“He’s fine. White coat syndrome, ormywhite coat syndrome.” Hunt washed his hands. “I’m waiting for the OR to close both wounds. Your CT scans are clear. You are no longer altered, but you threw a two-year-old’s tantrum and refused parts of the exam.” He examined Kip from head to toe. “Harper, would you step out a moment?”
“If my CT-scan is clear, why that?” Kip protested.
Harper snorted, “You almost blew up, and you won’t let Dr. Montgomery do a rectal exam? He wants to make sure you don’t have nerve damage. I’ll hold your hand.”
“Fine. O’Mara, Thorn, vacate,” Kip ordered. Harper moved to step out. “Harper?” He reached for her.
She held his hand while Hunt performed the exam efficiently. “Was that so bad?”
“No,” Kip grunted.
“I promise I’ll get you a lollypop.” She kissed his head.
“I’ll see you in the OR.” Hunt shook his head. “Thank you, Harper.”
* * *
A convoyof Suburbans pulled up in front of Kip’s home. Josh and Tobey stood at Kip’s side of the vehicle and opened the door. Kip grimaced as he rotated in the seat.
“Hold up,” Josh said.
“I’m capable of getting out of a vehicle,” Kip sighed.
“We were told to wait,” Tobey said.
Kip gritted his teeth. “Now who’s pissing in my cornflakes?”
“I wouldn’t quite call it that.” Kip cringed at Ian Chase’s voice. “Hunt said non-weight bearing on his leg and shoulder. Four-point lift into the wheelchair.”
Kyle extended a hand to Harper to help her out of the other Suburban. “Who’s that? Kip looks… behaved,” she observed with a surprised smile.
“Boss, Harper wants to know who you are. She said you’re making Acrobat behave.” Kyle laughed.
Ian walked down the steps, pushing a folded wheelchair, which he rolled to Kip’s door. “Hi, Harper, lovely to meet you. I’m Ian.” He turned his attention to Kip. Josh, Tobey, Chad, and Ian put Kip into the wheelchair and lifted it up the steps.
Harper whispered. “Ian? Ian Chase? Wow.”
“Yeah. But please no ‘wow.’” He smiled.
Harper ran up the steps to find Tuck speaking with another man she hadn’t met. He was wearing an apron over jeans and a t-shirt. “Channy?”
“Darlin’, she’s asleep, first room at the top of the stairs. Come here,” Tuck said. “Look, here’s a camera and monitor. I have Channy’s vitals and the baby’s heartbeat. This way she doesn’t feel suffocated by staff. Honey, this is Wes Crockett. He runs the Chase Center for Training. He’s here to help Kip.”
“Hi, Harper.” Wes smiled warmly.
“Hi, um, that smells delicious. Are you cooking?” She sniffed the air.
“Yep. I’ve got a pot of lemon chicken soup simmering for Kip and Chantal. And for the folks at the grown-up table, I’ve got hanger steak with grilled vegetables, roasted corn on the cob and smashed potato salad,” Wes said.
Harper’s stomach growled on cue. “Yum. Going to check on Channy, and then I’ll be down. Um, can I help you with anything?”
“You have. Kip… you make him happy,” Wes said.
Harper thought,He makes me happy too. It’s only been a week. I’m crazy.
* * *
Tuck came down the stairs.“Channy is asleep. Kip is awake. I drew fresh bloodwork and collected urine on both. Tobey, can you arrange for it to be brought to the building?”
