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“You wanna go back to the office?” Archer whispers by my ear. His woodsy scent filters into my lungs as he leans closer. His hand on my hip, and his lips almost touching my earlobe. “You have work to do? Or can we get out of here and play hooky for the rest of the day?”
“Doctor Mayet?”
I glance up to find Justin and Janine heading our way. The woman’s face is red and splotchy as grief tears at her soul.
A week ago, she stood in her expansive home and discussed the case with clear eyes and a firm voice. She had a mission to complete. Work to do. A baby chick to protect.
But now, that’s all done. And Anna is officially gone.
It makes sense the strong woman finally crumbles.
“I’m so sorry for your loss.” I’ve said those words a thousand times in my career; maybe more. So they typically feel devoid of sincerity. But not today. Not when Janine reaches out and pulls me into a hug. Her heart pounds against mine, and her breath hitches so I hear the sound and feel the thud concurrently. “I’m sorry she lost her life so young.”
“So young.” Parroting my words, Janine pulls back, but she holds my forearms and looks me up and down. “You’re just a year older than she was, Ms. Mayet. I sincerely hope you’ll stay safe, and not bring more grief to my husband’s life.”
“Janine—”
Justin pulls his wife from me and tucks her beneath his arm. He coughs to clear his throat of emotion, and hardens his face into the mayor I know. The staunch city leader I understand and respect. “Doctor Mayet,” he dips his chin in greeting. “Thank you for your work on Anna’s case.”
“It was no trouble.” BecauseI was just doing my jobsounds unkind. “I believe she’s at peace now. Wherever she went after death must be better than here, right?”
“With fake friends?” he questions seriously. “Surrounded by greed and selfishness. She had that sprawling home, and no one worthy to share it with. Traveled the country eleven months out of every year, never truly knowing who to trust.”
“I think she trusted you,” Archer inserts, drawing Justin’s hard stare. “She trusted Mrs. Lawrence. She trusted your daughters, and was thoughtful enough to celebrate the birth of your grandchild.”
Finally, Lawrence’s lips crack into a ghost of a smile. “I just wanted her to be safe.” He brings his focus to me and hardens again. “I wanted nothing from her except the knowledge that she was careful and happy. I wanted to know who she surrounded herself with, and whether those people would protect her as passionately as I would. Just one call a week,” he sighs. “Just to check in. I wonder if she considered me another annoyance demanding her time?”
“Sometimes,” Archer cuts in before I can, “these independent women who’ve always only been able to trust themselves, struggle to let others in. It takes time and perseverance. It takes consistency, to break down those walls and prove you’re here for the long haul.”
I look up and find his lips curled into a taunting smile.
“Sometimes, shields are up for good reasons,” he ponders, “and other times, shields are up out of habit. But if you’re reliable and true to your word, you can get through them, until it warms that woman’s heart and brings them comfort to know this safety net awaits a chance to catch them.”
I narrow my eyes as each word pummels at my consciousness, but Justin breathes out a soft chuckle, drawing my eyes back around.
“I see. Well…” He flashes a wide grin. “I expect your next proposed budget on my desk by Monday morning, Chief. Pay yourself accordingly, or I’ll fire Aubree Emeri.”
I startle under Archer’s arm and curl my fists. “Excuse me?” I shoot a look twenty feet to our right, to where Aubree speaks with the mayor’s daughters, then I bring my furious gaze back to the asshole who dares pose such an ultimatum. “You threaten the job of a valued member of my team?”
He shrugs and turns, taking Janine with him. “Just letting you know your options. Rectify this situation, or suffer the consequences. Ladies.” He stops by the trio of women and pulls Tabitha—the pregnant one—in for a hug. “I’m taking the rest of today off and heading over to the house. Days like today,” he glances toward Anna’s grave, “are a reminder to prioritize those we love.” He brings his eyes back to his daughters. “And there’s no one on this planet I love more than you both.”
“Well…” Jen, the other daughter, glances across and waves my way. “There are others,” she says, so her words are muffled and difficult to make out, “but they’re worthy. I’m ready to go back to the house, Daddy. Corey?” She peers over her shoulder to the man who stands well over six feet tall and holds her close with the same kind of possessiveness Archer holds me. “When do we have to be back at work?”
He presses a smiling kiss to her temple. “My boss is in the city. Your boss is in the city.” Pulling away, he winks at me and startles me into the realization I’m staring. “We can stay a few days.”
“Shit.”Like an idiot, caught staring.I turn and start away.
Archer can remain where he is, or he can follow. His choice. But I’ll be damned if I’m gonna stare at the Lawrence clan like a puppy begging for a home.
“Wanna go to the bar?” I melt into his side when he catches up after only a moment apart. Like I knew he would. “Today seems to be about family, right? So it seems apt we go see ours.”
“You consider the bar your family?” He chuckles so I feel his breath on the side of my face. “Really? Even though Tim is always grumpy, and Cato’s always having sex on our couch.”
I wrench my neck around and look up into his eyes. “What?”
“What?” He smiles innocently, then smirks and steers me toward his truck. “Nevermind. You hungry?”
I stare at him, probing and searching for an explanation on the Cato thing, but Archer finds complete composure, his expression neutral and unwavering.
