Chapter 2 #2
Archer assessed me with an eagle-like intensity, like maybe he wanted to say more, but we’d reached the elaborate wrought-iron gates and the fancy guard shack that one of their employees from RAVEN Securities would assume responsibilities for within the hour.
They just needed to have the official change-of-guard meeting with the executive director.
I rolled down my window and showed my badge to the ruddy-faced security guard with frosty blue eyes.
“Rayden James and Archer Stone from RAVEN Securities to meet with Caitlyn Juniper.”
The guy made a big production of scanning the list as if he didn’t know this was his last morning at this location. “Ah, here it is,” he said, returning my badge. “You’re listed as the soul-crushing bastards who are ruining my life.”
I’d expected the outgoing security team to be pissed, but his vehemence caught me off guard. It sounded like he was losing his job, not just getting relocated. While I empathized with his situation, I wasn’t about to engage with the man and blow our opportunity. “Open the gates,” I snarled.
“Not until I have my say,” the guard said, leaning out the window and jabbing a finger in my direction.
“I’m out of a job after today because of you.
I have two kids in college, with no idea how I’m going to continue paying for their tuition.
My wife has cried herself to sleep every night for the past week.
Maybe you two aren’t personally responsible for ruining our lives, but someone needs to hear it. ”
He was out of a job because his company did a piss-poor job of providing the most basic security services to Silver Maple, and the board and management team were fed up with it. Telling the guard that wouldn’t get them anywhere fast, so I bit my tongue.
But Archer leaned forward to lock gazes with the guard, and I braced myself for whatever might come out of his mouth.
Loose cannon was too mild a descriptor. “If I were you, I’d open that gate.
Or my friend can storm the booth and open the motherfucking thing himself.
Look at his size. He makes the Terminator seem puny. Go ahead, make his day, asshole.”
The security guard’s gaze swung back to me, and he assessed me with an audible gulp.
My size alone usually intimidated most people, but I’d perfected a scowl that deterred even the bravest souls.
Realizing my sunglasses shielded him from the full effect, I pushed the shades down my nose and put three years of frustration and misery into an icy glare.
“Make the right choice,” I said, keeping my voice low, deadly, and cold.
With a nod, the security guard pushed the button to open the gates. “I had my say, and that’s all I wanted.”
I rolled up my window and hit the gas. From my periphery, I saw Archer fish out his phone and text rapidly.
“Are you letting Vaughn know about our frosty reception?” I asked. “Tell him I’m going to do a thorough inspection to ensure these guys didn’t sabotage any of the equipment out of spite.”
“Maybe I’m arranging my next hookup,” Archer teased.
“Oh, please. You still haven’t wiped the grin off your face from last night,” I replied. “Bobby might’ve made you feel twenty-five, but you’re not. You’ll probably need three nights of rest before you seduce your next conquest.”
Archer sighed and stowed his phone away. “I can’t help but feel a little sorry for that security guard, but people pay a fuck ton of money to live here, and they deserve good security. Did you see the six-figure amount the residents paid to reserve a spot at Silver Maple?”
“Yep. I memorized every word in the dossier.” My shoulders had tightened during the confrontation with the security guard, and I rolled them to loosen the muscles.
“What’s wrong?” Archer asked.
“Something is making me feel edgy,” I admitted.
“A disturbance in the Force?” Archer had meant the question as a joke, but it was spot-on.
“Yeah, but I can’t put my finger on it.”
My friend snorted. “Pretty sure you wrap four fingers and a thumb on your problem multiple times a week.”
Groaning, I killed the engine and opened the car door. “Shut up.”
“Seriously,” Archer said as he scrambled after me. “I know you’re not ready for a relationship yet, man, but you really need to get laid. The hand shandy only gets you so far. Sometimes you need someone else to touch your dick.”
“I’ll think about it.” But I wouldn’t. The tragic end of my last relationship still haunted me, and I wasn’t ready to risk my heart again.
“Really?” Archer’s footsteps grew louder as he hastened to catch up to me. “No-strings sex could give you a new lease on life. It doesn’t have to be with a different rando each time. I know that’s never been your style.”
And it never would be.
“What about friends with benefits?” Archer asked. “You could meet someone you like spending time with who also gets your blood pumping.”
“That sounds like a relationship to me.”
“Not if both parties set clear boundaries,” Archer replied.
I was just about to remind him how well that had worked out for him the previous evening when a tall, auburn-haired woman in an ivory pantsuit stepped out of the administration building. Her glossy pink lips curved into a welcoming smile as she extended her hand to me.
“Good morning, I’m Caitlyn Juniper, the executive director at Silver Maple.”
“Rayden James,” I said, “and this is Archer Stone.”
She shifted her attention to my friend and nearly swooned from the dazzling smile he gave her.
Caitlyn held Archer’s hand longer than was polite, then blushed hotly when she realized it.
Releasing him, she cleared her throat. “We’re happy to have you both here,” Caitlyn said.
“Can I interest either of you in coffee or pastries before we get started?”
I said “no” at the same time Archer replied “yes.”
My friend unleashed his trademark puppy-dog expression on me, and I capitulated without a fight.
“I brought over a nice selection from the dining room for you to enjoy,” Caitlyn said as she gestured toward the admin building. “And afterward, I’ll give you a tour of the facility and grounds.”
“Sounds perfect,” Archer said as he followed Caitlyn. He looked over his shoulder at me and whispered, “We’ll continue our conversation later.”
The hell we would.