Good riddance.
Pat must’ve heard the commotion from the guest house because a few minutes later, he sits down beside me and touches my hand. “That was a long time coming, Calliope.”
“Yeah, I know, I know.” I shove the cell phone his way so he can see what she said.
He shakes his head back and forth. “Sorry. I had no idea.”
“Me, neither.” I pick up my phone and begin to delete the hateful words while he makes another pot of coffee.
“Does Lucky understand it wasn’t you?”
“Oh yeah. Everything’s good…”
When he cocks his head like he doesn’t believe me, I add, “He had a really bad dream and it freaked both of us out. He went for a run. He’ll be back soon.”
From the refrigerator door, Pat grabs a carton of cream, then stares at the dark brew dripping into the clear carafe. “Hmm. I wasn’t going to say anything but Juan said Lochlan fell outside yesterday, like he had epilepsy or something.”
I bite my lower lip, mind churning up scenarios with tumors, cancer, or worse. “That doesn’t sound right. Loch moves like a tiger, always lands on his feet. What happened then?”
Pat sips on his coffee, staring out the back deck at the darkening sky. “Lochlan brushed it off, said it was only heat poisoning.”
“It wasn’t so hot yesterday.”Lucky survived the desert. He runs miles a day. A walk from the airport shouldn’t’ve had any effect. That doesn’t make sense.”
“Is he coming down with something?” Pat raises one brow.
“Nooo….”Not in the physical sense.I think back on what Suds said about him drinking, the bad dreams, and now hallucinations. “Is it possible he’s got PTSD?”
My mom’s butler nods and sits. “That would be most likely.”
“But he’s been out of the service for years… Oh my God, the gas explosion. That must’ve triggered it.”
I relive the agony in Loch’s voice when I almost gave up underground. My poor hubby. I need to get him to talk.
“I’m sure you two can work it out, especially with your mother gone.” When my stomach growls, Pat smiles and eases out of the chair. “Eggs for breakfast?”
“Sure.”Lucky will come home, we’ll talk, and everything will be fine.
About an hour later, the front door slams, and I rush to greet him. Sweat glistens on Loch’s chest and he gives me a big grin. “Fancy a shower with me, luv?”
“Shush. Pat’s in the kitchen.”
“He’s not invited.” He grabs my hand and pulls me toward the door. “Do you figure your mum will hear us in the outside shower?”
At the mention of her, my mood darkens. “I sent her home. I can’t believe she didn’t even apologize for what she did. I may never be able to forgive her.”
“Ah, it’s your mum. You’ll have to, eventually.” He tweaks my nose. “Towels?”
I grab a couple thick, white bath sheets from the downstairs closet. “This time she went too far, Loch. She made me think you didn’t care about me.” Tears well and I swallow hard. “I can’t live without you. Please don’t reenlist. I need you. We need you.”
“Ah now, sweet. Don’t cry. I can’t go on being a bodyguard, not with what happened. It ain’t right. Who’ll hire a bloody bloke who can’t even protect his own wife? Word will get out and Grayson will have to fire me to protect his business. I can’t have that.”
“What about Suds? He didn’t quit.”
“I can’t speak for any man other than myself.” He grabs my hand and pulls me out the door but I pout and dig in my heels.
“Why go overseas?”
“They’re the only ones who will have me. C’mon now. We going to shag or what?” He lifts me and carries me out the door.
