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“It’s safe to assume that Beacon was on a mission and got hurt?”
She nods. “Yes.”
“Was Archer an agent too?”
“Yeah,” her voice is barely a whisper.
“What happened?”
“He and Seth went on a long-term undercover mission. He…” She swallows hard, her eyes filled with moisture.
“Archer went missing?”
“Uh-huh. There’s a team that has looked for him for years. They stopped a few months ago.” Piper shakes her head. “I can’t lose another person. My heart won’t be able to handle it if something happens to you.”
I should walk away, but instead, I put my hand on the back of her head and pull her to me. Our lips meet in a desperate kiss. I finally taste heaven. I can’t get enough, but just as it started, the kiss ends—fast and frantic.
“We can’t,” she says. “It’s not fair to you or to him.”
“But he’s gone, Piper. I’m sorry, baby, but he’s not coming back—” I take a deep breath and say, “I’m here, and I love you.”
She cries and snorts at the same time. “This is what makes everything more painful. If I let myself love you and he comes back, I’ll never forgive myself. You should… I’m not good for you.”
“You’re the best thing that’s happened to me in my entire life.”
“I can’t lose you, D. And yet I can’t ask you to stop doing what you love because I can’t reciprocate your feelings.”
I laugh. It’s a humorless and painful laugh. “You love me, but you won’t accept it because that means you have to heal.”
Piper nods. “Mom is right. I need therapy, and I can’t keep avoiding life by working myself so much.”
“She sounds like a wise woman. Would you like me to share the list of therapists we have?”
“She says I have abandonment issues.”
“I think you need a professional and not your mom.”
She snorts. “Mom’s a counselor, and so is Grandpa Chris.”
“The musician?”
“Yep. We have almost everything in the family except for a news anchor.” She finally laughs.
“Are we okay, Piper?”
“I should be asking you that. I’m sorry for”—she presses her lips together—“the meltdown, not being able to love you… I wish I could.”
“We could have a threesome. Dead guy, you, and me.” I wink at her.
“That’s silly.”
“Well, if you tell me all about Archer, I might fall for him.”
She laughs. “I don’t think that’s how it works.”
“You’re right. If anything, I hate him. He’s holding onto you too hard.”
“Because he’s alive,” she mumbles. “I know you don’t believe me, but he is around. Actually, I think he lives in New York. My new theory is that he’s in danger, and that’s why he’s hiding.”
