rest of time. Not that it was any of this asshole’s business.
“You said you were out of booze, and there’s precious little in the cupboard. You need books or anything to read? I’ll bring supplies in tomorrow.”
“You didn’t adopt me, man.” Go away.
“You’re in my forest. I am not leaving you to freeze or starve to death.” There was a firmness in Luke’s voice, and a strength in his eyes. There wasn’t any meanness there, though, Greyson could see that.
“You’re a good guy. Bossy and gruff, but a good guy.”
Luke nodded. “I try.”
He could see that. That’s what forest rangers were, right? Good guys?
“You play chess or anything like that?” Luke asked as he grabbed the dishes and took them to the sink.
“Sure.” He’d been in the army. He’d played all sorts of board games, card games.
“I’ll bring some of those with me, too.” Luke started scrubbing the dishes. “You got a sat phone?”
“No.” He was totally off the grid. No family, no friends, no contacts left.
“I’ll bring a walkie, then. And before you bitch at me, you need a way to get in touch with me in an emergency. No arguments. You may never need to use it, but I’m going to insist you take it.”
“Okay. Okay, I hear you.”
Luke grinned suddenly. “You’re pretty eager for me to get the hell out of here, aren’t you?”
“I’m not very good company, man. I’m tired.”
“Then I’ll stoke the fire for you and head off. I’ll be back tomorrow, though, so get a good night’s sleep.” Luke stood, seeming taller than ever. Imposing.
“I’ll try. You don’t have to put yourself out. I’m not here to be a problem. I’m here to get away.” To be alone. This guy needed to get with his program.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Luke told him firmly.
“Good night, then.” He was tired, worn out, and incapable of coping with anything else.
“Sleep well.” Without any fanfare, Luke put on all his gear and headed out, closing the door firmly behind him.
Greyson blinked, shook his head, then headed over to the door to lock it. Maybe he had lost his mind. Maybe Ranger Luke was bored and lonely.
Maybe this was in Ranger Boy’s job description—harass broken soldiers.
Whatever.
He was going back to sleep.