No Man Left Behind: A Veteran Inspired Charity Anthology by Elizabeth Knox (black authors fiction TXT) 📕

unless you want to fuck up this chance, cause we both know you need something to get you back into the world again. Thirdly: I only asked since you were eye-fucking her from the moment she called your name. If you seal the deal with her, you gotta keep her around until that dog is yours.”

Letting out a deep breath, I turn to him and confess some of the thoughts that have been racing through my head the last half hour.

“Something’s up with her, I don’t know, maybe she’s more damaged than I am but I’m not in any position to start anything with anyone,” I reply, covering the easier part of what I need to say. “I shouldn’t have gotten short with you—you and Duncan have had my back since day one and I do appreciate it.”

“Now that we have that straight, here comes Lucy,” Keith says, pulling sunglasses out of his pocket as he continues to the passenger side and reaches for the door. Like me, he’s tall enough that the lack of a running board is a non-issue as he folds his body inside the vehicle.

“Just follow me,” I call out to her and start up the truck.

“What’s so funny?” Keith asks me and I realize I’m smiling.

“She and her car are so small I can barely see her in the rear-view mirror.”

“Christ, brother. You and Duncan. Single-fucking-minded when you see the woman you want,” Keith says, chuckling under his breath.

“Not in the market. What’s up with Duncan? And why the hell did he move to the middle of . . . I mean where’s the closest international airport?”

Keith just shakes his head and indicates the different turn-offs I need to take, until I pull up the driveway and am shocked by the cabin that they arranged for me. Typical Duncan—the man doesn’t do anything halfway.

“Carlos is in the barn where he parked my car, we’ll hang out in case you need anything but he stocked the fridge and pantry.”

“Keith . . .” I can’t find the words to thank him. I know this will make all the difference.

“Don’t fucking thank me again.”

Lucy

For the love of God.

I groan in the confines of my car as Owen slides out of his truck. I almost had a heart attack when I saw my last appointment for the day looked like, well, sex. Tall, built, tattoos creeping up his neck and the kind of man that looks at you dead on, assessing you with a glance.

His build is similar to my ex’s and after that shitshow, I’m taking a break from dating. Actually, I’m taking a break from people but I have to go through the motions at work because I enjoy having a roof over my head.

A few years back, when I realized that there was no way I could afford to go to vet school, I lucked into a job as a receptionist with a similar organization that I work at today. This gives me plenty of time with dogs while I work to help our nation’s veterans find a way back from despair.

Owen knocks on the hood of my car and I realize that I zoned out again.

“Sorry!” I say, quickly opening the door but looking around to get my iPad and discreetly shove my taser into my pocket. “What a beautiful home.”

“Yeah, um, come check it out,” he replies.

Looking around for his friend, I see Keith walking toward a barn off to the side and am a little relieved that it will just be the two of us inside. Since the event that kicked off my break-up and subsequent restraining order fiasco with my ex, I would have been nervous with both men inside the house.

The moment Owen opens the door, I have to hold back the sigh I let out. What I wouldn’t give to come home to a place like this.

“Wow,” I finally say when he looks back over his shoulder at me, his eyes darkening. I sidestep him, even though I feel like a moth to the flame, wanting to step into his body.

Down, Lucy! I think to myself. Fuck, I don’t even have the figure I used to, it’s not like he’d be into me. I currently have a standing threesome with Ben and Jerry once a week and that ice cream may have rounded out my hips and ass a bit more than is fashionable but I love me some Half-Baked.

“Alright, one resident, right? Any frequent guests?” I ask, looking down at my iPad and cringing at the question I just asked but also hoping he’s single.

“Hmf,” he kinda grunts out. “Not in the right headspace to be around others right now. I know my form said consultant and a buddy of mine has hired me on, but I’m really just going to therapy and doing some research online. That’s alright, isn’t it?”

“He sounds like a good friend, Mr. Bannon . . .”

“Call me Owen. And he is. Duncan served also, got majorly fucked up along the way but, well, I think he processes things differently,” he says, and I’m relieved to see how much more relaxed he is since we’ve walked through the door but there’s something off.

“Is this your first time here?” I ask quietly, looking up at his face for his reaction. He nods his head, keeping his eyes on mine. “But you will be living here, correct?”

“Yes, Lucy. I know there are a lot of people who served that need a companion, and fuck, maybe they deserve it more than I do. It’s just that it’s fucking hard for me to be around people somedays but I need, I don’t know how to say it.”

“Trust me, I understand.” The words slip out of my mouth as I’m thinking them and I’m mortified. “Um, okay. I need to walk around here a little bit to ensure The Duck will be safe and then see the fenced in area.”

“The Duke?”

“No, The Duck. His littermate is The Duke