Settling on the love seat next to him, Ryder set up a cushion on the coffee table and propped the injured foot up. “I’m only on-call today, so I might have to go, but I’m here for you, okay? I’m glad you called me.” He shot to his feet suddenly. “Do you have pain pills or anything? I should’ve asked the nurse for something.”
Lucas blinked. “In the bathroom cabinet, but I’m good for now.”
Instead of obeying, the big man rushed to fetch the pills and a cup of water from the kitchen. He called out, “Do you want me to make you cocoa?”
Warmth curled tighter around Lucas’s heart at the offer. “No thanks.”
Ryder hurried back to the couch, handed over the pills and cup, and settled back down. He adjusted Lucas’s foot on the pillow, the touch soothing in a way that felt anything but medical.
Full EMT mode made Lucas smile. “All your patients must love you… I mean the people you show up for with your ambulance. You’re kind of ridiculously caring.”
Eyes wide, Ryder sat back, lips twisting into a secret smile. “Not everyone gets this level of personal treatment, Luc.” He eased back, his big frame barely fitting in the space left on the two-seater couch. His thigh rested alongside Lucas’s. Thatwasn’t unusual. It happened every time they watched movies together or just hung out.
This time, Lucas couldn’t ignore the heat that spread across the thin layers of denim between them, though. His heart thudded a little harder as the silence stretched out. Head tipped back on the cushions, he studied the man sitting next to him. Thick blond hair, full beard almost hiding sweet pink lips, deep blue eyes that sparkled, and the tiny lines etched at their corners. The broad shoulders, and those thick-fingered hands resting against his muscular thighs. He wanted to feel them on his skin. He’d dreamed about it.
“I’m glad you came,” Lucas said and swallowed hard.
Ryder tipped his head, his lips parting. “Of course I came. You needed me.”
“Fuck, Ry. I…” Words didn’t come, so he did the only thing he could think of. He reached out and threaded his fingers through Ryder’s warm ones. He wanted everything, Ryder’s strength, his hands, mouth, everything. Most of all, he wanted the man to want him back.
The thick thumb stroked over Lucas’s fingers. “It’s not so easy to pretend I don’t care anymore, Luc.” He shook his head and shifted closer. “If you’re not okay with this…” His other hand reached up to push into the loose hair and brush it back from Luc’s stubbled jaw.
Their lips met gently, a soft press full of hesitation and heat. Lucas sucked in a sharp breath before surging forward and taking another, deeper kiss. He’d wanted to forever, it felt like, and now he finally got what he needed. His free hand settled on Ryder’s broad chest as their mouths met and explored. The kiss deepened by degrees, lingering long enough to burn fresh heat into his veins.
When they finally parted, Ryder rested his forehead on Lucas’s for a long moment before sitting back. “I’ve wanted to do that forever.”
The near echo of his own thoughts made Lucas grin. “Yeah.” He nodded once before leaning back in for another sweet, hot, all-consuming kiss.
Chapter 10
Ryder
The smell of garlic bread hit him as he nudged the front door opened. Ryder grinned, shifting the grocery bag in his arms. “I brought salad,” he called out.
“Don’t lie to me, Ryder,” His sister, Brooke’s voice rang from the kitchen. “You brought dessert.”
“Piles of vegetables,” he replied, stepping into the cozy house. His boots thudded gently against the mat near the door. He made a beeline for the kitchen on the right and set the bag on the counter. “Or brownies. I figured you had the healthy stuff covered. So technically, I am supporting balanced nutrition.”
Brooke popped her head out from behind the fridge door and grinned. “Fine. You can stay.” She set a big bowl of salad on the counter.
He was about to respond when a flash of bright yellow barreled around the corner and collided with his legs. “Uncle Ryder!” Emma shouted. “What did you bring?”
Crouching to catch her in a big bear hug, he lifted her off her feet just long enough to make her giggle. She was getting so big. “Salad.” When Emma rolled her eyes in a perfect imitation of her mother, Ryder laughed and straightened up.
Shaking her head, Brooke handed three plates to her daughter and waved her toward the table. Her usual strictness about healthy eating flew out the window when Uncle Ryder visited. Emma knew to expect a treat. His niece set the plates in their usual spots and hurried to get utensils from the drawer.
“Brownies with peanut butter chips,” he said, peering at her while he settled in his chair. The one at the end was Craig’s, and Ryder wouldn’t claim it even when his brother-in-law was on the road. As a long-haul truck driver, he only got home two or three nights per week. Sometimes not even that much. “You look taller than last week. What’ve you been eating, magic growing beans?”
“Just regular food,” she said solemnly. “But I’ve been growing. And I did a science project. Want to see it after dinner?”
“Absolutely.” He turned to his sister. “Need help with anything?”
She shook her head and set the plate of garlic bread next to the chicken and salad. “Nope. You get to just relax tonight. You’re not on call, right?”
Ryder dug his fork into his meal. “No. The only night this week I’m not. They really need to hire more people.”
Worried in her usual big sister way, Brooke frowned over her forkful of salad. “They do. They work you too hard. Is Larabee looking?”
