Chapter 14
As it turned out, Devyn didn’t have the chance to talk to her brother before his Delta Force team had to report to post for their nighttime training exercise.
By the time she had to say goodbye to Lucky for a few days, she was cranky and irritated that the conversation had to be put off, anxious to get it over with.
She’d stayed late at work the day after Aspen’s baby was born, and when she called Fred afterward, he and Spencer had been drinking, and she didn’t want to have the talk when they weren’t completely sober.
Then one of the other vet techs got sick, and she’d volunteered to work a full day’s shift to cover for him.
Later that evening, when she’d called again, Grover said Spencer was out, and he didn’t know when he’d be back.
She could’ve gone over and talked to Grover then, but Devyn had already decided she wanted Spencer there. Wanted him to own up to his issues.
Now, Grover, Lucky, and the rest of the team would be out of contact for the next forty-eight hours, at least. It sucked that she had to put off the discussion, but it couldn’t be helped.
“You’re sure you’re okay staying here in my townhouse?” Lucky asked the morning he was heading off to the post to report to duty.
“I’m sure. It’s easier on Angel and Whiskers for me to stay here. Less traumatic than leaving them alone all day. Are you sure it’s okay for me to be here when you aren’t?” she asked.
Lucky grinned. “As far as I’m concerned, you can stay here as long as you like.”
She gave him the side eye. “Was that your manly way of asking me to move in with you?” she asked.
“No. This is. Devyn, you are welcome to move all your shit in anytime you want. I know most of it is still in boxes in your apartment anyway. I love you, and I want you here all the time. But if you’re not comfortable with that yet, that’s okay too.
Me, Whiskers, and Angel will be here when you’re ready. ”
Devyn shook her head. “You’re crazy. You know that, right?”
“Crazy about you? Yup.”
“Lord, that was so corny,” she protested.
Lucky reached out and yanked her into him. Her breath whooshed out with an oof as she collided with his chest, then he picked her up and twirled her around in a circle.
Devyn laughed. “Stop, I’m gonna puke!”
He stopped immediately and stepped back in concern. “Seriously?”
“Nope,” Devyn told him with a grin. “But it made you stop.”
“True. But seriously, I love having you here. I’ve got good locks and I know you’ll be safe here. I don’t want to rush you into anything, but you’ve already got a key. As far as I’m concerned, if I get back in a few days and all your stuff is here, I’d be over-the-moon excited.”
“I…I like being here, but I’m not sure I’m ready for officially moving in yet,” Devyn told him uncertainly.
“It’s okay. I’m pushing, and I know it, but I can’t help it. I’m just ready to get on with spending the rest of my life with you.”
That was sweet. Devyn went up on her tiptoes and kissed him. Hard.
They’d made almost desperate love that morning. They weren’t even going to be apart for that long, but Devyn realized she’d miss him. She’d gotten used to waking up with him in the mornings and being held by him all night.
She knew she was kidding herself by saying she wasn’t ready to officially move in yet, but that seemed like such a huge step.
Staying over every night, and having her shampoo and conditioner in his shower, and a few things in his closet and their underwear mixed together in the wash didn’t seem fast…
but ending her lease and moving all her knickknacks and stuff over here did.
It made no sense, but she appreciated that he wasn’t pushing her on it.
Lucky’s hand slipped under the hem of her shirt and pressed against her back. He did that all the time, and she loved that he couldn’t seem to keep his hands off her. His tongue dueled with hers and they were both breathing hard by the time he pulled back.
“Shit, now I have to go to work with a hard-on,” he complained.
“I could help you with that,” Devyn volunteered, her hands moving down his chest toward the fastening of his uniform pants.
He grabbed them, halting her downward progress. “If I let you do that, I’m gonna want to reciprocate, then fuck you. Then we’ll both be late,” he said regretfully. “I’ll be back in two days.”
“I know,” Devyn said with a pout.
He chuckled. “It’s nice to know you’re gonna miss me.”
“I’m gonna miss you,” she agreed without pause.
“Stay safe. Don’t spoil the kids too much,” he warned, talking about Angel and Whiskers.
“Who, me?” Devyn asked, all wide-eyed innocence.
“Yeah, you. I think they like you more than me,” he said without heat.
“Of course they do,” Devyn told him.
He laughed. “You going over to see Chance in the hospital after work?”
“Not today. Gillian’s going over today, and Kinley’s going tomorrow. I’m going to do some housekeeping at Brain and Aspen’s place tomorrow, and Riley’s gonna come to keep me company.”
“I love how you’re all helping out,” Lucky told her.
“That’s what you do for friends,” Devyn said with a shrug.
“Yup. Okay, I really need to get going. Have a good few days off.”
“I will. My plan today is to take the girls for a long walk if they’ll let me, then I’m gonna nap, read, and maybe take a bath.”
“Sounds good. Love you,” Lucky said.
“Love you back,” she returned, secretly thrilled that they already had a tradition when it came to sharing their declarations of love with each other.
Lucky kissed her once more, then gave her a chin lift and headed for the door. He stopped to tell Angel and Whiskers to be good for “Mommy,” then he was gone.
The townhouse seemed too quiet and empty without him there, but Devyn pushed that thought to the back of her mind.
She didn’t mind being by herself. At least, she hadn’t before she’d met Lucky.
Still, she was glad to have a few days to relax.
She liked her job at the vet clinic, but it was hard work.
And it had been a while since she’d done full shifts.
She had to decide what to do about that too. Did she want to keep working part time, or go full time? At first she’d been all for going full time. Now she was having second thoughts. The money would be nice, but she’d get to spend less time with Lucky and the others.
It was ridiculous, really. Most people worked full-time jobs, but she’d been doing okay with only part-time hours. And if she moved in with Lucky, a lot of the bills she had now would disappear.
She shook her head. No, she wouldn’t move in with Lucky just to save money. That was the wrong reason to move in with someone.
Pushing that topic to the back of her mind also, Devyn turned to the box of doughnuts Lucky had picked up the night before.
He’d gotten them for her, to tide her over while he was gone.
He was in the same state, even the same town, but somehow it still felt as if he was a million miles away.
Devyn knew if there was an emergency, and she really needed him, she could get Gillian or one of the others to contact his commander, and he could come out of the field and get home quickly, but she didn’t expect to have any kind of emergency.
She could handle whatever life threw at her for the next few days.
That afternoon, after a walk, and while she was in the midst of an extremely hot chapter in the book she was reading, Lucky’s doorbell rang.
Devyn had no idea who it might be. She’d already talked to Gillian and Kinley, and texted Aspen and Riley that day.
Everything had been fine with them, though they were all a bit grumpy from having to say goodbye to their men.
Even though they were all relieved they didn’t have to worry about their lives being on the line, as they would be in a real mission, it still sucked to have them gone.
Putting her book aside, Devyn headed for the door. Looking through the peephole, she inhaled sharply.
It was Spencer.
She hadn’t expected him to show up at Lucky’s house. She had no idea how in the world he’d figured out where she was. Fred would never have given him Lucky’s address, so…he had to have followed them at some point.
Sighing, not really wanting to talk to Spencer, but not wanting to leave him standing on the front step either, Devyn opened the door.
“Hey, sis,” Spencer said when he saw her.
“Hi,” she returned.
“Can we talk?”
Devyn wanted to refuse, but she stepped back from the door, holding it open. Spencer walked in and headed toward the living area on the other side of the kitchen.
He turned, and before she could tell him under no circumstances would she give him any money, he spoke first. “I’m sorry.”
Devyn blinked. “What?”
Spencer ran a hand through his short dark hair and repeated, “I’m sorry.”
“For what, exactly?” Devyn asked. She was glad to hear him apologizing, but if he was trying to butter her up before he asked for more money, she wasn’t going to fall for it.
He sat on the edge of the couch, and Devyn did the same next to him.
“I came to Texas with the intent of asking you for more money,” he said.
Devyn tensed. She knew that, but hearing him admit it was still surprising.
“I knew you wouldn’t let me stay with you, not after I hurt you the last time I saw you, so I called Fred, half expecting him to tell me to fuck off. You didn’t tell him, did you?” Spencer asked.
“About your gambling problem? No,” Devyn said.
“Why not? I mean, I’m grateful, but I don’t understand. You guys are really close.”
Devyn sighed. “The last thing I want is to be the cause of our family being in turmoil…again.”
“Again?”
“Yeah, when I was sick, things weren’t all that great in the family. Mila and Angela resented all the time Mom and Dad were spending with me in the hospital, you weren’t exactly thrilled that you were being ignored, and Mom and Dad almost got a divorce.”