Chapter 29
“Nothing says romance like hospital chocolate and questionable life choices.” ~ Harper
Harper
D ad crosses his arms over his chest and glares at me. “I don’t want to go.”
“Dad.”
“Don’t Dad me. I’m perfectly happy staying here and watching my programs.”
Kai does a dramatic sigh. “Such a shame. I was hoping I’d have someone to share a rack of ribs with. I guess I’ll have to eat the whole thing myself.”
I bite my tongue. I don’t want Dad eating unhealthy food but as it’s one of the few things to bring him joy, I can’t deny him. Not when Kai’s around, at least.
Dad scowls. “There aren’t any ribs at Mermaid Mini Golf .”
“But there are plenty of ribs at Smuggler’s Cove where we’re going to eat after I kick my brothers’ asses at mini golf.”
“Why don’t we skip the mini golf?” Dad asks .
“No can do. It’s family day. Family day must include a shared activity.”
“Eating is a shared activity.”
“Are you willing to tell my mom, eating is a shared activity?” Kai asks.
Dad grunts, which is basically his way of saying ‘you’re right but I’ll never admit it out loud’.
I guide Dad’s wheelchair to him. “Are you finished being a grump now?”
“No,” he grumbles but he does allow Kai to help him into the wheelchair.
Kai wheels Dad outside, but at the top of the steps, he stops and frowns. “You really need to do something about getting a ramp.”
“Dad’s cast will come off soon and then we won’t need a ramp.”
Kai lifts his eyebrow. “The steps are easy for him to maneuver?”
I purse my lips. “Easier.”
“Exactly,” he mutters as he lifts Dad in his wheelchair and carries him down the steps.
I can’t help but notice how his biceps bulge with the effort. Biceps I’ve sunk my nails into while Kai tastes my skin with his tongue – more skillful than any hero in one of my romance novels.
“Feeling warm?” Kai smirks and I realize I’m fanning my face. I drop my hand, and he chuckles.
“Whatever. ”
We get Dad situated in Kai’s SUV and begin driving out of town toward Mermaid Mini Golf. Kai’s phone rings and he answers.
“The island’s about to get one smuggler louder!” Miles shouts.
“On our way.” Kai ends the call and speeds up.
“What’s going on?”
“Paisley’s in labor.”
“Good. We can go straight to the restaurant,” Dad says.
Kai chuckles. “Sorry, Henry. Hospital first.”
The hospital isn’t far. It’s halfway between Smuggler’s Rest and Rogue’s Landing, which – on an island the size of Smuggler’s Hideaway – is equal to a five-minute drive.
As we’re crossing the parking lot, Miles and Zane arrive.
Zane rubs his hands together. “I’m going to win.”
I frown at him. “Win?”
“The bet. Duh.”
I roll my eyes. “I should have known.”
The Raider brothers love their betting. They had a whole bet going on when Kai and I would get together. And, no, I don’t know who won. And I don’t want to.
“Mr. P!” Miles shouts in greeting to my dad before commandeering his wheelchair from Kai. “How fast does this thing go?”
I chase after them as Miles runs with Dad in the wheelchair. “Be careful!”
We reach the entrance to the hospital and they’re forced to slow down. I elbow Miles until he releases the wheelchair .
“You’re no fun,” he mumbles.
“That’s what she said.”
His eyes widen before he barks out a laugh. “Trust me.” He drapes an arm over my shoulders. “She has never said I’m not fun.”
“Really?” I raise my eyebrows. “Not even Hazel?”
He scowls before storming through the doors ahead of us.
Kai shakes his head. “You weren’t kidding when you said you know all the gossip in Smuggler’s Hideaway.”
I roll my eyes. “It’s not a big secret how Miles broke Hazel’s heart and now she hates him with the intensity of a mermaid scorned.”
Zane smiles as he passes me. “You’re a fun addition to the family.”
Warmth spreads throughout me at his proclamation, and I beam at him. “Thanks.”
“Come on!” Miles motions at us from where he’s standing in front of the elevators, waiting for us.
The waiting room is full when we reach it. Rhett and Dakota and Jaxon and Blossom are already here.
“I was promised ribs,” Dad grumps when I park his wheelchair in the waiting room.
“How about a crappy coffee and a half-melted candy bar?”
It was our dinner of choice when Mom was in the hospital for one of her treatments. Mom didn’t allow me coffee or chocolate, so it was our little secret.
His smile is wonky. “Thanks, Harp.”
Kai grasps my hand. “I’ll go with you. ”
“Behave, Dad,” I order.
We barely make it out of the waiting room before a door flies open and Stuart appears.
“I’m trying to help!” he shouts back into the room.
“You’re not helping!” Jessica yells back at him.
“Two guesses which room Paisley’s in,” Kai whispers to me.
“No one’s helping!” Paisley screams.
“Ding. Ding. Ding. We have a winner.”
I elbow him. “Knock it off.”
Stuart shakes his head at me. “Be warned. The people in this family are crazy.”
I’ve lived my entire life on Smuggler’s Hideaway. Some would claim all of the islanders are crazy. I’ve seen a lot of crazy. I’m comfortable with crazy.
“Eli Raider, you are not a doctor. Put down my chart and stop ordering your mother around,” Paisley yells from within the room.
Kai tugs on my hand. “Let’s go before we have to phone the police over a domestic disturbance.”
“Wow. You really don’t enjoy living, do you?” I ask but allow him to lead me away.
We arrive at a bank of vending machines.
“What do you want?”
“Nothing from here.” I point upward. “The best vending machines are on the fifth floor.”
“And here I thought I knew everything there was to know about this hospital. ”
“Dad and I spent a lot of time here when Mom was getting her treatments.”
He squeezes my hand as we climb the stairs to the fifth floor.
“I wish I could have met her.”
“Mom would have loved you. She wouldn’t have known what to do with you, but she would have loved you.”
He pins me to the wall next to the door to the fifth floor. “As long as you know what to do with me.”
His gaze dips to my mouth and I push up on my toes to press my lips to his. It’s a brief kiss. I won’t be making out in a stairwell at the hospital, no matter how much I enjoy those hospital television shows where everyone is sleeping with everyone.
When we return to the maternity ward, I nearly get run over by Zane in a wheelchair. Miles isn’t far behind him.
“Be careful,” Kai growls at them.
“What are you doing in a wheelchair?” I ask.
“Duh. It’s the wheelchair Olympics.” Zane grins. “And I’m winning.”
“Maybe I let you win,” Miles grumbles but everyone ignores him.
I hand Kai the coffees and chocolate bars we purchased. “What events are there?”
“We’re currently racing. Whoever can make it down the hallway in a wheelchair the fastest wins.”
I motion for him to get up. “I’m in. I assume the only rule is there are no rules. ”
I settle in the wheelchair while Kai settles in Miles’s wheelchair.
“Ready. Set. Go!” Miles shouts.
I set off down the corridor using my hands and feet to increase my pace.
“You’re cheating,” Kai says. “No using your feet.”
I ram my wheelchair into his. “I thought there were no rules.”
His eyes narrow. “I’m going to get you.”
“You can try!” I sing as I rocket down the corridor. He tries to catch up to me, but I weave back and forth to stop him from passing me.
“Harper Poole, you are devious.”
I reach the end of the hallway and throw my hands in the air. “I’m the winner is what I am.”
Kai jumps from his chair and hauls me out of mine into his arms. “I love watching you let loose,” he whispers before his lips meld to mine. I sigh and he thrusts his tongue into my mouth. His whiskey and worn flannel scent surrounds me and I melt into him.
I could do this all day. And all night, for that matter. I love the taste of his lips. I love how his scent smells of home. I love how safe I feel in his arms. I love how he makes me feel not alone.
I love…
I need to stop with the love thing. I don’t love Kai. It’s too soon. He’s too young .
“Hey, lovebirds!” Rhett hollers and Kai grunts before releasing me.
“What?”
“The baby’s here.”
Kai’s eyes light up. “The baby’s here.”
He tags my hand and drags me to Paisley’s hospital room. The room is crowded with the entire Raider family. Even my dad is in here.
Paisley is laying in the bed holding a tiny human being while Eli leans over her. He smiles at the baby and the love practically pours out of him.
Eli lifts the baby from her. “Family, meet Stephanie Raider.”
Jessica bursts into tears. “Stephanie was my mother’s name.” Stuart wraps an arm around her and she buries her face into his shoulder.
The baby is handed from uncle to uncle until she reaches Kai. Kai smiles down at her. “Hi, little Raider. Welcome to the world. You don’t know me yet, but I’m your Uncle Kai. I’m going to be your favorite uncle.”
He kisses her nose and I sigh. I can’t wait for him to kiss the nose of our children. He’ll be the best dad ever.
Welp. I guess it’s official. I am no longer falling for Kai. I love him. My heart hammers in my chest as fear creeps in. I hope I’m not making a mistake, but I have no choice in the matter. My heart latched onto Kai before my mind could stop it.
“Does this mean it’s time for ribs now?” Dad asks and the room bursts into laughter.