Cherished (Wanted 4)

I finished off my beer and stood up. “Alright, I guess I better get back.”

Gunner stood and reached out for Lark’s hand. “You’re staying for tomorrow night, right?”

“Hell yeah. It’s the only reason I’m here. Scott went on and on about the New Year’s Eve parties y’all throw. I’m not due to go back to work until the fourth, so I’ll probably be leaving on the third.”

Josh and Jeff both stood and shook Lark’s hand and then mine.

“It was great meeting you, Lark. You’ll have to come out more often to target shoot,” Jeff said with a smile.

“Damn, I wish I could. I travel a lot for my job,” Lark said.

“You still in the Marines?” Josh asked.

Lark shook his head. “Nah, medical discharge.”

Gunner looked at me and then back at Lark. “What do you do?”

Lark smirked. “Contract work for the government among other things. My boss dabbles in a few different things—all legal.” He glanced at me and winked.

Gunner laughed. “Fair enough.”

Lark hadn’t uttered a word ever since we left Gunner’s place.

“What’s on your mind, Lark?” I asked.

He smiled. “I like your friends. They are a good group of guys. They seem really happy.”

I nodded. “Yeah, they are a good bunch, and yeah, they’re all pretty happy.”

He nodded as he looked out the window. I knew Lark wanted what we all had—someone to wake up to every morning and lie down with every night.

“You ever think of changing jobs?” I asked.

“Fuck no. I love my job. I live for my job,” Lark said quickly.

I sucked in a deep breath and slowly let it out. “You don’t ever think about settling down, Lark? Ever?”

He shook his head and smiled as he looked at me. “Nope. It would have to take an act of God to get me to settle down with one person.”

I nodded my head. As we drove down the driveway, I saw Jessie and Azurdee both riding horses. They were walking along the road. I pulled to a stop and rolled down the window.

“Damn, girl. You sure look good sitting up there on my horse,” I said with a chuckle.

Jessie smiled and let out a small laugh. “Your mother wouldn’t leave. She went from paint to baby furniture to wedding plans. I think I liked it better when she didn’t like me and never talked to me,” she said as she made a funny face.

Azurdee laughed, and I heard Lark suck in a breath of air.

“How about we go out for dinner tonight?” I asked.

“Azurdee has plans for a home-cooked meal tonight,” Jessie said as she looked over at Azurdee.

“Yep, pasta,” Azurdee said as she ducked her head down and peeked into the truck at Lark.

“Pasta, it is. Y’all need help with the horses?” I asked.

“Nope. We’re enjoying our girl time. We won’t be long, I promise,” Jessie said.

I slowly drove away and glanced over toward Lark. He was looking out the window as I smiled to myself.