Page 70 of The Vet's Unconditional Love
"No, she needed to go home.She needed a shower, and..."
Alana narrowed her eyes at him."Did she stay here all night?"
"She did, yeah."
"I insisted," said Trip."Someone had to keep an eye on your dad through the night."
Emmett was more than a little surprised when she smiled at that."Well, then I definitely think she should stay.Tanya could sleep through an earthquake, and I'd be too...worried."
"About what?"
"About having to make adult decisions before I'm ready—before I'm old enough and wise enough to make the right ones," she added with a sassy smile.
He narrowed his eyes at her."You wouldn't be using my own words against me, would you?"
"Would I ever do something like that?"
He reached out to run his hand over her hair."I believe you might, Sprout."
She looked so much older than her years when she met his gaze and said, "Only because I want what's best for you."
His heart squeezed tight in his chest, and she nodded at him before shrugging her shoulders and getting back to her feet."But you're the real grown up around here.It's up to you," she said with a smile."Uncle Blane should be back soon.I hope he remembered to get my diet soda."
~ ~ ~
By the time Harper pulled up outside Emmett's house again, it was late afternoon.Spending some time with Shelley had done her good—as much as she didn't like to admit it, yesterday's events had more of an effect on her than she realized.
She'd called Emmett at lunchtime, but Blane had answered his phone and told her he was sleeping.She'd been concerned at first that Blane might be closing her out.He'd said that he'd ask Emmett to call her when he woke up, but that she should probably get some rest herself.She'd been relieved when Emmett called a little while ago.
She deliberately hadn't pushed or offered to come back, but Emmett had handed his phone to Blane, andhe'dasked her to come, saying that he needed to go and check in with Brooke this evening.
She got out of the truck and looked up at the house, hoping that the girls were doing okay.She took her purse and a casserole that she'd made from the back seat before heading up the path.
She was only halfway to the front door when it opened, and Tanya came dashing out to greet her."Hey, Harper, I'm so glad you're here.Are you doing okay?I bet you were scared yesterday, weren't you?I know you're scared of guns, so it must have been awful."
"You're right.It wasn't much fun," Harper agreed."But I wasn't scared for myself so much as I was for your dad."
Tanya smiled up at her."You did great.He told us you saved him.Thank you."
She smiled as she followed Tanya inside."I didn't do much.Your dad's the one who saved us both.He was very brave."
"Oh, he is very brave," Tanya agreed."He used to be a Navy SEAL, you know.Uncle Blane did, too.They all did.Uncle Blane's still here.He brought pizza—I went to town with him."Tanya peered at the dish Harper was carrying."Oh, wait though; what did you bring?"
"A tater tot casserole.I know you guys all enjoy it, but we can freeze it and save it for another time."
Tanya closed the door behind them."Do you want me to take that to the kitchen, and you can go and say hi to Dad?"
Harper glanced at the doorway to the living room, feeling a little uncertain.Things were different than when she was here yesterday.Now she didn't know if she should be back on a visitor footing or how to play this.
"Come on in, we're in here," Emmett called from the living room.When she stepped inside, he added, "But I guess that kind of goes without saying—I'm not likely to be anywhere else at the moment, am I?"
She smiled as she took in the sight of him.The bruising was worse today, worse even than it had been this morning.
He met her gaze."I'm doing better than I look, I promise."
She gave him a wry smile."I hope so, but that's not saying much, is it?"
She was surprised to see Blane sitting in an armchair—he seemed out of place there, rather than standing in the corner.He greeted her with a nod, and she relaxed a little when he said, "He's doing a damn sight better than he might have been.I don't know if I said it yesterday, but thanks."
