Striker let out a laugh and sidled around him to the door. “I’m heading to my parents’ for a few days. If you leave without me, you’re a dead man.”
Roarke followed him onto the front porch and bit back a smart-ass remark as Striker moved down the stairs, his gait slow and a little jerky. He’d meant to ask Striker where his crutches were, but he already knew the answer. Maybe suggesting that Striker stay home was ridiculous. After all, the bullet in his thigh had, thankfully, inflicted only a flesh wound.
But if his friend wasn’t good by the time they needed to leave, Roarke would make whatever decision was necessary, damn everyone’s opinions to hell.
Before he could return inside, Laine’s car pulled into the driveway. Her vehicle, which had been sitting in the garage for six years, had needed servicing, but now it was running just fine.
He walked down the steps as she got out, but he made his way to Emmy’s side of the car.
Opening the door, he found Emmy’s wide grin. Her wet hair was plastered to her head, and the smell of chlorine hit him. “I learned to dive today!”
“No, sh— Kidding!”
Laine gave him a look over the hood of the car but chuckled.
He helped Emmy out of her seat, and she bounded up the front steps talking nonstop about what she’d learned.
He went to the kitchen to get lunch started—Emmy would be starving—while Laine took her upstairs for a bath. Five minutes later, he had water boiling for macaroni and cheese and chopped veggies mixed with a balsamic dressing he’d whipped up.
Laine entered the kitchen wrapping her arms around her waist. She wore a fluffy light-blue sweater that complemented her warm skin tone. “Emmy’s just playing in the tub. Mmm. That looks yummy. Want some feta with the veggies?”
“Sure.” He popped a chunk of cucumber into his mouth.
“I can’t wait until our belongings get here. I know they’ll come, but it feels so weird to have every sentimental and personal belonging out in the world.”
“I’m sure it’ll be here soon.” They’d expedited everything, but it’d likely still be a week before their things arrived. He made a mental note to track their packages. It’d be best if her stuff arrived before he left for Kuwait, so she didn’t have to lug boxes around herself.
“I’ll just feel better once it’s all here.” She pulled the cheese from the fridge, and he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Her long hair hung down to her waist, and the sweater and her jeans hugged her perfect, lithe figure.
She placed the tub of feta on the counter and lifted her gaze. “What?” she asked with a smirk.
He moved to her side of the island and wrapped his hand around her hip. Touching her sent a rush of protectiveness through him. She lifted her dark eyelashes, and the heat of her gaze warmed his belly.
“Roarke, you can’t look at me like that,” she said with a laugh. “Not during daytime hours.”
He caught her waist and lifted her to the countertop. Her hands glided to his shoulders as he settled between her spread knees. “Don’t look so damn good and I won’t.”
She grinned. “I could crawl out of a hole and you’d still hump me.”
He threw back his head on a laugh, then brought his face closer to hers. The water on the stove bubbled, but he didn’t need to add the pasta just yet.
“I hope I get to hump you for a long time,” he teased.
She took his face in her hands, and her lips turned down with worry. “I know I sound selfish, but I don’t want you to go.” The confession came out on a wispy breath.
“We still have two weeks. Besides, I’ll be back before you know it and we’ll be house shopping.”
He’d already reached out to a real estate agent with Laine’s specific wish list. The backyard, berry bushes—must haves. He hoped a few options were available when he returned.
She smiled through the strain on her face. “I’m looking forward to it.”
He swept his hands down her back and landed on her lush ass. He swallowed a groan. “And I’m looking forward to after-hours.”
As if on cue, the pitter-patter of Emmy’s feet sounded on the wooden floors overhead. “Mo-om! I can’t find my sparkly dress.”
Laine grinned and hopped off the counter. “Only seven more hours,” she said, waggling her eyebrows.
He groaned and reached for her ass, but the little vixen dodged out of his grasp and ran from the room. “Coming, Emmy!”
