Sunset Ridge (16 page)
“I can’t, but I’m off tomorrow. Maybe Eli would let you out of his clutches long enough to have a beer.” Luke took a bite of the generic oatmeal cookie. He liked them best once they’d gone soft from being opened too long.
“Or you could come over for dinner,” Kenny offered.
“Thanks, but I’d rather you came over for a beer. No offence, but I’d rather not break down in front of your guy.”
“And is that what you feel like doing?”
Luke shook his head. “What are you some kind of psychiatrist now?” He tossed the half-eaten cookie into the trash.
“Nope, just a friend.”
“Yeah.” Luke took a deep calming breath. “Why can’t I get over this? I deal with this kind of shit every damn day.”
“I can’t answer that because although bits and pieces have gotten out about how Kati died, I wasn’t there.”
From the kitchen, Luke wandered into the dorm room lined with twin beds. He sat on his usual bed and tried to push the memories away. “It’s all too fresh to try and analyse it.”
After several moments, Kenny finally spoke. “I’m worried about you.”
“Don’t be. I’ve dealt with this shit for years. It’ll slide to the back burner again in a day or two.”
“Maybe the problem is that you’ve left it on the back burner for too long. It’s time you deal with this shit once and for all,” Kenny tried to argue.
How was he supposed to deal with the face of his dying mother begging him to save her? “You don’t know what you’re talking about. Look, I gotta go. A call just came in.”
“With no warning buzzer? You’re a damn liar, but I love you anyway. Meet me at O’Brien’s tomorrow at six.”
“Sure,” Luke mumbled. The best thing about his bond with Kenny was that his friend never took his temper to heart.
“If you need to talk before then I’m only a phone call away,” Kenny added.
“I know.” Luke took a deep breath. “I love you, too. You know that right?”
“Goes without saying, buddy,” Kenny said before hanging up.
Luke stared at his phone for several moments before slipping it back into his breast pocket. Although he loved Kenny like a brother, there were times he needed more. Stretch McGee came immediately to mind. Damn he’d loved that traitor. He didn’t doubt that part of his current mood had something to do with the media reports that Stretch was finally separating from his wife.
How much of a doormat was he that he secretly hoped Stretch would suddenly show up in town to whisk him away?
I’m such a loser.
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About the Author
An avid reader for years, one day Carol Lynne decided to write her own brand of erotic romance. Carol juggles between being a full-time mother and a full-time writer. These days, you can usually find Carol either cleaning jelly out of the carpet or nestled in her favourite chair writing steamy love scenes.
Email:
[email protected]
by Carol Lynne
Campus Cravings: Coach
Campus Cravings: Side-Lined
Campus Cravings: Sacking the Quarterback
Campus Cravings: Off-Season
Campus Cravings: Forbidden Freshman
Campus Cravings: Broken Pottery
Campus Cravings: In Bear’s Bed
Campus Cravings: Office Advances
Campus Cravings: A Biker’s Vow
Campus Cravings: Hershie’s Kiss
Campus Cravings: Theron’s Return
Campus Cravings: Live for Today
Good Time Boys: Sonny’s Salvation
Good-time Boys: Garron’s Gift
Good-time Boys: Rawley’s Redemption
Good-time Boys: Twin Temptations
Cattle Valley: All Play & No Work
Cattle Valley: Cattle Valley Mistletoe
Cattle Valley: Sweet Topping
Cattle Valley: Rough Ride
Cattle Valley: Physical Therapy
Cattle Valley: Out of the Shadow
Cattle Valley: Bad Boy Cowboy
Cattle Valley: The Sound of White
Cattle Valley: Gone Surfin’
Cattle Valley: The Last Bouquet
Cattle Valley: Eye of the Beholder
Cattle Valley: Cattle Valley Days
Cattle Valley: Bent-Not Broken
Cattle Valley: Arm Candy
Cattle Valley: Recipe for Love
Cattle Valley: Firehouse Heat
Cattle Valley: Neil’s Guardian Angel
Cattle Valley: Scarred
Cattle Valley: Making the Grade
Cattle Valley: To Service and Protect
Cattle Valley: The O’Brien Way
Cattle Valley: Ghost from the Past
Cattle Valley: Hawk’s Landing
Cattle Valley: Shooting Star
Karaoke at the Tumbleweed
Legend Anthology:
Healing Doctor Ryan
Joey’s First Time
Between Two Lovers
Corporate Passion
Sunset Ridge
Poker Night: Texas Hold Em
Poker Night: Slow-Play
Poker Night: Different Suits
Poker Night: Full House
Men in Love: Reunion
Bodyguards in Love: Brier’s Bargain
Bodyguards in Love: Seb’s Surrender
Bodyguards in Love: I Love Rock N Roll
Bodyguards in Love: Taming Black Dog Four
Bodyguards in Love: Seducing the Sheik
Bodyguards in Love: To Bed a King
Neo’s Realm: Liquid Crimson
Neo’s Realm: Blood Trinity
Neo’s Realm: Crimson Moon
Seasons of Love: Spring
Seasons of Love: Summer
Seasons of Love: Fall
Also by Carol Lynne and T.A Chase
Dracul’s Revenge: Dracul’s Blood
Dracul’s Revenge: Anarchy in Blood
The Haunting of St Xavier
Carol loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at
http://www.total-e-bound.com
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