Page 11 of The Vet's Unconditional Love
Alana had rehearsals after school most nights, and someone had to pick her up and get her home.Tanya had a couple of after-school activities and usually went to her friend Mia's once a week, too.Sometimes it was a case of picking Tanya up and then going to collect Alana.Some days, Harper went to the school at the end of the day, and she and Tanya hung out until Alana was finished.However it worked out, Harper loved the time that she spent with them, and the heavy weight sitting on her chest was a testament to how much she was going to miss them if Emmett was about to dismiss her.
She turned to glare at him.Okay, so he had a right to be pissed at her for what she'd said to him, but couldn't he see that it was good for the girls to hang out with her?Not just her, but to have a female in their lives—she wasn't going to go anywhere near the 'mother-figure' word, not even inside her own head, but…
Her breath caught when he turned to glance at her—and smiled!
She could feel herself smile back even though she'd been glaring a moment ago.How could she not smile?He looked so different when the corners of his mouth quirked up—younger and… less tired.
"You should do that more often, you know."
His smile vanished.
"Do what?"
"Smile.Go on, try again.You almost had the hang of it there for a second, but you lost it."
He turned his attention back to the road as she spoke, but she was relieved to see his smile was back.
"There, that's it.I knew you could do it."
He chuckled, and the sound of it made her relax a little.
"I can see why the girls think so much of you."
Her own smile disappeared at that.
"We get along well.They're amazing young ladies—they're a credit to you, Emmett."She stopped abruptly.It was true, but she didn't want him to think that she was trying to butter him up—trying to talk her way into his good books.If he was going to say that he didn't want her help with them anymore, it'd break her heart.But she wouldn't try to win him over.
He shot her a quick glance, no longer smiling."They're a credit to themselves.I've done the best I can with them, but…"
His words trailed off and he focused on the road ahead as they made their way over the pass.
Once they were on the other side, the interstate cutting across the vast open plains, she had to speak.
"You've done a fantastic job with them—there are no buts."
He blew out a sigh."That's not what you said the last time I saw you."
"I know, and I'm sorry.I really wish I could keep my mouth shut, but it's just not in my nature.I'm sorry that I hurt you with what I said.I know that you and the girls—"
"Don't."
She bristled a little at the way he held his hand up and cut her off with just that one word, but she bit down on her bottom lip.He'd come all this way to get her just so he could say his piece.She should let him talk.
"I didn't mean to yell at you."
"That's okay.I need it sometimes.If you want to get a word in edgewise, you need to—"
"Harper!"
"Oh, yeah, right.Sorry.Go on."
She was so relieved when he shot her a quick smile that she let out a little laugh.
"In case you hadn't noticed, I can be a pain in the ass."
He shook his head with a smile."I wouldn't say that."
"No, but you probably think it, so I may as well put it out there and—"
