Nori's Delta (Delta Team Three #1) - Lori Ryan Page 0,57

sensitive guy in the world, but he knew Heath was hurting. And the truth was, Duff would do anything for any of the guys on his team. These guys accepted him for who he was and didn’t treat him like the freak that a lot of people saw when they looked at him.

“Come in,” Roe said, looking up from his paperwork. “What’s up, Duff?”

“Listen, I know we’ve got to get this certification done, but would it be okay with you if we push it back another couple of days? I need to make a quick trip.”

Duff had looked up Eleanor’s information on the way to DC. He wasn’t surprised to see her pushing herself hard in the physical therapy room at her rehab facility, sweat forming a sheen on her skin.

Heath’s Nori was one of the most committed people he’d ever seen.

It was why what had happened to her sucked. She deserved more than what happened at the end of that negotiation.

Eleanor looked up as he approached. “Duff! What are you doing here?”

He gestured to a chair, even though it looked like it could easily collapse under his weight.

She nodded to his unspoken question and he lowered himself carefully into the chair. She leaned on a walker as she made her way to him.

And then he tried to think of what to say. He wasn’t the kind of guy who came up with the right words easily, or knew how to say them in the right way. He’d probably screw this up, but he had to try.

Maybe he should tell her how Heath looked the last few days. It wasn’t pretty. So maybe he wasn’t right to start with that.

“Heath doesn’t know I’m here.”

She was nodding at him. “And you probably didn’t know that Merlin has already been out to see me.”

“Oh.” That stopped Duff. Merlin had only told Duff he needed to take care of something personal and that it wasn’t a big deal or anything he should be worried about. It hadn’t occurred to him that Merlin had already come out here to see Eleanor.

“What did he say?” When the words left Duff’s mouth, he immediately wanted to call them back. He wasn’t any good at this.

Eleanor smiled at him and it was the kind of gentle smile that said she understood he was trying. Heath would have been so damned lucky to have this woman in his life. Duff wanted to make that happen.

“What did you want to say to me?” Eleanor asked. And again there was understanding in her tone. Understanding and patience.

“He’s miserable.” Duff scrubbed the back of his head. “I’ve never seen him like this. Heath bounces back, you know?”

Eleanor’s eyes were sad. “I don’t. We haven’t been a part of each other’s lives for a lot of years now. Too many years, I think. We’re in different places now.”

Duff might not be the most sensitive man on the planet, but he knew she wasn’t talking about the distance from DC to Fort Hood.

He looked around the restaurant, not sure what to say.

Eleanor rescued him, raising a hand to wave over the nurse. “Have lunch with me, Duff.” She smiled at him. “I owe you guys at least that much for all you did for me and my team.”

Duff shrugged and looked away. None of them ever knew how to handle people thanking them for their jobs the way they did. But he would enjoy having lunch with Eleanor. Besides, his flight back to Fort Hood wasn’t until that night.

And maybe if they had lunch, he could think of something to say to convince her that Heath needed her. Maybe he could find a way to get her to see him again. If she could just see Heath, she’d have to see they were meant for each other, wouldn’t she?

But as they moved from the rehab room to the dining room in the large facility, she started talking about other things. About Washington DC and all the good food there, about the physical therapists and how they thought they could have her home in another couple of weeks, about a movie she’d watched before.

It was clear she was finished talking about Heath.

Chapter 36

Heath looked up to find their CO heading straight for them out on the field. He, Merlin, and Duff were marching with full packs and gear in the hot Texas sun and had been for the last two hours. He was planning to go another two or more before quitting.

But Roe didn’t