Page 9 of The Vet's Unconditional Love
"Fair enough."She managed to keep her voice steady."Shall we go and collect my bag, then?"
He nodded and fell in beside her as she set off toward the baggage claim.
~ ~ ~
Emmett shoved his hands into his pockets as they walked in silence toward the baggage claim area.They were already getting off on the wrong foot, and it was his fault.He'd gotten here early enough—fifteen minutes ago—but he hadn't been able to settle in at the bottom of the escalator and just wait for her.
No, he'd had to go off pacing up and down the baggage claim, because he was too antsy to just stand and wait like he should have.He shouldn't even be here; he should have left well enough alone.
He didn't know what had possessed him to ask if he could be the one to come pick Harper up when she landed.He glanced at her as they walked, but her gaze was fixed straight ahead.
The girls had talked about her every single damn day since she'd left town—every evening over dinner.She was good with them, he knew that.But he could have done without hearing her name so often; it was bad enough that he couldn't get her out of his mind.
He'd stopped into Trip’s clinic yesterday when he was up in town, only intending to have a quick word with Trip if he was free or leave a message for him with Brooke, if not.But when he'd walked into the reception area, Shelley was already there, talking to Trip on his break.He would have turned around and left them to it, but Brooke had spotted him and called him over.
While they chatted, it had come out that Shelley planned to pick Harper up from the airport today.
Of course, Emmett hadn't said anything at the time.But as he drove back down the valley, he couldn't get the idea out of his head.So, he'd called Trip to see what he thought, and by the end of the day, all the arrangements had been switched so that he was the one coming to pick Harper up.
He knew what Trip and Shelley thought, but they were wrong.He wasn't here because he was so eager to see her again—he really wasn't.He'd come because he figured this was the only way he'd be able to have a conversation with Harper without her wriggling out of it.
He knew damn well she'd been avoiding him for weeks now, and it wouldn't do.He'd been furious with her that night when she made dinner for the girls, but worse than that, he knew that what she'd said was true.He took care of his business himself, and he didn't thank anyone for trying to help him.
Not because he didn't appreciate it, but because he didn't need it.Things had been tough since Emily died.It wasn't easy being a single dad, especially not as a widower, to two girls who'd lost their mom far too young.But he'd made it work.With Emily gone, he'd felt like everything was on him.
Because it was.
And he was perfectly capable of taking care of it by himself.
He blew out a sigh as they approached the baggage carousel.Harper was still determinedly staring around and not engaging with him, and that was fine.Once they were in his truck, she'd be a captive audience and he'd say his piece.
He rolled his shoulders.The right one still gave him grief when the weather changed, or when he was tense.
"For someone who wants to talk, you’re not saying much," said Harper after they'd stood there for a few minutes in silence, waiting for the bags to come out.
He turned to her but decided against getting into it.Right here, there was always the possibility that she might disappear into the crowd and rent a car to get home, instead of riding with him.
"I thought we should collect your bag first."
She pursed her lips."That's fair, I suppose.And there's nothing you want to say to me right now?"
He held her gaze for a long moment.There was so much he wanted to say.
But not yet.
"Do you want a coffee for the road?"he asked.
Her eyes widened."Oh, uh, yes, I would.Do you want one?"
"Yeah, I'll go get them.The bags probably won't be out before I get back, and there’s no point in me waiting here because I won't recognize yours.What do you want?"
She reached for her purse, but he shook his head."Don't even think about trying to give me money for it, Harper.What do you want?"
She glowered at him as she said, "I'll take a vanilla cappuccino, thank you."
He turned and stalked away toward the coffee shop, hoping that her bag would be out soon, so that they could get on the road.
When he returned with their coffees and saw her stepping forward, looking as though she'd spotted her bag, he thrust the cups into her hands."Which one’s yours?"
