Page 74 of Sweet Harmony

“You can’t,”she said. His pupils were blown, and he was swaying back and forthlike a flower in the breeze. “Gideon’s right, you’re too high fromthat shot they gave you.”

“They put it inmy butt cheek,” Connor said to Gideon. “The nurse just jabbed itin, didn’t warn me or anything. I didn’t cry though.”

“That’s good,buddy.” Gideon clapped Connor lightly on the back. “Give yourcrutches to Kira.”

“I don’twanna.”

Oh my God, ifshe wasn’t so worried about him, she’d find Connor ridiculouslyadorable when he was hopped up on pain meds.

“Don’t argue,please,” she said. “Give me the crutches.”

“Give me akiss.” Connor grinned at her.

Gideon rolledhis eyes when Kira hesitated. “Oh, for God’s sake, Kira, just givehim a kiss. I don’t have all damn day.”

She stood onher tiptoes and gave Connor a soft kiss. He licked the seam of herlips and she pulled back in a hurry. Playing tonsil tag with Connorin front of her brother wasn’t her idea of a good time.

“Crutches.” Sheheld out her hands and gave Connor a stern look.

He handed themover as Gideon steadied him with a hand around his arm.

“How you wannado this, big guy?” Connor said to Gideon. “Are we thinking a halfhop, half drag combination or…”

With a loudgrunt, Gideon picked him up like he was a knight rescuing a fairmaiden, being careful not to touch Connor’s right knee encased in abrace. Kira swallowed her immediate spat of giggles as Connor madea high-pitched “Whee!” and slung his arm around Gideon’sshoulder.

Gideonstaggered up the first step. “Fuck, man, how much do youweigh?”

Connor grinnedat Kira over Gideon’s shoulder. “I look skinny but I’m all muscle,baby. Stupid fire boy thinks he’s strong, but I could totally beathim in an arm-wrestling contest.”

Gideon gruntedhis way up another step and Connor said, “What? I could. I’m waybetter for your sister than idiotic Daniel Moore.”

“You’repreaching to the choir, buddy,” Gideon puffed as he crested thefinal step.

Breathingheavily, he set Connor down on the porch.

“Wait, aren’tyou supposed to carry me over the threshold?” Connor asked.

Kira giggled asConnor leaned against Gideon and batted his eyelashes at him. “It’stradition, big fella.”

Gideon laughed.“Kira, give your boyfriend his crutches before he starts trying tomake out with me.”

“I can’t helpit if I’m a friendly guy,” Connor said as Kira helped him tuck thecrutches under his arms. She unlocked and opened the frontdoor.

Movingsurprisingly quick, Connor crutched his way into the house and downthe hallway.

“Guest room isdown around the corner.” Kira walked behind him, keeping her handsout in case Connor fell over. He was a little wobbly, but he madeit to the bed and collapsed on it with a soft sigh.

She helped himlift his leg onto the bed and then grabbed some extra pillows fromthe closet and placed them on the bed.

“Ready?” sheasked.

Connor nodded,and bracing one hand under his thigh and the other under his calf,she raised his leg and slowly swung it over until it was resting onthe tower of pillows. She tucked another under his head, and hegave her a sweet smile. “Thank you, honey.”

“You’rewelcome.” She took the blanket from the end of the bed and tuckedit around him as he yawned hugely. “Get some sleep.”

“Nappie-time,”he sang out before sliding a hand out from under the blanket andgrabbing her wrist. “Kiss me.”

She pressed akiss against his mouth, pulling back when he tried to deepen it.“Be good, Connor.”

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