SWNOVELS Chance: Chapter 23
“Feelsweird not to be heading to the Salty Dawg,” Seth said. “I could use a beer and a burger. Or doesn’t Theo make that shrimp thing on Mondays? I could really tear into that.”
“Yep, Monday is the Cajun shrimp pasta,” Chance said. They were in Kane’s Yukon, riding back from Research Park and the Redstone Gateway. It’d been a long day of boring paperwork for the most part. Before they got to the exciting stuff, they had to make a show of going over the company’s security procedures and manuals. For special operators used to the excitement of combat, it was boring as fuck.
Chance reminded himself it was still combat, though. Just a different kind. Find the traitor, stop Armageddon. If that wasn’t battle, then he didn’t know what was.
“Does feel weird,” Kane replied. “I was looking forward to a burger and some of those rosemary fries.”
“Hopefully they’ll be open again tomorrow,” Chance said. He hadn’t heard anything from Rory, but that was no surprise. Woman made a big deal out of not needing anyone. Last thing she’d do was text him to tell him anything about the Dawg or how things were going.
“Wonder if Clarence still has barbecue?” Seth mused. “Gotta pass the Gas-n-Go heading toward the range.”
“We can stop,” Kane said.
Chance didn’t want to stop because he wanted to get home to Rory. But he couldn’t say no. Maybe he’d take some barbecue home with him. If Rory hadn’t eaten, she might like it. If she had, then he’d put it in the fridge and she could have some tomorrow.
It took another half hour to stop at the Gas-n-Go, pick out their food, and get back to the range. It was after six when they arrived so the range was closed. Tomorrow they’d brief the team on what they’d done so far.
“See y’all in the morning,” Chance said, boots crunching across the pavement as he headed for his truck, tossed in the food, and started it up.
Twenty minutes later, he was turning into the driveway. Clyde was parked in his usual spot, but his hood was up and Rory was bent over the engine bay, tinkering with something. Chance’s belly tightened. He didn’t like her working on the truck alone. Didn’t like that heavy old hood propped up with a thin metal rod and Rory bent over the frame.
He parked carefully so as not to startle her, in case she had headphones in, and grabbed the bag of food before walking over to Clyde. Rory’s perfect ass was in the air as she stood on the bumper and leaned into the engine bay.
He took a moment to admire the roundness of her ass in overalls. Then he took a moment to remember gazing down at it while he gripped her hips and fucked her from behind. Rory didn’t like straight missionary because her insulin pump and glucose monitor were usually on her abdomen and it was uncomfortable. He could get on his knees between her legs, or hold himself up on his forearms, but there was no skin to skin from shoulder to hip happening.
Didn’t bother him. Just being inside her and feeling how fantastic it was to be there was enough for him. That and her perfectly porny moans, not to mention the dirty words of encouragement.
“Fuck me, Chance. Harder. Right there. Oh yes, mama likes it just like that…”
Jesus. He reached down to adjust his swelling dick, getting it done just before she straightened. She turned to watch him approach, and his heart kicked his ribcage at the sight of her beautiful face. He wanted her, but more than that, he wanted her happy. He wanted to make her happy.
“Is that food?”
“Yup. Pulled pork, some ribs, collards, beans, and buns.”
“Oh yum. Is there enough for me?”
“Of course there’s enough for you. What kind of guy do you think I am?”
She grinned. There was a grease spot on her cheek and her blond hair was about to tumble out of its knot. “The kind who’d bring a woman dinner.”
“Is that all?”
“What more do you want, Chancey Pants? An essay about your fabulosity?”
“If you’ve got one in you, sure.”
She stepped off the bumper and dropped to the ground. “Not especially. But I am happy you brought dinner. I’ll pay you.”
“You fucking won’t,” he growled.
She picked up a rag and wiped her hands. “Suit yourself. I’m just about done here.”
“What are you doing?”
“Checking the belts and fluids. Thought I heard a whine coming home. Wanted to make sure things were good.”
“Are they?”
“Little bit of an oil leak. But Clyde’s got plenty of life left in him.”
“You think about getting another vehicle once the baby comes?” He really meant have you thought about getting one ASAP because he didn’t want her climbing in and out of Clyde when she swelled with his child. He knew better than to say it, though. Slow and steady, slow and steady.
“I’ve thought about it.”
“You think anymore about tomorrow?”
“I have, and I’ll borrow your truck if the offer is still good.”
“It is. I’m also happy to drive you there.” He’d have to take a couple of hours off but Seth and Kane could handle it.
“I want to go alone. But thanks.”
His gut churned. “You ever plan to let me go with you?”
Her eyes glittered with a flash of temper. “Yes, I do. I just want to go alone the first time, okay? I want to process what the doctor tells me, what the risks are, on my own. I don’t want to have to worry about your reactions too.”
“It’s your body, Rory, and I get that. You’re the one who has to go through this, but I want to be involved, and I want to help in any way I can.”
She dropped her rag and came over to pat him on the arm. “I know. I’m trying, okay? I’m not used to having anyone around. I’ve got my brother trained to do his hovering at a distance, mostly. I need to process things on my own. It’s how I’m wired.”
He swallowed hard. It wasn’t what he wanted, but he appreciated that she was being honest. It was more than he’d expected from her at this stage.
“All right. But will you tell me what she says? Everything she says?”
A look of confusion passed over her face for a moment. “I’ll tell you everything I can. Some things might be private.”
“Rory. I care about what happens to you.”
“I—I’ll do my best, Chance. I promise.”
It was the most he was going to get out of her. “All right, kitten. I appreciate it.”
“Are you really going to keep calling me kitten?”
He grinned. “Think I am.”
She heaved a dramatic sigh. “Fine. But I’m going to keep calling you Chancey Pants, just so you know.”
“Wouldn’t want it any other way.”
“I gotta close up Clyde and then I’ll meet you inside.”
His heart squeezed. “Here. You take the food in and I’ll close him up.”
She frowned. “Is this because I’m a small, helpless female who needs your help?”
“Honestly?” She nodded. “No, it’s because I’m a protective alpha male who needs to do things for my woman.”
“Your woman? What are we, cave people?”
He took a step into her space. She didn’t back away. Heat flashed between them, sizzling like lightning. “No, but you’re still mine. Mine because I choose you. I’ll be yours if you choose me. That’s all you gotta do, kitten. Choose me.”
Her breath hitched in. He could see the pulse in her throat, fluttering like a butterfly. “I can’t.”
He skimmed a finger along her jaw. She shuddered beneath his touch. “Why not?”
“You know why. I won’t go through it again. I can’t.”
Chance caressed her cheek, tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Then he dropped his hand. It was the hardest thing he’d ever done. “Okay, honey. I understand. Go inside. I’ll be right behind you.”
She stared at him. “That’s it? You’ll just accept what I said about not going through it again without argument?”
“Do you want me to argue?”
Her eyes clouded a moment. “Of course not. I’m just amazed that you aren’t. We’ve argued since I’ve known you. This is a new side to you.”
“It’s not a new side. We argued because you took one look at me and decided you didn’t like me.”
She scoffed. “Did not.”
“Did too. First time I walked in the Dawg. I went to the bar to order drinks, complimented you, and you let me have it.”
Her face reddened. “To be fair, lots of men compliment me at the bar and I shoot most of them down. It’s like I have a sign on me that says since I’m working in a bar, I’m fair game. I’ve learned to be defensive and shut that shit down quick.”
“Okay, but you kept shutting me down every time you saw me.”
“And you kept poking at me whenever you saw me.”
He couldn’t deny it. “Guess we got off on the wrong foot and stayed there. And you’re right, working in a bar doesn’t make you fair game. I’m sorry I made you feel that way. I really wanted to know you, Rory, and I fucked it up by rushing it and falling back on the usual pickup lines. Shoulda took my time and got to know you before I expressed any interest.”
“Wow. And here I thought I was the only one affected by pregnancy hormones. Look at you getting all insightful and sensitive.”
She cracked him up. Rory was one of a kind. Maybe he’d fucked it up in the beginning, but he couldn’t regret where they were now. He’d do anything for this woman. She wasn’t aware of it yet, but she would be.
“Guess I’m evolving.”
“Maybe not completely.” She held her hand out for the food. “I’ll go set the table like a good little woman while you shut the big bad hood of my truck so I don’t have to strain myself.”
She flashed him a grin then and he handed over the bag. “You’re fun, kitten. And while I love that we’re not at each other’s throats all the time, I gotta say I enjoy your smart mouth a helluva lot.”
Her grin turned into a smile but she didn’t move.
“What?” he asked.
“I was waiting for the punchline.”
“What punchline?”
“The part where you say you enjoy my smart mouth even more when it’s on your body.”
“Oh, I definitely do. But I’m being sensitive here. Don’t ruin it.”
She turned and headed for the house, laughing. “Hurry up, Mr. Sensitive. I’m starved.”
So was he. But not for dinner.