Chapter Eighteen #2
When she would’ve stepped away from him, he stopped her with an arm around her waist. He was still careful about how and when he touched her, not wanting to hurt her healing ribs.
“Although I hate the reason you needed my help, I’ve loved every second of having you here with me.
In fact, if you want to just stay, that’d be okay with me. ”
She blinked twice in rapid succession. “Oh, um, you want me to stay?”
He drew her in closer to him and stared down at her gorgeous face. The bruises had faded from a dark purple to light yellow, but he still wanted to murder Offenbach for daring to harm her. That he’d hurt her to get back at Archie was something he’d suffer over for the rest of his life.
“What’re you thinking? Your whole expression changed.”
“That I probably have no right to ask you for anything after you were hurt because of me.”
“It wasn’t because of you.”
“Yes, it was, Harlowe. He had a beef with me because I helped to prove he was having an affair that torched his whole life.”
“It was because of him and only him. He did this. You did your job.”
“Still…”
“No, Archie. I need you to hear me on this. I don’t blame you. Not for one second do I think you’d ever let anyone hurt me intentionally. In fact, I’ve started to think you might step in front of a bullet that was coming for me.”
“I would. I absolutely would.”
“Don’t do that. It would break my heart to lose you.”
“It would?”
She smiled, which was a thing of beauty, even with the bruises. “Of course it would. You’re not the only one who’s developed… feelings… here.”
“You have feelings? For me?”
She surprised the living shit out of him when she placed her hands over the scratchy whiskers on his face and went up on tiptoes to press a soft, sweet kiss to his lips that nearly made his knees buckle. “Yes, you silly man. I have feelings for you. Big ones.”
“I… um… Mine are big, too. Like, really, really big.”
Her smile warmed him on the inside, where he’d gone cold with fear and outrage while searching for three missing kids.
She laid her head on his chest and sighed. “You’re supposed to be eating your breakfast.”
He wondered if she could feel and hear his heart pounding. “I will, but I’m not ready to let you go yet.”
“I’ll still be here after you eat.”
“Promise?”
Laughing, she nodded. “I promise.”
“In that case, I’ll let you go, but only temporarily.”
“Got it.”
Archie felt like he’d been through an earthquake or something equally dramatic in the last few minutes. The gorgeous, sexy, smart, funny, adorable Harlowe St. John had big feelings for him. That was the best news he’d ever gotten, because his feelings for her were immense.
He took a seat on one of the barstools and watched her every move as she got out a plate and served him the omelet, buttered toast and a bowl of fruit on the side. Then she went back to pour him a glass of orange juice.
“I figured you wouldn’t want coffee if you’re planning to sleep.”
“You figured right.” He took a bite of delicious egg, cheese and vegetables. “This is amazing. Thank you again for getting up to cook for me.”
She brought a second glass of juice for herself and sat next to him. “It felt good to do something for you after everything you’ve done for me.”
“You don’t have to thank me, Harlowe.”
“Oh, yes, I really do. I’m not sure what I would’ve done without your TLC while I was recovering. You’ve made me feel safe and cared for and… I’ll never forget this time with you.”
He paused in midbite. “That sounds like an ending rather than a beginning.”
“I didn’t mean it that way.”
His heart started beating again as soon as she said that. “Oh. Good. You scared me for a second there.”
“God, I suck at this.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I really do. The only guy I’ve ever really dated was one I grew up with, and we know how that turned out.” She’d married the guy, and he’d abused her, which her parents hadn’t believed because they’d known him all his life.
“I can’t even think about him or Offenbach without wanting to commit murder.”
“Don’t do that. You’d look terrible in prison orange.”
He gave her a withering look. “I’m not kidding. I want to track down your ex. I don’t like not knowing where he is.”
“I’m sure he’s long gone, making a new life somewhere where no one knows who he is or what he did.”
“Guys like him don’t forget about the women who allegedly wronged them. That very thing is factoring into this case with the kids.”
“How so?”
“I’d rather not talk about that, if it’s okay with you. It’s disturbing and upsetting, and you’ve had more than enough of that shit lately. But I do want to know where your ex-husband is hanging his hat these days, just to be on the safe side, okay?”
“That’s fine, if you think it’s necessary.”
“I really do.”
“Thank you for caring.”
He looked over at her. “I really do.”
As she smiled, he leaned in, hoping she’d meet him halfway. When she did, his heart stopped again, for entirely different reasons this time, as her lips brushed against his.
“Harlowe…”
“Yes, Archie?”
“I love kissing you.”
“I love kissing you, too.”
“I want to do much, much more of that.”
“Not until you get some rest.”
He groaned. “Come on. You can’t give me an appetizer and not follow up.”
“I gave you a whole meal!”
“Metaphorically speaking, sweetheart.”
She sighed.
“What?”
“I like that you called me that.”
He took her hand and brought it to his lips. “You’d better put me down for a nap before I forget I’m tired.”
She gave him a tug, and he stood.
“I’ll do the dishes,” he said.
“No way. I’ll do them later. Don’t worry about it.”
With her hands on his hips, she steered him toward the bedroom.
“Are you going to undress me, too?” he asked hopefully.
“Not this time.”
“Don’t get me all hopeful that there’ll be a next time.”
Her reply was a gentle shove toward the bathroom.
So this was what it was like, he thought as he took a leak and brushed his teeth. To be truly in love. He’d had a few girlfriends here and there, had fancied himself in love with one or two of them, but that’d been nothing compared to this.
This… this was everything, and now that he knew she felt the same way he did, he was going to make sure they had forever together. He would also figure out where the fuck her ex-husband was and keep him far, far away from Harlowe, no matter what it took.