Page 52 of A Texas Hero

* * *

Still thinking of Archer’s words to her last night, Zoey pulled a shipment of sweaters out of a box. She’d probably only sell these to customers who were leaving town to visit family and friends during the holidays. The weather was still in the seventies today, bright and sunny, although there was some rain in the forecast. She’d love an excuse for another fire like the one last night. She wondered what the weather was doing in the Panhandle.

Until Archer mentioned it, Zoey hadn’t really considered whether she was being fair to her father. He was the kind of man who had everything: wealth, a legacy, family, fame, love. But without her mother, and now without her, he might be lonely. He hadn’t taken her leaving Amarillo well, and yet she had, eager to get away from his control. She’d also gotten away from Peter, which at the time seemed most important because he’d ingratiated himself once again with her father. In retrospect, she’d simply walked away from two men who thought they knew the kind of future she should have: A safe and predictable future as little more than a trophy wife, throwing parties for her father and her husband. Traveling to places predetermined by her husband.

She’d wanted and chosen this life, starting over in a small coastal town, with her found family, creating her own legacy of love. Now that the party was no longer in her immediate future, she had to wonder whether she’d been celebrating the day to honor love or her mother. When asked, she had to face it: the party was all about her mother. And there were many other ways to honor her.

Last night, after the fire had died out, she and Archer made phone calls. She took most of the list. He’d offered to take half, but Zoey thought it best her friends hear it from her.

“Aw, no party? But we do this every year. Why not? Are you sick?” Debbie had asked.

“No, it’s just… I’m…” Having a change of heart, moving on, making different choices? “Having some remodeling done, and it’s just gone over time and budget. I’m so upset.”

She didn’t have the heart to tell them she had to cancel a party because of a lone obsessive football fanatic. Zoey was beginning to hate the sport. Thankfully, the shop kept her busy as customers came in droves. Some were shopping for Governor Tippy’s annual gala, others were already Christmas shopping, and she suspected there were women who were still coming to check out Zoey’s new “employee.” Rumors were rampant around town that he was a former model interested in opening up a men’s boutique in town, or that he was designing his own cologne and looking for investors. She thought it was hilarious.

“It is my understanding that women love leather,” Archer was saying a few feet away from Zoey. “So, I recommend this jacket.”

“But do you think it would look good on me?” This came from Tee, a young man who worked for Noah in his charter boat business.

Recently, there’d been more men coming into the shop than the norm. But it made sense, since they’d heard Archer was making suggestions and doling out fashion advice. They assumed that he had plenty of game and wanted to emulate his ways. She’d had to order button-down shirts like the ones Archer wore every day, when both men and women started asking about them. Zoey’s shop might wind up having the best last quarter of the year on record if this kept up. In just a few days, she’d sold several designer men’s dress shirts. She might run out of stock before the holidays.

“Do we have this in another size?” Archer asked Zoey, holding up the leather jacket she’d made him model for her a few days ago.

It would definitely be too large for Tee. “I think so. Let me look in the back.”

She went to the dark stockroom where she kept most of her poorer-selling items. A marked box on the top shelf was labeled “Men’s Jackets.” She’d just reached for it when she felt Archer come up behind her. His hand low on her back felt like a brand, heat searing through her clothes.

“Here, let me.” He reached for the box easily and put it down beside her.

But he didn’t look at the box or inside of it, simply locked those amber eyes on hers and cupped her face. His gaze lowered to her lips, and in the space of a moment, he kissed her, long and hard and deep. She responded eagerly to let him see this was what she wanted. The two of them together, locking lips, holding each other tightly in the low light.

Then it was all over as quickly as it had started when Archer pulled away. “Sorry. I am sorry.”

“No, don’t—” But he was already out the door with the box.

* * *

Damn, what a screwup.

Archer needed to get a hold of himself or he would soon earn a reputation in this business. First, for being a hothead, overzealous for the job; second, for being a Romeo and kissing his beautiful clients. The truth was, his previous assignment, the reality TV celebrity, was another beautiful woman. But not only had he never kissed her, he’d also never been tempted. It was different with Zoey because it wasn’t just her looks that drew him to her. There seemed to be an electric current firing between them that he could almost touch.

He told himself that was why he’d kissed her in a quiet moment filled with lust and weakness. She’d returned the kiss with enthusiasm, and this worried him even more. He couldn’t afford for her to get the wrong idea. He wasn’t ready to sign up for an intimate physical relationship, and Zoey wouldn’t accept anything less.

Archer cleared his throat after digging through the box and finding another jacket for Tee. “Maybe this will fit better.”

Tee slipped it on and shrugged into it. He straightened and strode around the store a bit, modeling it.

“Yeah, this is sweet. I like it!”

“Looks good on you,” Archer said, though he had absolutely no idea. The point was it seemed to be the right size.

At the moment, he could only think of how good Zoey had felt in his arms a few minutes ago and how much he hated the fact that he’d met her under these circumstances. He could do nothing about the way he felt, nor should he.

“How much?” Tee said, looking for a tag.

There was none. “No idea, but I bet Zoey would give you a good deal.”

“I hope so.” Tee glanced in her direction, where she was now back to folding sweaters in a stack as if nothing had happened in her storeroom. “Hey, do you think I’d have any luck asking her out? Is she seeing anyone?”