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Maybe I’d rushed things. Coming here unannounced and invading Archer’s life like I had wasn’t fair on him. I’d give him some distance and maybe we could work something out. The thought of him disappearing from my life again was heartbreaking. But it might not be my choice.
Searching for my phone, I found it on the kitchen table, the battery almost dead.
William answered after the second ring. “Darling. How is Chicago? You missing the sun yet?”
“Can you send the plane to take me home?” My voice broke and I choked down a sob.
“What happened?” The light tone he’d greeted me with was replaced with steely resolve. “Do I need to send someone to kick his ass?”
I chuckled, wiping away the tears that had escaped. “No, nothing like that. But I think we were kidding ourselves if we thought this would work.”
I didn’t have to spell it out what I meant.
“The plane will be there in three hours.”
“Thanks, William. I’ll see you soon.”
“See you soon, honey. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
I shot off a text to Carter to meet me downstairs in an hour.
Archer padded into the kitchen a few minutes later. He was dressed except for his shoes. “I’m sorry to rush out, but I’m running late for work. And Gunner is going to have my head if I’m not sitting in my chair in thirty minutes.”
I knew that was barely enough time for him to get to the office.
Nodding, I leaned against the counter. “I’m heading back to San Diego in a few hours.”
He stilled. “You what?”
“I realized it’s not fair to expect you to be with me like this.” I took a fortifying breath in. “The thought of going home without you burns me up inside. But for now my home is in San Diego. And yours is here.”
“What are you saying?” His voice was low, his words growled.
“Maybe we should take a break.”
He approached me like I was a skittish foal, his steps slow, his eyes on me. “I don’t want you to leave. You belong with me.”
My breath came in halting gasps, my heart squeezing painfully. “We need time to think.”
“I don’t need time. I needyou.”
“Archer—”
My words were cut off by his phone ringing. He glanced at the display and cursed. “I have to get this. It’s Gunner.”
He answered, his eyes never leaving mine. “I know I’m running late, but I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
He listened to something Gunner said, then cursed again. “Fuck. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
After he hung up, he closed the distance between us, pulling me into his body. “I have to go on a mission. But this isn’t over. And when I get back we’ll talk.”
He didn’t give me a chance to answer, instead he pressed his lips to mine in a deep kiss.
Slow to step back, he squeezed my hand. “I love you. And that’s never going to change.”
It took me almost an hour to pull myself together after he’d walked out. And when Carter picked me up to take me to the private airfield, I felt like I was losing the other half of my heart.
