Arrested By Love (22 page)

He exchanged a smile with the medical technician who went to work without a comment, as though having a man hold a woman on his lap while she drew blood was a common occurrence. Who knew. Maybe it was.

After the blood had been drawn, prescriptions handed out and Tiffany's next appointment made, Kyle insisted upon carrying Tiffany out to the car despite her protests. Buckling her in, he said, "Next stop for you, my darling, is city hall where you are going to marry me today."

Tiffany shook her head. "I'm still not sure I want to marry you, Kyle Sinclair."

He gave her a quick kiss. "Well, that's too bad, since it looks like you're not getting what you want today."

Shutting her door, he walked around to his side of the car. The moment he got in she said a little sullenly, "You can't force me to marry you, Kyle."

He regarded her with an arched eyebrow and started the car. "No?"

"No."

He shrugged. "Perhaps not, but I bet I can get you to change your mind pretty quickly once I put you over my knee," he commented offhandedly as he inserted his key in the car and started it up to get the air conditioner going again. July tended to be very hot in Connecticut."

Tiffany growled at him. "I won't be bullied into marrying you. And before I agree to accept you as my husband, I want to know exactly what happened between you and Kelly."

"What did she tell you?" he asked looking back at her.

"Nothing, other than the fact that she thought she had a date with you the night before your birthday. So, did you break off a date with me to be with her?"

"This is going to be more than a five minute conversation, Tiff. However, I agree that you have a right to know exactly what happened before you marry me, so, I'll postpone getting the license until we've had a chance to talk. However, for this particular conversation to occur, you need to agree to be in bed first. My bed. Acceptable?"

Tiffany regarded him through blue eyes that looked a lot clearer than they had earlier. She already had a little more color to her cheeks and hadn't felt nauseated since he'd first insisted she go with him. He was pleased by the changes that had occurred, although he still wanted her to rest and put some weight back on. In the meantime, he waited key in hand for her decision.

Finally, she nodded.

"Good. First I want to stop and get your prescriptions filled and pick up a few other things for you, then we'll go back to my place where I'll get you comfortable, make sure you take your medicine without any problems, try and convince you to eat something, and then we'll talk. If you're tired, we can wait until after you take a nap. Do you need me to stop at your house and pick up a few things for you first?"

"Yes, please," she said quietly. Then frowning, she asked, "Are you really planning on giving me a shot?"

"If that's what the doctor ordered, then yes. Are you planning on creating a problem for me?"

"I haven't decided yet," she admitted, crossing her arms over her chest as she looked forward.

"Tiffany?"

"Yes?"

"You do know that I love you, and only want you to feel better, right?"

She glanced over at him and nodded.

"Good. So, I want you to understand that I'm saying this only with love, but if you even try to give me trouble later, little girl, your bottom is going to pay for it in spades."

She stuck her tongue out at him.

Laughing he backed out of the parking space and drove them back to her house. Her father was standing at the door by the time Kyle had gotten around to help Tiffany out of the car. "Be good," he warned, "or your father is going to see first hand how I punish his daughter when she gets bratty with me."

Tiffany smiled at him. "Try it, Mr. Sinclair, and my father will also see how his daughter can bring an overbearing, dominant man down to his knees."

"Aw, Tiffany, "he said, wrapping a hand about her waist. "If I knew you wanted to kiss me so badly, I wouldn't have gotten here in such a hurry."

She laughed, and he smiled back noticing at the same time how her father's tense shoulders instantly eased. When they reached him, Tiffany reached up on tiptoe to give her father a kiss on the cheek. Clearly, she was feeling much better, though Kyle suspected the probability that she was carrying his child hadn't really sunk in, yet.

"You're looking much better, pumpkin. What did the doctor say?"

Kyle watched as Tiffany's expression suddenly sobered and her eyes clouded, so he gave her waist a little squeeze and said, "Dr. Sloan told Tiffany not to worry, but he took a few blood tests and gave me a couple of prescriptions that will help her gain weight and build her strength back."

Patrick Morgan nodded. "I see. Any particular reason he gave those prescriptions to you?"

Kyle tilted his head slightly. "Well, since I told him we were getting married as soon as Tiffany felt up to it, and that I intended to take care of her going forward, I guess he considered it appropriate, at least until she's back to her normal, feisty self."

"Pumpkin? Did you agree to this? Do you want to go with Kyle?"

With a blush, she nodded. "Yes, Daddy. We need to talk first, but I want to stay at Kyle's while we straighten things out. I just need to get some of my belongings first."

Patrick Morgan stood aside and waved her in. "Go ahead and get what you need, pumpkin, while Kyle and I have a little chat."

Tiffany gave Kyle a worried frown, but he just motioned for her to go on. "I'll be out by the car waiting, sweetie. Go say hi to your mom and bratty sister, get your things and meet me outside."

"I heard that, Kyle Sinclair," Chrissy shouted back.

"Very good, Christine Marie Morgan. I intended that you should," he called back then looked over at Patrick. "Outside?"

Patrick Morgan nodded as Chrissy came over to battle with Kyle. "Look--" she started.

He pointed a finger at her. "No, little missy, you look. What you said to me the other day on the phone was totally uncalled for, and I have a mind to let you know just how much I don't appreciate it. So, I suggest you act like the mature young woman I know you can be, and help your sister pack."

She just glared at him with her mouth hanging open and Kyle stepped outside with Patrick Morgan.

"When did you speak with Chrissy on the phone?" Patrick asked.

"July 4th weekend. I called from a friend's unlisted number, and I think Chrissy was waiting for a call from her biker boyfriend."

"Walter?"

"Yeah, I guess that's what she said his name was. Anyway, she took it upon herself to light into me, and her language wasn't entirely ladylike. I could understand her anger, but not her attitude."

Patrick simply nodded. "You just weren't going to give up, were you?"

"Would you have, had our situations been reversed?"

"Probably not. Though seeing Tiffany now I begin to suspect I was mistaken to listen only to her words. I should have seen her anguish was primarily a result of her wounded pride. Had I been looking at her more through your eyes than mine, I might have seen that her protests were driven more by hurt and a need for reassurance than a desire for separation. I shouldn't have worked so hard to keep you two apart."

"Thank you for that," Kyle said. "I could understand your desire to protect your daughter, I would have most likely done the same if I'd been in your shoes, but I also wished you could see just how badly we needed each other."

"I did see your pain, Kyle, and I hated doing what I thought needed to be done. The fact that I did it, did not mean I enjoyed it. I'd like to say that I'd never try to keep you two apart again, but if Tiffany desired it--"

"Then by all means, protect her, sir. Just don't alienate me in the process. Let her tell me directly that she doesn't want to see me rather than run interference for her. She knows her mind well-enough that I can tell when she is serious versus merely challenging me to make a stand."

"And this morning? She sounded serious to me, son."

"When she's serious she makes statements, she doesn't give commands. A part of her knows that I take commands as a challenge, so she only issues them when she wants me to prove I can handle her."

"Interesting point, Kyle. I hadn't realized that, but you're right. She wasn't telling you what she was feeling, she was telling you what to do, knowing you would ignore her words and do what you wanted anyway, if you still loved her. So, tell me the truth. What does the doctor think is wrong with her?"

"I should probably let her tell you that when she's ready, sir. But I will say it is nothing you need be concerned about, and I will take excellent care of her."

Then Tiffany stepped outside the door and gave the two of them a wary look. Kyle smiled back at her. "Ready?"

At her nod, he took the case from her hand, and clasped his fingers around hers. Since she was looking at her father, he waited.

"Bye, Daddy. I'll call you when I hear anything."

With a nod her father bent down to kiss her cheek. "How about you just come by instead, so I can see for myself how you're doing?"

She smiled. "I think that can be arranged." Then she gave a nod to Kyle so he led her back to his car and got her and her case settled. After offering a wave back at her family, who stood outside their front door watching them, he got in and drove to the nearest mega food and drug store.

Once he'd parked, he said, "You can come in with me if you want, but you're going to have to ride in one of those motorized carts."

"I'll just wait here," she said grouchily.

"Fine." Then walking around, he opened her door.

"What?" she asked, clearly wary that he intended to take exception to her attitude.

"Relax, sweetie. I'm just going to lower your seat again so you can rest more easily if you want to. I'm also going to leave you with the keys in case it gets too warm and you want to run the air conditioner. I hope to be back in a half hour." Then kissing her, he dropped the keys in her hands, shut her door and walked into the store.

Kyle dropped off the prescriptions first, then did his shopping making sure he got Tiffany a package of her favorite Pepperidge Farm cookies and a gallon of her favorite Cookies and Cream ice cream as well as lots of healthy fresh fruits and vegetables. He wasn't a great cook, but he could make sure anything he did fix was supplemented with the things that would get her back to full strength much faster.

When he went back to get the prescriptions the pharmacist made sure he knew how to give the injections and that he should keep both vials refrigerated. Kyle assured the pharmacist he would follow the directions carefully. Then paying for his items, he returned to his car to take his girl home where she belonged.

She'd turned on the air conditioner, then fallen back to sleep. She looked peaceful but he could see the goose bumps on her arms. Retrieving the blanket, he covered her, then drove as smoothly as he could to get her back to his place without awakening her. Leaving her in the car with the air conditioner on, he grabbed all the shopping bags first so his arms would be free to carry her, then quickly put everything away before going back for Tiffany. She was still asleep.

She didn't awaken when he retrieved his keys, or even when he unbuckled her seat belt. But she stirred slightly and opened her eyes to look at him when he picked her up.

"I fell asleep again," she said more than a little groggily.

"That you did," he said with a smile.

"I don't understand it. I hardly slept at all when I was home. I felt too bad. But now I've fallen asleep on you twice and my stomach almost seems settled."

"And how are you feeling emotionally?" he asked with a glance down at her puzzled expression.

She thought about that for a moment, then said, "Content. And I haven't felt that way since.... Well, since I saw you before your birthday."

"I'm feeling a lot better, too. Now that I have you in my arms again. So, I suggest we simply enjoy being with each other rather than question the whys or wherefores of our newfound happiness."

She scowled. "I still want to know what was going on with you and Kelly."

"And I intend to tell you, just as soon as I get you settled," he said opening the door to his apartment. "First thing. I want you to get into some comfy clothes then lie down on the bed."

"Kyle, I'm not going to have sex with you before we talk."

"And I don't expect you to, but I still expect you to do as I tell you."

Frowning, she asked "So, why do you want me on the bed?"

"Because I want you relaxed," he replied carefully putting her back on her feet in his bedroom. "Now here's your case. Go ahead and get some jammies on while I get your medicine together."

Placing her hands on her hips, she glowered at him. "I don't want a shot. I'll take pills if you insist, but no shot."

With a shake of his head, he drew her close and kissed her until she relaxed against him, then gave her a very light swat. "Get changed, brat, and we'll talk once you're more comfortable," he ordered leaving her standing in his bedroom as he shut the door and walked into the kitchen.

The instructions were pretty simple, so Kyle filled both disposable needles to the indicated mark and re-capped them, then read the labels on the pills to make sure there wasn't a contraindication to giving her everything at the same time. Taking out the appropriate number of pills he next got down his blender and made her a vanilla milkshake with ice cream, adding in two protein drinks and one raw egg. Putting the pills on a saucer, and the needles in his pocket, he got down a small tray, and added a single pink rose in a milk-glass bud vase, along with the enhanced protein drink and her saucer of pills, then carried them into his bedroom.

Tiffany, dressed in a cute short nightie with matching pantalettes, stood in his bathroom brushing her hair. When she saw the tray, she smiled and came towards him.

"What's this?"

"Your pills and a milk shake made with Cookies and Cream ice cream."

"Really?" she asked, the excitement in her voice obvious as she picked up the drink and sipped it through the straw he'd put into it. "That's really good, Kyle."