“Just a guy who gets by.” He took her hand and kissed it.
* * *
Friday,August 24th
Hurricane Greta T-5 days
“Ten-shun,”Josh “Hoist” Stone called to the men and women exiting two black GMC Suburban SUVs, sandwiching another while maintaining his hand on the rear passenger door.
Kip Brennan stared out the window at the gleaming doors of the twenty-eight-floor building that was now headquarters of the newest branch of Chase Security International. His head was still spinning after a brief discussion Tuesday evening about moving up the closing and about Kieran’s health. He also was trying to process meeting Harper and Chantal Rousselle.
His responsibilities would consist of a 275-bed nursing and rehabilitation center, a women’s health and ambulatory surgery center, and a 325-bed hospital, in addition to full security duties for ten states, the Caribbean, Central and South America.
The SUV door opened, and a wave of heated, humid air fogged up his sunglasses. “Let’s do this,” Kip said. Today was the first day with full staff.
The providers divided into two lines to form a cordon for Kip to enter the building. Inside the lobby, he took in the expansive reception desk staffed by level-one providers on one half and Sommerstone Health Center security on the other half.
“Boss, we didn’t want to create an issue in your first few days. We need to figure out how to handle the Sommerstone people,” Josh whispered.
Kip nodded, then tipped his head to think. His thoughts were disrupted by a woman shrieking, “I don’t care if he’s the King of Sheba. I have patients and can’t be late!”
Four people from his escort team surrounded her. “Listen to me, you baboons, I need to get in those doors.”
Kip chewed his cheek, intrigued by the woman’s—was it bravery or audacity? Josh sighed loudly when Kip reversed his course and headed toward the location of the voice. In the center of four large operators stood a woman with long blonde hair, luminous gray-green eyes, luscious kissable lips, and a full figure that made him, well… He looked down to compose himself, only to see pink-painted toenails in flip flops with a ring on her right pinky toe.
“Hi, I’m Kip Brennan, the King of Sheba. I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”
She blushed. “I’m… oh God. You…”
He lifted his chin toward one of the operators. Reaching for her hand, he smiled. “See that the lovely Harper gets inside, and make sure her boss knows I caused the delay.”
“Yes, sir. Come with me, ma’am.” The operator led Harper through a set of doors to the left of the lobby.
Kip watched her leave. “Let’s begin again.”
* * *
Harper’s hearthad not slowed since meeting Kip Brennan at Le Saphir. She could still feel his lips against hers. Sitting on the metal bench in front of her locker, she slipped into her socks and clogs.
Brigitte Mone, one of her fellow nurses, slid in next to her. “Who was that sexy thing all in black who walked you in the door?”
She grimaced. She wouldn’t share with Brigitte. “Someone working for the new landlord. They escorted him like a king. They stopped me from coming in until he made it to the elevator.”
Her brows creased. Where was her stethoscope? She was sure she left it in her locker after her last shift. It was a gift from Chantal when she graduated nursing school. The engraving read,You go girl!It meant so much to her, especially considering her parents’ reaction to her going to nursing school.
The door to the locker room opened. She turned, expecting to say hello to one of her co-workers. Her blood turned to ice. “Hi, baby girl,” Jerrold Sommerstone said. “Hi, Brigi.”
“Hey, Dr. J.” Brigitte sashayed out.
“What are you doing in here? It’s the women’s locker room,” Harper stuttered, her pulse bounding in her throat, now from fear.
“I had to say hello to my girl before the day begins.” He moved closer to her.
“I told you Monday, I’m not your girl. I thought you came in only for the discussion about the clinical trial.” Her eyes darted about, looking for an escape route.
“I’m back here full-time again. I figured six months was long enough for you to come to your senses,” he sneered.
“My senses? I came to them after dating you for a month. I should have come to them sooner.” She backed up and lost her balance, tripping over one of her clogs
