Page 61 of Her Guarded Hero

Somehow, he managed to stay upright, even though he felt like a brother had just taken a battering ram to his chest. Dalton didn’t reply, he just stared at Hunter, willing his friend to take back his words.

Finally, Hunter rubbed the back of his neck. “Maybe I’m reading the situation wrong.”

“You are,” Dalton said grimly.

“But you are in mourning,” Hunter said as his hand fell to his side and he took a step forward. “Dammit Dalton, you’re one of my best friends, and your pain is palpable. There was nothing that could be done last time, but there is this time.”

“Stay out of this, Diaz,” Dalton warned Hunter as he took a step closer.

Dex was suddenly there pushing his way between the two men. “Okay, enough with the testosterone display. We get it. The nurse over there is sufficiently impressed.”

“Nurse? Does she have news?” Hunter asked.

“No, she was talking to another family. Who by the way, was also sufficiently scared. You both need to dial it back,” Dex admonished the two men. “I’ll help. Dalton, Hunter is right, suck it up.”

Dalton felt his head literally pound. It was a damn good thing he was in a hospital, because when he had a stroke they might be able to save him. “You two don’t understand shit.”

“Explain it to us.” Hunter sat down in the chair Dalton had vacated. He stretched out his legs and crossed his arms. “Tell me a story.”

Asshole.

“I met a woman. She’s up there with Kenna and Aliana.” Hunter sat up a little at the mention of his fiancé’s name. “You know me. Hunter, you of all people know me. I can’t do the whole relationship thing, and I sure as hell can never do the husband thing ever again. I’m a bad bet for a woman. Especially one like that. She deserves someone who’s whole.”

Dex snorted. “This from the man who likes romance novels.”

“What?” Hunter sat up even straighter in his chair.

“Yeah. Kenna told me that she and Dalton discussed books and he was even able to name one of her favorite romance novelists.”

“That’s bullshit,” Dalton protested. “The series she’s talking about is a female cop in the future and her rich husband. It’s a crime thriller series. She thinks it’s romance, but it’s categorized under thriller.”

“Nope, Kenna definitely said romance,” Dex rubbed his hands with glee. “Admit it Dalton, you want what Hunter and I have.”

For a second he flashed back to what Wyatt had said. But Dalton didn’t feel lonely, he felt like a part of his heart had been ripped out of his chest. But it was for the best. Aurora deserved better.

“Who is the woman?” Hunter asked.

“Aurora Chance, he met her in Tahoe. She’s the reason he’s been acting like a wounded bear for the last five months.”

Hunter slid his gaze over to Dalton and grinned slyly. “Finally, the pieces fall into place. Tell me more Dex.”

“No, how ‘bout you don’t.” Dalton clipped out.

“Silly me I thought you’d like to know when your girl was in trouble.”

“She’s not my girl-” Dalton started, then he realized what Dex had just said. “Trouble? What the fuck do you mean she’s in trouble?”

“Ah-ha, so you do care.”

“Cut the shit, Evans, and explain yourself.” Dalton used the three inches he had on Dex to tower over the man. Dex turned serious. “It’s about damn time you started using your head for something other than a butt plug.”

“I’m fucking serious, if you don’t fork over whatever information you have Dexter, I am going to wipe the floor with you.”

“I’ve been monitoring things up there. I wasn’t sure that it was anything. If I had actually been sure there was a problem, you know I would have told you, you know that.”

Dalton looked at Dex, really looked at him, and nodded. “Okay, so what happened?”

“First thing was that little fricking piece of shit that you had me do a check on? Ned Little? Well he was shanked in the little county lock-up where they had him. First murder they’d ever had there. Totally pinged with me.”