Chapter Twenty-Four #2
Not that he could tell her that. She would shut down so fast it would likely make his head spin.
“While you do that, I’ll text Atticus and let him know we’ve got eyes on her.”
“Fine.” Becs took a sip of her water, then placed her napkin on the table. “I’ll do my best.”
“Just pretend you’re Gladys Overwith.”
Referring to her fake persona that she used to get information over the phone made her smile. Her beauty blinded him, and he had to ignore the warmth that stirred his blood.
“Okay. Wish me luck,” she said as she got to her feet.
“You don’t need luck. You’re a natural.”
As he watched her walk away, he did his best not to stare at her extremely fine ass. It wasn’t easy.
Archer drove at Reese’s insistence. According to the man, he and Brantley resembled one another in size, at least from the perspective of anyone who might be following. He wasn’t wrong.
“If you don’t mind me asking, how’d you and Brantley meet?
” It was his attempt to make casual conversation while they waited to see if someone would race up behind them.
Since it was a long, relatively straight road, Archer figured he would be able to see them coming.
Unless they were to come from one of the rare side roads that branched off.
“In town,” he said simply.
Hmm. Was that Reese’s way of shrugging off the question?
“Coyote Ridge, you mean?”
“Yep.”
“Were you born and raised there, too?”
“Yep.”
Archer grinned, checking the mirrors for anyone behind them. So far, they were clear.
“Is it like a secret or something?”
He felt Reese’s eyes on him, so he glanced over. “One-word answers aren’t usually your style.”
Reese sighed. “Sorry. I can’t help but worry about Brantley.”
“In what way?”
“He’s determined to find Kylie, and we still don’t know that she’s alive.”
Archer had noticed that, too. In the past twenty-four hours, Brantley had shifted gears.
He’d gone from adamant disbelief to unwavering hope.
In a way, Archer understood why. The woman was ultimately family, so it would make sense that Brantley would jump in with both feet.
However, as he’d learned a few times in his life, that was a quick way to come up against a wall of disappointment.
“I went on a date with JJ first,” Reese said.
It took a moment for Archer to connect the dots. When he did, he laughed. “Before you and Brantley?”
“Yeah.” Reese grinned. “I’d never been with a man before.”
The way Reese said it sounded like he was embarrassed to admit it.
With his eyes scanning the rearview, Archer said, “I happen to believe we’re pre-programmed for a deep, emotional connection rather than sexual orientation.”
“So you’ve been attracted to women before?”
“Sure. Not the same way I’m attracted to men, but I’ve met a few who could keep my attention.”
“Did you sleep with them?”
“One. When I was young and dumb. It was awful, but I figured that was mostly my fault since she was my first and I didn’t know my ass from a hole in the ground.
” He checked his mirrors. “I’ve only been with men since.
But I considered the possibility of it a couple of times.
When it came down to it, I knew it wasn’t going to satisfy me or her on a physical or emotional level, so I didn’t. ”
“That’s pretty deep, Archer.” Reese laughed. “I’m impressed.”
“Just because I’m hot doesn’t make me shallow,” he joked. “And I really do believe that.” He barked a laugh, realizing how that sounded. “Not the hot part. I believe we make connections with people, not necessarily their gender.”
“True.” Reese pointed out the window. “When we get to the end, we’re gonna turn right. Unless we’ve got a tail. Then we’ll go left.”
“Roger that.”
Archer continued driving, keeping his full attention on their surroundings. That was how he noticed the silver Honda parked on the side of one of the feeder streets. As soon as they passed, it pulled out.
“I think we’ve got one,” he told Reese, keeping his speed steady.
Reese shifted in his seat to check the sideview mirror. “Yep. That’s the last guy we ran into.” He grabbed his phone, dialed.
“Talk to me.” Brantley’s voice came through the truck’s speaker.
“We’ve picked up a tail.”
“Which one?”
“Silver Honda.”
“They’re waitin’ for us?”
“Looks like it.”
“Any way you can provide a distraction?”
Reese looked his way.
Archer grinned. “I’m sure that can be done.”
“Good. We parked the truck in some trees off a side road. We’re gonna walk in from here. I’ll keep you updated.”
“Be safe,” Reese said, a slight plea in his tone.
“Always.”
The call disconnected.
“Is Tesha buckled in?” Archer asked.
“Yeah.”
“Good.”
“Tell me you’re not gonna—”
Reese’s words were cut off when Archer slammed on the brakes.
The truck came to a jarring stop, causing the car behind them to swerve to miss them.
As soon as the guy drove past, Archer threw the truck in reverse and put his foot on the gas.
He twisted in the seat to watch out the back window as he steered backward until he reached the last feeder street they’d passed.
“He’s turnin’ around,” Reese said, sounding calmer than Archer expected.
Archer hit his brakes again and turned off on the side road, picking up speed so their tail would be forced to keep up. A few minutes later, he noticed an SUV had fallen in behind the Honda.
“There’s a dark SUV back there.”
“Yep. That’s one of ‘em.”
“Does this road end?” Archer asked, wanting to know what his next step was before he got there.
Reese began tapping his phone. “It does, but there’s another road that branches off just before.”
“Left or right?”
“Left.”
That would at least take them away from where Brantley and Atticus were.
“And the last tail? What color was it?”
“Red.”
“Not too conspicuous, huh?”
“I’m not sure we’re dealin’ with pros.”
Based on the way the guy behind him was keeping up, Archer wasn’t so sure. The guy would fall back, giving himself time to see where Archer would go next. He was patient, calculating.
Which meant Archer needed to be, too.