Hobbling across the small room, he tossed his duffel on the neatly made bed. He opened the flap then pulled out his shaving kit. A Vicodin would numb the searing pain but the drugs made him sleepy. The digital readout on the clock showed two.

He dry-swallowed the pill. Grabbing his cell phone, he hit redial and waited through the ring.

A deep bass voice answered. “Hello.”

“Steve, it’s Jared. I’m at the hotel.”

“Great! You made good time.” Traffic noises cluttered the line. “I’m on the way to pick up Lydia’s grandmother from the airport. Probably be back in about an hour or so. Dalton’s around there somewhere.”

“I haven’t seen him yet.” The idea of seeing Dalton made his heart beat faster. Grabbing a plastic-wrapped glass from the desk, Jared went into the bathroom. “My leg is acting up. I just took a pain pill and I think I’ll lie down for a while.” He ran some water into the glass and washed down the bitter aftertaste of the pill. If only it were as easy to wash away the bitter memories of his and Dalton’s parting.

“What did the doctor say yesterday?” Steve’s gravelly voice grew soft.

Jared sighed as he walked back into the bedroom area. “The same thing he said last week and last month. My leg won’t ever be the same. I’ll always have at least a ten to fifteen percent loss of mobility.” He toed his sneakers off. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he stripped off his socks. The carpet was soft and cool against his feet.

“Are they putting you out?”

“No, not yet.” Jared ran his hand through his hair. That would be too easy. “I have a choice. I can stay in but I’ll be deskbound and out of combat permanently.”

“Not a bad deal. You could still see your pension.”

“Yeah. A pencil pusher for the next ten years.” Jared wished the military would just throw him out. Make the decision for him.

His lawyer friend chuckled on the other end of the line. “There are worse things, you know. And I have a place for you. We need good investigators with the firm. With your military police background, you’d be perfect.”

“I know. And don’t think I’m not grateful for the offer but…” The idea was tempting. If Jared left the Army, the city he grew up in would be as good a place as any to start his life over. Staying with his mother while he healed had been convenient but she tended to smother him. Not only would he have a good job, Dalton wouldn’t be able to avoid him all the time if he lived here and worked with his brother.

“Okay. Know the offer is there if you need it.”

A yawn overcame Jared’s response. “Sorry. Must be the Vicodin kicking in.” Or the sleepless night thinking of facing Dalton again.

“Go. Rest. I’ll talk to you later at the rehearsal dinner.”

“Later.” Jared flipped the phone shut and tossed it on the nightstand. A slight wooziness accompanied the sweet numbness caressing his thigh. The hum of the air conditioner serenaded him like a lullaby. At least the drugs would take the edge off for a little while. Enforced sleep helped Jared forget his dilemma.

A knock caught him pulling his T-shirt over his head. Holding the sweat-damp material against his chest, he limped to the door.

He opened it and found himself face-to-face with the features he’d searched for in the lobby. “Dalton…” Jared stepped back as the man crowded him into the room.

“At your service.”

Blue eyes shone in a face leaner than Jared remembered. Gone was the baby fat of the nineteen-year-old that haunted his dreams. The man in front of him was muscled, compact without being bulky. His closeness took Jared’s breath away. A heated flush seared his skin.

“You seem surprised to see me. Didn’t you think I’d show up for my brother’s wedding?” The door swung shut behind him.

“No, I knew you’d be here.” He stopped his backward retreat into the room and struggled for a control he didn’t feel.

Dalton kept coming until his body was mere inches away from Jared. His tall frame matched Jared’s six-foot height. Almost nose to nose with Jared, he whispered, “Aren’t you glad to see me?” A predatory gleam shone in the dark blue depths.

The tantalizing scent of sweat and something distinctly male overwhelmed him. Arousal shot through Jared’s body. “Of course. You startled me.” He pushed his crumpled T-shirt in front of his hips to hide the rising bulge in his jeans. He prayed Dalton wouldn’t look down. Although he’d thought of nothing else in the last two months, he wasn’t looking for a quick fuck. He wanted to know if more were possible before he made a decision about the rest of his life.

As if the man could read his thoughts, Dalton’s gaze crawled down Jared’s body. A smile quirked his lips when his eyes paused at Jared’s obvious camouflage. “I guess you are glad to see me.”