Chapter 12
“May the most stubborn person win!” ~ Kai
Kai
I park my SUV in Harper’s driveway. “I should probably tell you something before we go inside.”
“Oh, man, what is it?” Carl asks. “Are they nudists? I can handle nudists. I am a nurse after all.”
I chuckle. “Not nudists.”
Although I wouldn’t mind watching Harper race around the house naked. Her breasts would bounce and I’m certain those ass cheeks I want to spank would be a thing of beauty.
“Are they into BDSM? I’m okay with it as long as I don’t have to watch. The last couple asked me to watch and I walked away. No, thank you.”
“It’s a father and his daughter.”
“She doesn’t abuse him, does she? I will not hesitate to contact the police. I don’t care how many pots she throws at me or how many times she chases me with a knife. I’m fast and I don’t abide elderly abuse. ”
“When this assignment is finished, we are sitting down and having a beer. You have some stories to tell.”
“Sorry. Client confidentiality.”
I grin at his answer. I knew I chose right when I picked Carl.
“Here’s the thing. Harper and Henry don’t know you’re coming.”
His eyes narrow. “Don’t know, I’m coming, as in we’re early?”
“Ah, no.” I drag a hand through my hair. “They don’t know I hired you.”
His eyes widen. “I better get paid.”
“You’ll get paid. I guarantee it.”
“Okay, let’s go.”
“You’re not worried?”
He snorts. “You’re the one who should be worried.”
Damn. Is he right? Have I overstepped? The same way I did when I paid off those bar tabs? No, this is different. I’m not shoving my wealth into her face. I’m helping her out during a difficult time.
The front door opens and Harper steps out onto the porch. Procrastination time is done.
“What are you doing here?” she asks when we approach the door. “And who’s this?”
“Close the damn door, Harper,” her dad shouts from inside. “You’re letting all the flies in.”
“This is Carl.” I motion to him. “He’s your new nurse.”
Her eyes narrow to tiny slits. “My new nurse? I didn’t hire a nurse. ”
“I did it for you. I know how busy you are. Carl has great references. I’ll send you an email with all of his information.”
“Nice to meet you.” Carl extends his hand. I hold my breath as I wait for Harper’s response. She’s grumpy, but she’s not rude. I sigh in relief when she shakes his hand.
“I’m Harper.”
“Shall we go inside and meet the patient?” I ask but I don’t wait for Harper to respond before opening the door and ushering everyone inside.
“I’m not a patient,” Henry says.
“Hi, Henry,” I greet. “This is Carl. He’s a nurse. He’s going to help you get around while your arm recovers.”
Henry glares at Carl. “I’m not disabled.”
“You’re more stubborn than your daughter.”
Henry grunts. “Have you met Harper? She’s the most stubborn daughter in the world.”
I chuckle. “I’ve met her. I know.”
Harper throws her hands in the air. “Can we stop discussing how stubborn I am and move on to how you hired a nurse without letting me know?”
“You hired the nurse?” Henry asks.
I lean close to whisper to him, “I figured you might want a man to help you get to the bathroom and change your clothes.”
“Thank fuck. Carl, I need to use the facilities.”
Carl brings over the wheelchair and helps Henry into it before wheeling him down the hallway.
I wait until the door is closed behind them before facing Harper. “Let it out. ”
She doesn’t hesitate. “I cannot believe you.” I start toward the kitchen. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“I’m making us coffee. I assume this is going to take a while.”
Her chest heaves as her cheeks darken in anger. “No, this won’t take a while. You need to leave and take your nurse with you, too. This is worse than paying off the bar tab. You can’t just buy me a nurse.”
I notice the dishes piled up in the sink. “Do you have a dishwasher?”
“Hello! Are you listening to me?”
“Everyone’s listening to you,” Henry shouts from the bathroom. “The entire neighborhood can hear you!”
I open and close drawers.
“What are you doing now?”
“Searching for a dishwasher.”
“You’re going to be searching for a long time since we don’t have one.”
I want to buy her one, but considering how much she’s freaking out about the nurse, I table the thought. I roll up my sleeves before filling the sink with water. I add some dishwasher soap.
“I’m dreaming. This is some crazy dream due to lack of sleep.”
I latch onto the lack of sleep. “This is why I’m trying to help. You can’t do it all.”
“And you can’t buy me a nurse to solve all my problems,” she grits out. “This is why I’m not interested in going out on a date with you. I want a partner who listens to me. ”
“Sorry, Slugger, but I’m not sorry. You’re already working yourself to death. I won’t allow someone I care for to hurt herself.”
“And your solution was to buy me a caretaker? This is not you taking care of me. This is you rolling right over my wishes.”
I leave the dishes in the sink and prowl toward her. She backs up until she bumps into the kitchen counter. I slam my hands on the counter next to her hips – caging her in.
“What do you want, Harper? You know you can’t possibly look after your dad round-the-clock while managing Rumrunner . What is your solution? Because from where I’m standing, you are out of options.”
“Options?” She snorts. “I haven’t had options since Mom died and Dad had his stroke.”
Her eyes fill with pain and I palm her cheek. “Reach out and grasp the hand I’m offering you, Harper.”
“I don’t want your charity.”
“Good. Because you aren’t getting it. You’re paying for the nurse.”
“What? I can’t afford a nurse. How am I going to manage?” She fists her hands in my t-shirt. “I can’t, Kai. There’s no more money.”
“No money? I don’t understand. Rumrunner is packed whenever I’m there.”
Her cheeks flush as a muscle ticks in her jaw. I assume she won’t answer but she does.
“The monthly loan payments for the bar are substantial. ”
I want to ask more questions, but she’s in full-on stubborn mode.
I frame her face with my hands. “It doesn’t matter. Your dad is a vet. He can get VA benefits.”
“But…”
I place a finger over her lips. “I did some research. I’ve got all the forms for you to fill out in my vehicle.”
Her bottom lip trembles and she sniffs. “Don’t cry, Harper.”
“I can’t help it. No one’s been this nice to me since Mom was alive.”
A tear escapes and I wipe it away. “You’re breaking my heart, Harper.”
“I’m sorry. I can’t help it. It’s been a lot. Mom and then Dad and—”
I press my lips to hers. I only meant to stop her from reeling out of control, but the second I feel her soft lips against mine, I’m lost. I’ve waited months to touch Harper. Months to feel her lips against mine.
She sighs and I plunge my tongue into her mouth. I thought I was lost before. Now, I am well and truly lost. Because Harper tastes of vanilla and beer. It’s heaven. She’s heaven.
She leans her body against mine. I groan at the feel of her breasts pressing against my chest. I glide my hands down her side to her hips. I grasp them and pick her up and place her on the counter. She doesn’t hesitate to wrap her legs around my waist .
My cock – hard and wanting – throbs in my jeans. It urges me to throw caution to the wind and take Harper right here, right now.
“Ahem.”
“AHEM!”
I rip my mouth away from Harper to glance over my shoulder.
Carl smirks at me. “I thought I’d warn you before Henry walked in on you.”
“I can’t walk!” Henry shouts from behind him. “But I can hear.”
I chuckle, but Harper groans and buries her face in my chest. “This is not happening.”
“Sorry, Slugger, this is happening.”
Her head whips up and she glares at me. “This.” She motions between us. “Isn’t happening.”
I wink. “Don’t worry. I’ll convince you otherwise.”
“Kai,” she growls.
I help her down from the kitchen counter. “Let me get the paperwork. It’s a lot, but there’s a helpline if you get stuck or I can drive you to the nearest VA office to get their help.”
She slaps my chest. “Stop being nice. It’s annoying.”
“You wish it was annoying.” I wink at her before sauntering out of the kitchen.
I nearly collide with Henry, who’s sitting in his wheelchair near the kitchen table. He gives me a thumbs-up.
“You can give the paperwork to Carl,” Harper shouts from the kitchen .
She thinks she can avoid me. It’s cute. There’s no way I’ll let her avoid me, especially since I’ve managed to crack the ice around her heart wide open. She’ll try repairing the crack but I’ll chisel it away bit by bit until she realizes there’s no need to protect herself from me.