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"Who are you?" He went back to his original question, demanding to know who was sitting in the room with him and who he was placing his trust in.
"You bought these ten acres on the edge of State land and on the edge of land owned by Master Louis DuCane." He nodded, acknowledging Archer's statement. "The cougars, Billy Burns, and his crew were not happy that you moved into the area, so they went to Master DuCane with their complaint. He shut them down and told them to leave you in peace." There was a noise outside, so Archer fell silent and moved to look out the window in the door. He saw nothing and, after a few minutes, sat back on the floor. It was then that the smell in the room began to reach him. It was a deep lavender scent, an aroma that reached in and caressed his heart.
Archer began to look at Kevin in a new light with an understanding that brought everything together. This was why he was so drawn to Kevin, why he went out of his way to take care of him, and why he wanted to get to know him better. This man that he had been watching and protecting for the last week was his beloved. If he'd ever gotten close enough, he would have known, but contact was not part of his job unless the target's welfare depended upon it.
"Silas Patronne, the son of the second in command Ismael Patronne, pulled me in from the field to provide surveillance of this area recently purchased by Kevin Paulson. He didn't trust Billy and his boys and didn't want you to be hurt. I convinced Billy to leave you alone, and as of last Wednesday, he hasn't been a problem, so much so that my mission here was to end tomorrow. My name is Archer Quinn, and I'm employed by DuCane Industries." There, he had all the pertinent information for now, so why did he look so shocked and blown away?
"Who tried to kill me? I didn't know either of them." Kevin released the cat, who walked slowly but with determination over to Archer and nudged his hand, asking for a pet, which he got.
"You're a good boy, Johnny," Archer stated as he gave the cat the attention he asked for. He then looked over at Kevin, who still held a look of shocked confusion. "I don't know who it is that tried to kill you. They are not affiliated with the cougars. They're professional hitmen." Kevin's expression tightened just a little at the mention of hitmen.
"They haven't been in the area long, or I would have noticed them. They breezed in expecting an easy hit but were met with me and with a target that was well able to take care of himself." Kevin started shaking his head.
"You saved me. If it hadn't been for you, they would have succeeded." Kevin kept shaking his head, and tears began to make an appearance, but he tried hard to brush them back. Archer moved a little closer, wanting to comfort him and also needing to be nearer the man who belonged to him.
"You would have saved yourself, I have no doubt." Archer rejoined and slowly took a seat next to Keven. "I've been watching you for a while, and apart from this very handsome cat, you have few needs or wants. I don't know the circumstances that brought you out here, but I assume you wanted a fresh start, and this is the place to get it."
"My old life rather imploded on me, and I needed to start over somewhere on my own." Kevin gave him a little information. He patted Kevin's leg. He wanted to touch him, even if it was a fleeting touch. “I can’t imagine anyone wanting me dead so badly that they would hire it done. It doesn’t make any sense to me.”
"I put in a call to the main house, so we'll get assistance soon enough, but in the meantime, you and I need to stay close to the floor and stay vigilant. I took out two of the assassins, but at least one and maybe more managed to escape." Archer laid it out for him.
"You think they will try again?" He turned to Archer, giving him the full treatment of that gorgeous face. He reached out and took Archer by the arm, feeling unsteady and unsure of what was happening. Archer could easily feel his fear and anxiety through their touch.
"It is possible, but you're safe here with me and Johnny." He smiled at the cat, who was seated next to Kevin and not far from Archer. He reached over and gave Johnny another pat on the head. "You have a good cat there. He spent many a night staring up at me until he figured out that I wasn't one of the bad guys. He then would just stop by to let me know that he knew I was there. He's a good companion."
"He adopted me not long after I came to these woods, and he was just what I needed." He pulled Johnny a little closer to him, and Johnny did not resist, clearly sensing the needs of this man.
Kevin didn't know what to think. One minute, he was living his life. The next minute, he was nearly shot and saved by the most attractive man he'd ever laid eyes upon. Archer Quinn was beyond good-looking and entered the realm of drop-dead gorgeous. Even in baggy fatigues, he cut a fine figure.
Ever since the situation that led him to these woods, he never saw a man or woman that stirred his interest or even appeared the least bit appealing. That was true until this man came barreling into his life, upending it, and placed himself right in the middle of the melee.
Archer Quinn was the man he needed now and forever, but Archer didn't need to know that. Kevin scooted a little nearer to Archer when he moved from the door to the space right next to him. He was explaining himself, his mission, and his intent and appeared completely undaunted by the events of the past few minutes.
He was assigned to keep an eye on him to make sure the cougars, also known as Billy Burns and his boys, left him alone. Archer was more than just a man doing surveillance. He saved him at the last moment, killing that man with one shot and getting him off his feet and inside in what seemed mere seconds.
Archer was a professional in the area of surveillance and murder, which would be Kevin's guess, and he also didn't care. All he cared about was the fact he was there for him, and he continued to be there for him. Archer was a surprise and a gift, and he would treat him as such.
Having someone in his corner was a new feeling, and he liked it very much. Archer patted his leg, but he also patted the cat's head, so he couldn't read as much into it as he would have liked. Yet the look in his eyes was appreciative, or Kevin was seeing what he wanted to see; either way, it was okay with Kevin.
Archer was capable. He was tall and muscular but still slim in that every square inch of his body was made for action. He was something to look at, that's for sure, but even with his life so out of control, Kevin found his good-looking savior to be a bonus.
He had dark hair cut short but not too short and dark eyes that saw everything and continued to travel Kevin’s body from head to toe over and over. It was almost sensuous, and Kevin loved it. Again, he might be imagining it all, but his heart was telling him this man was . . . something else.
He looked up at Archer, who was a bit closer than before. "I don't know of anyone who would hire someone to kill me. I've irritated people and been a thorn in the side, but nothing to warrant this level of attack. I have no idea what's going on."
"You're staying with me," Archer stated and then added. "Even after the coven bails us out of here, you will stay by my side until we figure this out." He said it with such authority that all Kevin did was nod. He was more than willing to stay by this guy's side until his life settled. If he had to stay with him for the rest of his life, he would have no complaints.
His thoughts were going in every direction, a symptom of the situation he was in, and he fought to bring himself under some semblance of control. He was leaning heavily on this man, and it was probably going to be a mistake, but his heart was leading him, and he was eagerly following, so there was no time for thought. Thought would bring back too much emotion, and he'd rather deal with a death threat than go back to the events that led him to the woods.
"They'll be here soon. I can hear the silence in the woods getting deeper." He smiled over at Kevin and laid his hand on Kevin's knee. It was unexpected but appreciated. The contact gave him considerable comfort and a feeling of being safe and protected. Archer Quinn was becoming important to Kevin even as he tried to stay separate; he found himself leaning in and reaching out. He was so strong it was impossible not to want this man.
Archer could hear the team working their way toward the cabin. They did not apprehend the man who got away. The third man involved with the hit was still at large, and they would know nothing of this hit in terms of who or why unless they captured him.
He stood up but kept Kevin seated on the floor. He knew that the team led by Dallas Grant was closing in on them. He respected and admired Dallas for his leadership and surveillance skills. They went through training together, although Dallas rose in leadership faster than he did. Archer was a bit of a loose cannon, and although he had the skill, he had to learn restraint. He chuckled at that memory. Silas was gentle yet firm when he sent him back to Ohio to work with the field agents rather than granting him a leadership role.
Silas knew what he was doing since Archer excelled as a field agent and loved working alone or with just a spotter. He loved making his own rules and living in the moment, all things that did not make for a very good leader. He tended to take jobs and get them done expeditiously and then move on to the next assignment with little or no thought to the previous assignment. This was great for a man like Archer, who worked fast and alone but that did not take in the special circumstances of his present assignment.
He was never going to leave this man, and he would never get over this assignment. His entire focus zeroed in on Kevin; he was the job that would become his life, and he had no doubts or uncertainties regarding his responsibility.
