She flipped bacon in the skillet with ease and as though she felt his stare on her, she glanced over her shoulder at him. “You’re awake.” Her smile was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. “Now you ruined my surprise.”
“What surprise?”
“Breakfast in bed.”
He leaned against the frame and gave her a once-over that made her cheeks grow pink. “Keep talking.”
“I was going to bring you bacon, toast and coffee.”
“Seeing you in my shirt is more than I deserve.”
She snorted softly and turned back to the stove, but he could tell she was pleased.
He watched her another moment, aware he was approaching the point of no return with her.
Hell, he was already moving past it.
He retreated to the bedroom to await the surprise he’d spoiled. He lay with one arm behind his head and stared at the ceiling, dodging too many thoughts trying to creep in.
Like how he wouldn’t mind waking to her smile every day. Or wearing his shirt.
Or the fact that all his hard-earned grasp on control flew out the window as soon as Jolie entered his life.
A sharp knock on the door jerked him from his thoughts. He got up and yanked it open, already knowing it wouldn’t be Jolie.
Without asking, Rome walked past Archer, stepping over Jolie’s discarded top as he did.
Archer’s fingers clamped tighter on the door. “By all means, Rome, come in. What’s up?”
“Just here for a welfare check.”
He cocked a brow. “Say whatever you came to say.”
Rome folded his arms. “I warned you, Monk—this is a hopeless idea.”
Archer rubbed the back of his neck. “I know.” No point denying the obvious.
“I walked into the kitchen and saw her in your shirt. You know you don’t get a happily ever after, and still you went and did it.”
“Did what?”
“Fell for her.”
The words slammed him like a round of gunfire—brutal because they were true.
“How can I help it?” Archer said quietly.
Rome’s expression changed, the hard edge giving way to something older and sadder.
“You stop now,” he said. “That’s how.”
Archer laughed once with no humor in it. “Little late.”
While he was grateful for the brotherhood, he didn’t need guidance in this department.
“No. Late is when she’s wrecked because you couldn’t think past your own hunger.”
The shot found bone.
