Page 53 of A Texas Hero

“Don’t ask her out,” Archer said, shaking his head. “It’s not a good time for her.”

“Really? Why not? I heard she and Scott broke up.”

Archer’s illogical mind shouted: If you touch her, I will kill you with my bare hands.

Instead, he said, “That’s why it’s not a good time. She’s taking a break.”

“I guess you have the inside scoop, working with her daily and everything.” Tee looked longingly in Zoey’s direction.

Get in line, buddy.

“That’s right. We work well together.”

And they’d be good together at many other things, too, if they ever stood half a chance.

“Would you let me know when she’s ready to start seeing someone again?” Tee said. “I mean, before anyone else has a chance?”

It was an awful lot of trust from the kid.

“Yeah, sure. Just drop by the shop, buy something, and I’ll give you the 4-1-1.”

“Thanks, bro.” Tee clapped Archer on the back and headed to Zoey. “I’ll take it,” he said, bringing the jacket up to the counter.

Her face lit up with a smile. “Good choice!”

She exchanged a wink with Archer and rang Tee up.

Chapter Twenty

After they’d closed the shop, Archer suggested dinner before heading home. He would now do everything in his power to cheer up and distract Zoey from the canceled party. She wasn’t fooling him. Last night, he’d heard her crying in her bedroom. He’d been about to knock on her door to check on her when he heard the quiet sobs. Suddenly, he hated himself, American football, social media, sports fans and everything in this messed-up world. If a woman wanted to celebrate a day for sweethearts, she should be able to do it.

“My treat,” he said, after suggesting they go out to eat.

“What did you have in mind?” Zoey settled into the passenger side and put on her seat belt. “We have our pick of food—Japanese, Tex-Mex, Italian, Chinese.”

“I refuse to eat Italian. They never cook the food right. What’s your favorite place around here? Let’s go there.”

“Well, I like the Salty Dog Bar and Grill. They have the juiciest burgers.”

“As it turns out, I like that place, too.” He pulled out onto the road and headed to the other side of town.

The boardwalk along the seawall had one side with carnival rides and games and the other was lined with restaurants.

“Are we seriously not going to talk about the kiss?” Zoey said after a few minutes on the road.

He winced, grateful she’d chosen this moment to ask. At least he was forced to keep his eyes on the road. “Please, forgive me. It was a terrible breach of decorum. I regret it.”

She huffed. “I don’t. Maybe you noticed I kissed you back?”

“I did…notice that.” He cleared his throat. “But it was unprofessional of me. I’m sure you agree. Just because you’re a grown woman with the ability to consent doesn’t mean it’s ethical for me to cross the line.”

“We crossed it together, Archer.”

He sighed. “Believe me, I wish it were different.”

She was quiet for a long moment, staring out the window, so Archer decided to tell her something about himself that he’d only now realized.

“And the truth is, I’ve never just been friends with a woman before you.”