Page 63 of The Vet's Unconditional Love
"You can lean on me, you know."
Harper made a face at Emmett as she helped him back down the hallway from the bathroom to the living room.He had his left arm around her shoulders, but she could tell that he was trying not to put any weight on her.
He gave her a shamefaced smile."I know.It's not that I doubt you, it's just that..."
She let out a short laugh."Right, sorry.I forgot—this has to be a nightmare for you.I mean, you're the second most self-reliant person I know."
He raised his eyebrows."Only the second?"
She chuckled."You're looking at the first.I thought I was in a league of my own until I met you."
He grunted as he took another step but tried to hide it with a smile."And I thought you gave me a hard time about it because you didn't understand."
She helped him get settled back on the sofa before she answered that."We're not going to go over old ground yet again, but I need you to understand that I was giving you a hard time because I know exactly how it goes."
She fluffed the pillow and averted her gaze when he looked up.
"And you're not going to explain that one to me either, are you?"he asked.
"Maybe someday."
"I'm gathering a collection of maybe somedays, you know, Harper."
She finally faced him again with a smile."So, if someday ever comes, we'll have a lot to talk about.But for now, how are you feeling?"
He gave her a wry smile."Like I was shot in the shoulder, knocked on the head, and had my ribs kicked in.But other than that, not bad.How about you?"
She let out a short laugh."Me?I'm fine."
"I wish you'd stop using that word."
"Okay then, I'm all right.I told you, and you already know anyway—not a damn thing happened to me.I'm just concerned about you."
Some of the tension left her shoulders when he reached out and caught her hand, giving it a squeeze."And I appreciate that.But I need you to know it's a two-way street.I care about you too, Harper."
Her heart leaped into her mouth.She wanted him to mean that in the way she hoped.But they had too many pressing practical matters going on at the moment to even give their budding relationship a thought.
"Thank you."She checked her watch."Do you want a sneaky cup of tea before Blane arrives?I need to get breakfast started."
"I'm good, thanks.The last one's still warm.It was a good idea to put it in the travel mug for me."He gave her a wry smile."Even though I know keeping it hot wasn't the point."
"I didn't want anyone giving you a hard time about drinking tea, that's all.You said they would, but from what I saw last night, I don't think any of them would give you a hard time about anything.They care about you very much."She hesitated for a moment, but she had to ask."What's the deal with Blane?There's no missing the way he appointed himself as your guardian and protector."
Emmett smiled."Our moms were friends when we were kids.We knew each other before we could even walk or talk, apparently."
That made her smile."Aw, I knew you guys were all lifelong friends, but I didn't realize it went back that far."
"Yeah.Blane's a good guy.He might have that stony exterior, but like you said, he's a protector."
She wanted to ask about his relationship with Brooke.If Blane was such a protector, she didn't understand why he’d chosen to live so far away all these years.Some of the guys—Deacon, Trip, Ace, and Emmett—had come home to the valley once they were out of the military.But Blane hadn't come home, even though Brooke must have been a youngster back then.
Emmett raised his eyebrows."You have questions?"
She did, but considering that Blane would be arriving any minute, she didn't think this was the time to ask them.Instead, she smiled and asked, "Is that where his little nickname for you came from, when the two of you were just tiny tots?"
Emmett chuckled."Yeah, it was only when he called me Mitty last night that I understood how worried he'd been.Emmett was hard to say for a little kid, I guess, and my mom used to call me Mitty until I begged her to stop when I was about seven.Blane was my best friend and I think it took him even longer than it took my mom to stop calling me Mitty."
Harper's hand came up to cover her heart at the thought of a little Emmett, embarrassed by his mom still using her baby name for him."I love that you guys have that kind of history, that kind of bond."
