Luke glanced over at Tash, who was washing up. “Can he go to sleep now?”
Tash nodded. “It’s the medicine that’s making him tired. Sure. Let’s take your pressure one more time, and then you can get into bed.”
This time, Luke used the automatic machine, with Tash supervising. After all the beeping had died away, Luke squinted at the numbers and breathed a sigh of relief: 118/78. “That’s normal, right?”
Both Jordan and Tash nodded, and he grinned. “Well then, let’s go get you into bed, Dr. Peterson.”
Jordan’s eyes gleamed. “Care to join me?”
Luke’s blood warmed. “No, darlin’. You need your strength. Now come on.” He slipped his arm around Jordan’s shoulders and helped him up the stairs. They entered the bedroom, and Luke was in the middle of straightening out the blanket when the phone rang. He handed it to Jordan.
“Hey, how are you?”It’s Drew, Jordan mouthed.
His stomach lurched. If so, then Ash was involved somehow. He pretended to fold the blanket, anxious to hear the rest of the conversation.
“Sure, of course you guys can come over. Mike and Rachel too. We haven’t all been together in a long time.” Jordan gnawed on his lips. “Yes, he will be.” His gaze flicked up to meet Luke’s. “I don’t presume to speak for Lucas. He can make his own decisions.” Then Jordan smiled at him. “Whatever he chooses, I’m behind him one hundred percent. Like you are with Ash.”
Luke’s heart did a funny bounce in his chest. He tried to remember when he’d ever heard anyone say that to him, and couldn’t come up with one single time.
Damn, he loved this guy.
Jordan had hung up and placed the phone on the bed by the time Luke refocused. “They all want to come over and see how I’m doing. They’ll be here around eight.”
“Sure, of course. They’re your best friends. I don’t blame them for wanting to see you.” Luke thought he’d kept his expression neutral, but he couldn’t fool someone as perceptive as Jordan.
“You don’t have to speak with Ash. I can’t stand talking to him myself, so we can commiserate together.” He gave a huge yawn and settled back in the bed. “Sure you don’t want to join me?”
The simple memory of the naked heat of their bodies that morning and the slide of Jordan’s stubbled chin on the back of his neck inflamed Luke, but the sight of Jordan’s sleepy blue eyes and drowsy smile pushed aside any thoughts of playtime.
“You need to sleep. I’ll walk Sasha and come back. Tash will be here.”
“Mhmm.” Jordan’s eyes had already closed, and Luke doubted Jordan had even heard what he said.
Luke went downstairs and found Tash on his laptop. “I’m going to take the dog out for a while. Do you want anything?”
Keeping his eyes fixed on the screen, Tash shook his head. “I’m fine. I have to answer some e-mails and make some phone calls. Take as long as you want.”
Luke whistled for the dog and took her leash off the hook by the front door. He walked out into the crisp sunlight and inhaled an invigorating, deep breath. Sasha pulled at her leash, anxious to get moving. “Okay, girl, let’s go.” He set off for the dog park.
An hour later, they tumbled back into the house. Luke let Sasha off her leash as soon as they were inside the front door, and she made a beeline for the kitchen. He could hear her slurping the water from her bowl. Cold water sounded like heaven, so he grabbed a bottle from the refrigerator and wandered back into the front room, where Tash stared at his phone, taking notes in a small notepad.
With a satisfied grunt, he dropped into a chair and stretched out his legs. It had been a jumbled, nerve-racking day, and Luke was glad Jordan could sleep. Hopefully when Jordan woke up, his body could better adjust to the treatment. Luke closed his eyes.
“Luke, Luke.” From a distance, he heard his name. Blinking and yawning, he stretched, then opened his eyes to see Tash standing over him, silhouetted by the glow of the sconces that flanked the door. The light was soft and golden and glinted off Tash’s glasses, which he’d pushed up to rest on top of his head.
“Hmm, what time is it?”
“After six. You were in such a deep sleep I didn’t want to wake you. I checked on Jordan, and he’s still sleeping. I need to run home, feed my cats, and check my mail. I’ll be back later tonight. Jordan should sleep awhile longer; then he can eat a light meal.”
He could handle that. And the guys were coming over, so he wouldn’t be alone in case Jordan needed him. “Could I run out for a few minutes, like around the corner to pick up something for dinner? I’ll take the dog so she won’t bark and wake him.”
“Sure. He’s not ill, understand that. He needs looking after, and you’re doing fine.” Tash slipped the glasses back on and met his gaze. “For a while I had my doubts about you. It hurt Jordan when you left him that night.”
“I know. You needn’t go into it.” His reaction still shamed him, and Luke’s anger rose a bit at Tash’s lecture. Then Luke remembered Jordan sleeping upstairs and how Jordan had suffered over the past year. “I’m sorry I was short. We’ve made our peace, and we’re in a good place now. He doesn’t ever need to worry about me again.”
“Well, that’s good to know.” Jordan leaned against the doorway, his hair mussed and sticking up in several directions, but his eyes shone clear and bright.
Luke jumped out of his chair and rushed over to him. “Why didn’t you call out for help? You could’ve fallen.”
