He straightened his spine and went over.
"Ruth, why don't you call it a night and hitch a ride back with Ry? Jenna and I can finish up here."
"We're almost done." Ruth stacked another box full of leftovers.
"Then go." He took the box out of her hands.
She heaved a sigh. "Okay. I am a little tired."
The fact that she was admitting that made Blue instantly worried. He turned to see Ry coming toward them.
"Will you take Ruth home?"
"Sure." Ry's gaze swept over Jenna. "You coming, too, Jenna?"
"No, I'll get the rest of it done. It won't take more than half an hour."
Ruth patted Jenna's arm. "Then come and stay at the ranch when you're done. I'm sure you can put up with Blue's snoring for a night."
Jenna still didn't look at Blue. "That's very kind of you, but I probably should get home. I have to handle morning surgery."
"I'll make sure she gets home safely, Ruth." Blue hugged his grandma and then turned her gently to face Ry. "Now go, and sweet dreams."
* * *
Jenna kept her head down and concentrated on the task at hand. She should've gone with Ruth, but she hadn't felt right leaving Blue all alone. Now it was just awkward. He worked silently beside her, loading the back of his truck with the boxes, which were destined for an overnight stay in the industrial-sized refrigerator in the mudroom and then distribution to the Morgantown retirement community luncheon the next day.
What was left to say? He'd been his usual interfering, overdecisive self and she'd told him to back off. Getting stuck between his and Lily's powerful personalities hadn't been a pleasant experience. And then hearing the pair of them discussing her like she was a problem to be solved? That had sucked.
"I think we're done."
It was the first time Blue had spoken since he'd walked away in the parking lot. He closed the tailgate of his truck and went around to the driver's side. A moment later the engine started up loud in the silence. Jenna contemplated her options. Her vehicle was parked at the barn, so technically she could walk back to it, but she was exhausted. Blue seemed as reluctant to talk to her as she was to him, so surely she could stand ten silent minutes in his truck?
With a sigh she got into the passenger seat and settled in. His familiar scent with an added hint of beer and barbecue surrounded her and she closed her eyes. The truck bumped up the incline through the darkness, rocking back and forth, and she fought not to fall asleep.
She wasn't sure if she'd succeeded because the next thing she knew, the truck had stopped. Blue was getting out and getting on with the business of unloading the truck. She stumbled down and had to steady herself against the door. He gave her a brief glance.
"I've got this. You go on home."
She stared at his retreating back as he propped open the door and carried a stack of boxes into the mudroom. It felt wrong not talking to him, but what the heck was she supposed to say? At some level she was still mad, but she was too tired to have it out with him, and too confused.
"Jenna, it's okay. I've really got this." He paused. "Unless you are too tired to drive? If that's the case, go on up and take my bed."
"I can't . . . do that."
"Because we're fighting?" He shrugged. "Then hang in my truck for a few minutes, and I'll take you home. You can pick up your vehicle tomorrow."
She nodded and he carried on lifting out boxes and taking them inside. She managed to walk over to her truck and then hesitated. How much had she drunk? After Lily left and Blue stormed off she'd had a couple of beers.
"Jenna?"
Blue was back and staring down at her.
"I think I've had too much to drink to drive home."
"Then it's your call. Either go up to my bed or I'll drive you home." He grimaced. "Hell, you already think the worst of me, so why don't I make the decision easier for you?"
She yelped as he picked her up and headed into the house. His breathing remained even as they mounted the stairs and he kicked open the door to his room. He placed her gently on the bed and stood over her.
"Night, Jenna. You know where the bathroom is."
She blinked up at him and then he was gone. Lying in the dark she could hear him working outside and then it all went quiet. She held her breath as the screen door closed, but then there was nothing. He wasn't going to join her. She knew that in her bones. Despite everything, he'd still put her first. Shame washed over her. He deserved an apology. She'd lashed out at him because he'd gotten in the middle of the long-running saga of her relationship with Lily. Even as her eyes closed, she vowed to set things right with him in the morning.
Chapter Sixteen
"I'm done? I'm out?" Blue stared at Carly Hughes. "You sure?"
"Absolutely." She grinned and offered him her hand. "Welcome to the real world. Mr. Morgan."
He shook her hand and smiled right back at her. The last few days had been busier than he'd anticipated with friends to have a last beer with and his replacement to get up to speed. But it was done. He was finally free.
"There is one thing we'd like you to consider before we lose you completely." Hang on. Carly was still talking.
"What's that?"
"We occasionally run a horsemanship course for when special ops have to move through terrain that can't be navigated by motor vehicles. We don't run it regularly, and we do have one guy on staff who usually takes care of it, but we'd appreciate knowing you could act as backup if necessary." She paused. "You did say you were a cowboy, right?"
"Do I get paid?"
"Yes." She handed him a sealed envelope. "The details are in here. Let me know what you decide."
"Thanks, I'll certainly consider it."
"I'll miss you." She sat back down.
"I'll miss everyone here. I really will."
She crossed her world-class legs. "When are you leaving?"
"Today if I can manage it."
She pouted. "No time to take me out for a drink, then."
"I wouldn't want to waste your valuable time." He hesitated. "I'm kind of involved with someone back home."
Well, he thought he was. Not that he'd contacted Jenna after leaving her sleeping alone in his bed.
"Of course you are. Men like you aren't allowed to run free for long."
He snorted. "As she's the local vet, I worry what she'd do to me if she actually caught me and held me down." He nodded at Carly. "Thanks for everything, though. I really do appreciate it."
"Off with you." She made a shooing gesture with her hand. "Have a great life, cowboy."
"Will do, ma'am." He tipped his imaginary hat to her.
She sighed theatrically and clutched her hands to her chest. "Oh Lordy. Don't do that."
His smile faded as he left the HR offices and made his way back to his old desk. The new guy had already spread his stuff all over it, including a picture of his two kids and his wife. Blue's possessions sat in a box on the floor.
"You off, dude?" Mel called out to him from across the room.
"Yeah." Blue went over to give his old buddy a fist bump. "You're going to come and see me this fall, right? Bring the kids?"
"It's on my schedule." Mel stood up and slapped him on the back. "Good luck, Gunny, we'll miss your ugly face around here."
A chorus of agreement rose from the rest of the team. Blue made a somewhat less-than-polite gesture as he left to a round of applause and good wishes for his future. Damn, his throat was tight. He loaded up his truck with all his remaining possessions and remembered to stop at security to hand in his badge and all the other crap he would no longer need.
It felt . . . weird.
He put on his sunglasses, started the truck, and headed home.
* * *
"He doesn't want me to operate on his calf, does he?" Jenna faced Dave across the surgery table. "He doesn't trust me."
"It's not that. He's just used to me and Dad, and-"
Jenna stripped off her mask and started on her gloves. "Fine. Go ahead."
"Don't get all mad."
"I'm not."
Dave held up his hands. "You said fine. You're a woman, therefore you're mad."
"I'm more worried about treating this calf. And if Adam wants you to do it, then get on with it."
"Jenna-dude."
She backed out of the room. Her hands were shaking and she wanted to cry, but she wasn't going to give anyone the satisfaction of seeing she was upset. Meg raised her eyebrows as Jenna continued to take off her scrubs.
"You okay? I thought you were operating on that calf. I was just coming in to assist."
"Dave's doing it."
Meg frowned. "But you were scheduled for surgical cases today."
Jenna balled up her gloves and threw them in the general direction of the trash can. "And apparently, Adam Breton doesn't want me touching his calf."
"He's an idiot."
Jenna let out her breath. "No. He thinks I'm incompetent."
"Mark Lymond has a lot to answer for." Meg offered her a one-armed hug. "Don't get upset, okay? We all know you're perfectly capable. This is a one-off."