LifeOverLimb Read Online Free Page A

that was the color scheme St. Anthony’s assigned his department. But Ricky added a dark blue hoodie, giving the look as his own twist. He sat at a small table, hunched over some files. The low light almost made his skin seem to glow, and as always, his hair was just slightly messed up.
    Tanner must have made a noise because Ricky sat up with a start, one hand going to his chest.
    “Shit, you scared me,” Ricky exclaimed.
    “Sorry.” Tanner held up the glucometer. “Ben sent me.”
    Ricky eyed the device as if it was a poisonous spider. “You can tell Ben not to worry. I’m fine.”
    Tanner tilted his head to the side. “Why don’t you just let me test you? It’ll placate Ben and I did come all the way here after all.”
    “I don’t need it.”
    Not wanting to get into an argument, Tanner shamelessly pulled out the guilt card. “Give a guy a break, will ya? Ben is my trainer and I would hate for him to get pissed at me.”
    Ricky’s droll stare said that he didn’t buy the reasoning at all. “Nice try, but we both know that Ben doesn’t have it in him to report you for something like that. While he may be a jackass when it comes to pranks and stuff, he’s still a big softie inside.”
    “Okay, then how about you do it because he’s your friend and he’s worried about you?”
    “Ben is always worried about me,” Ricky groused.
    He did toss down his pen and swivel his chair around though. Holding out a hand, palm up, he said, “Fine, let’s just get this over with.”
    Not wasting the chance once he got it, Tanner rushed over and took a chair next to the desk. Opening up the case, he took out the supplies and got the machine ready. Once that was set, he snapped on a pair of gloves and grabbed Ricky’s hand.
    Even through the thin layer of latex, the heat from Ricky’s body instantly made Tanner aroused. It didn’t help the situation that he was now close enough to smell the man either. Before he even realized it, Tanner leaned in closer, breathing in deep. Over the layers of hospital smells, Tanner detected the sharp bite of citrus. He wondered if it was the cologne Ricky used, or maybe his brand of shampoo.
    “Is everything okay?” Ricky asked.
    It was only then that Tanner realized he was hovering too close, like some kind of pervert or something. Clearing his throat, he hastily pulled back and tore open the alcohol wipe packet.
    “Do you have any preference where you want me to stick it?” Tanner held up the lancet.
    Ricky cocked a brow, one corner of his mouth lifting into a smile and Tanner realized just how loaded that comment was.
    “I don’t know if I should tell you that,” Ricky sing-songed. “The last guy I gave that information to had to buy me dinner and a movie. Sure, it was just the dollar menu at McDonalds and he used a Groupon at the show, but hey, it counts. Although, I knew really should have held out for more once I realized he was taking me to see a Claude Van Damme flick. I didn’t even know that he made movies that didn’t go straight to video anymore.”
    Tanner had to bite back a laugh. Damn, how he’d missed Ricky’s little babble fests. If he had to use one word for the man, it would be adorkable. Not that he thought Ricky was a true dork or anything, it was just his little tendencies to stammer or yammer on about mundane things was so endearing.
    Ricky just kept on yapping so Tanner decided to get the show on the road. He rubbed the wipe over Ricky’s middle finger and quickly poked it with the lancet.
    That stopped Ricky in midsentence. He jumped in surprise, but didn’t let out a cry of pain. Probably because he’d become long ago accustomed to being pricked. And no way in hell Tanner was going to say that last word out loud. The last thing he needed was to hear Ricky’s gutter talk over the term prick.
    Tanner quickly collected the blood on the test strip and handed Ricky a gauze pad while they waited for the reading. Tanner already knew it wouldn’t be