Chapter 19

Lisa

 

My parents wasted no time. The minute I was discharged from the hospital, their plane trip was booked. To me, it’s a sign, that they’re happy and settled, and satisfied that I’m okay. And I guess I am. I’ve been sleeping a lot since the coma, but Grayson and Clint both agree that that’s because of the blood loss. Kurt and I haven’t spoken much. I think he’s trying to help me save my energy, by not forcing me to speak. But his hand hasn’t left mine hardly in the last twenty-four hours.

On the advice of everyone who shared in my experience over the last two days, I have switched doctors. Grayson is now my doctor. Clint would have loved the challenge, but…well…he’s seen me naked. So, Grayson won that contest. Although, he probably will see me naked at some point in his medical career. In a different capacity than Clint, though, granted.

Laura told Kurt to take the week off to look after me. Laura, bless her, stole my phone, unlocked it, and called all my upcoming clients, letting them know the scoop. On Grayson’s orders, I have to take at least a week off work. No heavy lifting, no exertion, and he was specific on what that said exertion was, and after an evaluation in a week’s time, we can determine if it’s rendered safe for me to go back to work.

Kurt gets me in the house and makes me sit on the couch. “Now, don’t you move a muscle, little lady. I’m going to go grab you a blanket, and you’re going to plant your hind end on that couch.”

“Okay.” I say, not arguing. I’m so tired I can barely keep my eyes open anyway.

When he returns from upstairs, he lays the blanket down the length of my body. “Now, there’s no guarantees that I won’t land you back in the hospital with food poisoning if I cook. So Laura has offered to bring us over some grub later.”

“I can cook, Kurt. I just need a nap.”

“Doctors orders.” He winks.

Two hours later, I awaken to the front door opening, and Laura’s head peeking inside. Kurt must have been sitting next to me, because he bolts up off the couch, in a vain attempt to grab the door before it wakes me. “Oh, shoot, sorry, honey.” Laura says as she enters with two full bags of food in her hands.

“What are you doing carrying all this stuff, Laura?” Kurt chides. “You should have called me when you were leaving, I would have helped you in. You’re pregnant. Don’t be doing stupid stuff like that.”

She’s irritated. “Well, that’s a fine thanks I get.”

“Sorry.” He takes the bags from her and brings them to the kitchen.

“How are you feeling?” Laura asks.

“Better now that I’ve slept.”

“Yeah? Good. Grayson’s going to be over later to check on you. You having any pain?”

“Just tender. The throbbing is gone.”

“Good.”

“Clint said you have to redo your bathroom floor because of me?” I ask, my guilt showing.

“No.” she snuffles a laugh. “Wendy, bless her, scrubbed it clean. She heard what happened to you, and she was so upset. Once you’re feeling better, you ought to come pay a visit to her.”

“I will.”

“Alright.” She goes over to Kurt. “You can handle the food from here, or do you need a hand?”

Rising, I go to the kitchen.

Kurt looks at me. “Baby, go sit down. I can do this.”

“Kurt, if I lie on my back day and night I’ll be as stiff as a board.”

“She’s right.” Laura agrees. “Okay. I’ll leave you two alone then. I’ve got a million things to do.”

“You ever hire someone to help you with said million things?” I shoot back.

“Interviews start tomorrow.” She smiles back, pleased with herself. “See ya.”

“Thanks, Laura.” Kurt calls back. Then he addresses me. “Okay, beautiful. What’s your fancy? Laura brought lasagna, salad, soup, rolls, and…cake for dessert.”

I place my hand on his shoulder. “Kurt.”

“Yes,”

“Grab me a fork and a spoon. Forget the plates. I’m starved.”

He nods once. “That’s my girl.”

We eat at the table, devouring Laura’s delicious food. “Wow, you weren’t kidding.” Kurt observes, talking with his mouth half full. “You are starved.”

“I went two days without eating, Kurt. I’ve got a lot to make up for.”

We clean up, well, I try to help, but he politely orders me to go sit down, and then we watch a movie together. He sits on the couch, while I lay my head in his lap. I’m too sore for cuddling, but this way is comfortable. I fall asleep halfway through the movie, and when I wake up to the credits, Kurt is fast asleep, with his head planted on the back of the couch. His mouth is parted slightly, his one arm is alongside my body, while the other arm is draped over his head. He looks so cute I can’t stand it.

I turn on my side to try and get up without waking him, but the second that I move, he rouses. “You okay, baby?” he asks sleepily.

“Yeah, I just…want to go up to bed.”

“Okay,” he says, and helps me up. We lay in bed together, holding each other, and his eyes are on me. “I love you, darlin’.”

“I love you, too.”

He kisses my lips chastely and snuggles in close. It’s the best sleep I’ve had since he left.

 

***

“Laura?” I call from the front door.

“In here.” She says in between a phrase. I can hear her training her new bookkeeper.

“Oh, hi, Sally.” I say to said bookkeeper. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“It’s okay, Lisa. We were just about finished.” Sally is working part-time for Laura, as a retirement job. The arrangement works out perfectly for Laura, since Sally’s only looking for part-time hours for a couple of years. She’s got a lot of experience, so training her is a breeze.

Kurt had waved to me a moment ago from the pasture, and now he’s coming up the front walk. He gives me a kiss on the lips. “Hi, baby. I didn’t know that you were coming over.”

“I wanted to get Laura’s opinion on something.” I smile at him, as he searches my eyes. Kurt and I haven’t touched on any of the events while we were broken up, we’ve been focusing mostly on my convalescence. Since I returned to work yesterday, he came over last night, but I fell asleep so fast we didn’t get a chance to talk about much. Being back in the grind is exhausting to say the least. I’m backed up with clients, but I’ve made it clear to them that I’ve just had emergency surgery, and I won’t be back full for a couple more weeks, as per doctor’s orders.

“Are you staying for lunch?” he places his hands on my waist. His affection has been modest, and I’ve been keeping a safe distance, not just because I’m still healing, but also because…well, we haven’t crossed that path yet.

“If I’m invited.”

Laura overhears. “You’re always invited.”

Kurt grins. “There you go.”

“Okay,” I smile. “You better get back to work.” I lean in and kiss him quickly.

“If you say so.” He says playfully.

“Get out there and get my fence finished, mister.” Laura warns teasingly. “You can play with your girlfriend later.”

He winks at me and Laura, and leaves.

A couple of days later, I go visit Grayson’s office, for a checkup. I must admit, seeing Grayson in a smock is very sexy. Something about a man in uniform. But then, Kurt is very sexy with his jeans, boots and Stetson, too. But so is Grayson when he switches from doctor to cowboy. Difference is…Kurt is mine.

“So, feeling any tenderness?” Grayson asks, as he grunts down into his leather chair.

“Not anymore, no.”

He gestures with his chin. “Step up onto the bed here. Let me take a look.”

I get up on the bed, with my head pressed on the small pillow, covered in noisy paper. He presses here and there gently. “Any pain?”

I shake my head no.

“Have you had any blood or discharge?”

“No.”

“And you’re finished your medication?”

“Yes.”

“Your ultrasound from yesterday came back clear. You’ve healed well, but it’s difficult to tell what kind of scar tissue we’re dealing with.”

“Will that give me any symptoms?”

“No. It shouldn’t.” he opens his computer screen. “Your bloodwork looks good, too.” His eyes go back and forth on the screen as he scans the document. He turns to me and smiles. “Looks good.”

“Good.”

“Any questions?”

I swallow. There is one question, but I’m embarrassed to ask. My face turns pink.

Grayson places his hand on mine. “Lisa, I’m giving you the green light for that, too.”

Sighing, I bite my lip. “I think I’d rather die than ask.”

“Well, if it’s any consolation, you almost did.” He says jokingly. “Now get out of here. Go make up with my brother properly.”

I punch him in the arm. “I’ll tell him you said that, jackass.”

He makes a snorting noise, trying to stifle a laugh. “Get out of here.”

 

***

When I pull up to my house, Kurt’s truck is in the driveway. He went and had a key made while he was staying with me for the week, and I didn’t think that he would pay me a surprise visit. I’m smiling as I walk inside the door. The house smells divine, and what’s more, Kurt is standing in my kitchen, cooking. He’s wearing my apron, and he’s glancing at a recipe book on the counter. “Hi, baby.” He says, not taking his eyes off the book.

I walk in the kitchen and wrap my arms around his middle from behind. “This is a pleasant surprise.”

“I figured you’d be tired after working all day, and you wouldn’t feel like going out to dinner. And I didn’t fancy having dinner with the guys tonight, so Laura lent me this cookbook, and I picked up the grub on the way here.”

“Could you be any sweeter?” I ask him, laying on his back.

“Well, I could try…” he trails off.

“What are we having?”

“It’s called ‘stir fry’. I got this here wok that Laura let me borrow, and some tongs and a wooden spoon. I even chopped up the vegetables myself.” He lifts his hands in the air. “Not a cut in sight. I’d say that’s pretty impressive.”

“That is, baby.” I grin. “And dinner looks and smells great.”

“Well, here’s hoping it tastes great, too.”

And it does. It’s so good I swear it’s better than restaurant food. “I think you missed your calling, babe.” I gush.

“You’re just saying that.”

“No, I’m serious. This is utterly delicious.”

“It’s not bad.” He points to his food with his fork.

After we clean up, we snuggle on the couch. And this time, I’m able to do for real snuggling. Kurt lays on his back, and I lay on top of him, with my arm wrapped around his middle. “You comfy?” he asks.

“Yes. Very.”

“How have you been feeling, anyway?”

“Very good. I was in to see Grayson today.”

“And everything is fine?”

“Perfect.”

He kisses my head. “I’m so glad, Lisa. Really, I am.”

I lift my head, so we’re face-to-face. “Me too.”

Kurt turns, conveying that he has my attention, regardless of the movie that is playing.

“I know that things were pretty bad before. You know, how I broke it off with you, and didn’t even explain.”

He lifts his hand. “Baby, we don’t need to talk about this. It’s in the past.”

I place my index finger on his lips. “I want to talk about it.”

He kisses my finger, pressing it against his lips, and then holds my hand in his.

“I…I don’t even know where to start.” I stammer.

He looks at me, cocking his head to the side. “Lisa, your folks told me what happened with Harlan.” He searches my eyes.

“They did?”

He nods. “There’s no need to explain. I know it’s painful.”

“So you know that I can’t have children?”

His voice is a soft whisper, as if he feels for me. “Yes, baby. I know.”

“And you still want to be with me? Even though we can’t have a family?”

He sighs, twirling one of my curls around his finger. “As long as I have you, darlin’, there isn’t anything we can’t get through. Babies. No babies. Whatever.”

“Are you sure?” my voice cracks. “Because…you can change your mind, you know.”

“I’m not going to change my mind, Lisa. I love you. Having you is what I want. Anything else is just gravy.”

“You have got to be just the sweetest man alive.” I can barely get out without the tears coming down my cheeks. Leaning in, I plant a full-mouth kiss on his lips.

A sexy little groan comes from his throat. “You better be careful kissing me like that, little missy.”

“It’s okay.” I kiss him again. “I’m allowed.”

He pulls back. “Seriously?”

I nod slowly, and move in, so we’re nose-to-nose. “Um…hm.”

He reaches for the remote, switching the television off. “Screw the movie.”

Tilting his head, he envelops my lips with his, making love to my mouth. This time, a soft groan comes from my throat. “God, I missed you.” I breathe against his lips.

“I missed you too, baby.” He whispers between kisses. “Let’s go upstairs.”

As we rise, he lifts my feet off the floor, draping my legs over his arms. I let out a squeal of surprise. He kisses me. “You like that.”

“Haven’t been swept off my feet in a while.”

Another kiss. “Baby, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.”

He carries me up the stairs, kissing me in between steps. His muscles bulge with my weight, making him look even hotter than he looks, especially after not making love with him for so long. As he sets me on the bed, he hovers over me. “You tell me if something hurts.” The look in his eyes is intense, smouldering. I nod, biting my lip.

He peels my shirt off, cupping my breasts in his hands, kissing the bulging flesh, making me arch my back, begging for more. Leaning up, he pulls his shirt off, and I can’t take my eyes off him. Somehow, he seems even sexier. His muscles look more defined, his body is glistening, and I can’t help but lean up, unbuttoning his pants. “Oh, you want to do that?” he asks in a low drawl.

“Love to.” I tease him, slowly pulling his zipper down, feeling his girth bulging behind it.

His lips find my neck, as he trails kisses down it while I’m sitting on my heels. Directing me to the edge of the bed, he slides off, and pulls his jeans and briefs down, peeling his socks off, too. The man is a marvel. His body is bronze from the summer sun, and a perfect ‘v’ runs from his navel to his unmentionable area. Muscles are perfectly toned, and his rear end is rounded and firm. Not taking my eyes off him, I unclasp my bra, letting it fall to the floor, and then I lift off the bed, and remove my pants and panties. He watches me intently, with a gaze that makes me blush.

Bending down, Kurt gently pushes me down on the bed, so my legs hang over the side. Hooking my feet on his shoulders, he kisses my newest scar, and trails kisses down so far, I can only see his eyes as they watch me writhe from his touch. His mouth makes love to me in ways that I’ve never experienced before. It isn’t until I cry out his name, God’s name, and rest my back down on the bed, that he stops.

Gently pushing my head up to the headboard, Kurt guides me, and then he slides his body over mine. “Does this hurt?” he whispers, kissing me softly.

I shake my head no.

He tilts his head, kissing me hungrily, as I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him close. My ankles lock together, making our most intimate parts connect. He gets a concerned look on his face. “You sure?”

I nod, angling my body so he slides in. His eyes close, and he draws in a deep breath, moving slowly inside. He opens his eyes. His smile is so sexy. “Hi,” he whispers, and then kisses me.

“Hi,” I say back, giggling softly.

“Doesn’t hurt?” he murmurs, as he continues to move slow.

“Um…um.”

His kisses become deeper, lethal, driving me over the edge. I never knew a man could accomplish so much with just his mouth. Lifting my knees, I force him in deeper. He responds in kind. Hours later, just when I think that he can’t bring me any more pleasure, he does. Breathlessly, with our hands interlaced above our heads, with his back covered in sweat, and his body pleasantly satisfied, he murmurs softly, “I think you’ve got more in you, baby, but I don’t want to wear you out.” A kiss. “I should let you get some sleep.”

Sliding out of me, he snuggles in behind me. “I love you so much, Lisa.” He whispers, kissing my back.

“I love you to the moon and back, Kurt.”