Long Road Home by Chandra Ryan Page B

obviously meant more than he would admit to him.
    He chuckled when he realized he sounded as jealous as Hank.
    “Something funny?”
    He jumped. He’d forgotten they were in the middle of their morning coffee. “Sorry. I got lost in my own thoughts.”
    “You seemed a million miles away.”
    “Nope. Only a couple miles at most.” He pushed the remnants of jealousy and uneasy out of his mind. “I think you’re starting to rub off on me.”
    “Lord knows I rub up on you often enough.” He winked. “Guess it was only a matter of time.”
    Thom’s heart sped, and his cock twitched at the flirtatious innuendo. “Rubbing sounds good. Too bad we’ve got plans today.”
    “If we focus, we can be done with our meetings and finish our chores by lunch.” Hank looked down at his watch. “I think I might be able to talk my boss into letting me have the afternoon off.”
    “Your boss? Who would that be?”
    Hank tipped his head back in a full laugh. The rich bark of merriment made him smile even though he didn’t understand the joke. “You are.” Hank got up and came around the table to steal a passionate kiss. His head swam with desire by the time Hank released him.
    “Damn.”
    “Yeah.” The other man took a ragged breath before taking a step away. “Unless you want to reschedule your whole morning, I suggest you go get ready.”
    “Is rescheduling and option?” he teased. In his heart he knew he couldn’t miss his PT appointment. He needed to get better—stronger.
    Hank shook his head. “Nope. What we do might be classified as cardio, but it’s no replacement for your therapy.”
    “Fine.” He stood up and stepped away from the table. “The only reason I’m not fighting you on this one, though, is because I happen to agree with you.”
    “Of course you do.” Hank slapped his ass as he walked by. “Because I’m right. Can’t argue with that.”
    When he stood under the warm spray of water from the shower, he realized he only had a week of therapy left. One week and he wouldn’t need the other man. Why did everything about the statement hit him wrong? He’d never needed him to do the chores. He could’ve checked the crops and had his farm hands patch the fence and replace the damaged areas of the barn this morning. Hank enjoyed helping out, so he let the man do some of the work.
    After having the man live with him for the past week, however, he found he needed him in other ways. He slept better with Hank’s warm, strong body pressed against his. He woke with a smile on his face when he smelled coffee brewing. Before, his farm had been his life. Since Hank had been here, however, he rushed through his work in order to get home and spend time with the man. He wouldn’t be able to forget their nights together for some time.
    His hand froze. In one week, the man would be free. He would move on. Thom’s stomach pitched and rolled. There would be nothing left to hold Hank to the farm. Whatever sense of obligation he felt toward Thom would be gone once he got the all clear from the doctor.
    What would he do then?
    “Then again. We do have some time to kill before your doctor’s appointment.” Hank’s voice startled him as the man opened the shower door. “I’m sure we can find some way to put each and every minute to good use.”
    His cock went hard despite the conflicted emotions filling him. He hadn’t needed Hank to do any of the chores and jobs he constantly offered to do. He needed the man for all the things he had never once alluded to. He needed the man because he’d somehow fallen in love with him.
    “Are you okay? You feel tense.” Hank pulled Thom to him until their bodies were snuggled together under the hot spray of water.
    “I’m a little nervous.”
    The soft sound of Hank sniffing followed Thom’s words. “A little nervous? It seems like you’re really upset about something.”
    He shook his head. “I’m worried about the physical therapy. It always leaves me sore and