Chapter Fourteen
"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."
He held her gaze for a moment, and she was afraid that he was about to ask whether she had any friendships like that.
Of course, she had Shelley, but they’d known each other since college, not kindergarten.
She was relieved when he said, "Yeah, I’m close with all the guys, but Blane was always my buddy. I’m glad he’s home."
She checked her watch, and he’ll be here any minute. "Do you still want an omelet?"
"I'd love one, thanks, but you know that me talking about your cooking was just an excuse, right?"
That made her smile. "I was hoping so, but I'm glad to be here either way."
She turned to look out through the window at the sound of a vehicle approaching. "I'll let him in, then get started on those omelets. I told Blane I’d feed him when he got here."
"Thanks, Harper. I hate that you have to do everything."
"You'll be back on your feet in no time. And if it's any consolation, I don't mind at all. It's nice to have someone to cook for. Do you think the girls will have eaten with Cash?"
"I imagine so. I told him to use his judgment about when to bring them back, so he's going to let me know when they're on the way. Sounded like they were having a lot of fun last night, so it might not be till mid-morning."
As Harper turned away, intending to open the door for Blane, two sharp knocks rang out and he walked right in.
He nodded at Harper as he passed her on his way to Emmett. "How's the head, bud? How was your night?"
"Yeah, I did great." Emmett smiled at Harper. "Harper checked on me every couple of hours. I'm good. No dizziness. No blurred vision. I have a thick skull."
~ ~ ~
"Do you want coffee?" Harper asked.
Emmett frowned at his friend when he didn't answer her. Blane stared back at him blankly for a moment before realization dawned on his face. "Shit, sorry, you mean me? Yeah, I'll take one, thanks."
Harper huffed out a laugh. "Emmett already has his. I'm going to make breakfast and leave you guys to do your thing. But I figured you might want coffee."
Emmett relaxed a little when Blane turned to Harper. He didn't exactly smile, but his expression gentled a little as he said, "I'd appreciate that, thanks. How do you think he did overnight?"
Harper shot Emmett a quick smile as she said, "Much better than I expected."
"I already told you—Harper checked on me every couple of hours."
Harper laughed again. "If you want to know the truth, I checked on you every hour. I just didn't wake you up each time."
A rush of warmth filled Emmett's chest hearing that, and Blane nodded, even though he didn't comment.
"Anyway. Omelets for you both?" Harper asked. "Emmett wanted ham and cheese. Does that work for you, Blane?"
Blane looked as though he was about to decline, but when Harper raised her eyebrows, he nodded curtly. "Sounds great, thanks."
After she disappeared into the kitchen, Blane took up his usual stance in the corner.
"For Christ's sake, would you sit down?" Emmett asked. "It's bad enough that I'm stuck here on the couch. I don't need to be craning my neck to look up at you. Sit down and make me feel a little less uncomfortable, would you?"
Blane made a face and came to sit in the armchair opposite Emmett. "I'm not good at sitting."
"As if you need to tell me; we're both the same. But while I have no choice, you can join me."
"Fair enough. And now that you're through the night, how are you?"
"Pissed, if I'm honest," said Emmett. "This is the last thing I need. The girls are going to be upset. And work's going to be a pain in the ass. Janey's going to give me a hard time for going in, but I won't be able to stay away."
Blane nodded. "I can take some time off. I've been training my teams up, so they can operate without me more and more. It'll do them good if I take myself out of the loop for a while, get you back on your feet."
"Appreciate the offer, bud, but you can't do that."
"I wouldn't offer if I couldn't."
"I know, but..." Emmett sighed. "I need to figure it out for myself."
"You just did. You got yourself a chauffeur, an assistant, and whatever else you need." Blane's lip curled. "Until it comes to assisting you with anything hands-on. I'll be no use if you're delivering calves."
Emmett chuckled and then winced as the pain shot through his chest. "You're safe there. We're past calving. But that's beside the point. You have your own job to do. You have your own life. I want you to get on with them and let me figure out how to get on with mine."
Blane glanced toward the kitchen, where they could hear Harper moving around. "What about her?" he asked in a low voice.
"What about her?"
"Does she work? Is she gonna be staying here to help you out, or what?"
"No... I don't know... I mean, we haven't talked about it. But the girls and I will be able to figure it out."
Blane scowled. "You don't think she'd stay and help?"
"Whoa, cool it, bud. I know damn well she would if I asked her. It's just..."
"You're not sure if you want her around that much?"
Emmett glanced toward the kitchen. "I do, but it's a lot to ask of her. And besides, the wanting her around has nothing to do with needing her help."
Blane nodded slowly. "Gotta say I'm surprised."
"Well, that makes two of us. I never thought..."
Blane met his gaze and held it. "I know you didn't. But Em did. She told you the time would come when you were ready. She told me too, you know."
Emmett swallowed, not trusting his voice to speak.