Chapter 7
Abby
Archer was wearing a massive smile when he showed up for breakfast. The gift was a small, beautifully decorated cake. I smelled lavender and honey. I'd had a cake flavored like that years ago and loved it. Of course he remembered even though I'd never mentioned it again.
I closed the small box. “I can't wait to try this.”
“Why don't you take your break?” Harper said, surprising me. She shoved a few forks into my hand. “You two could go out back and eat it. Everyone needs cake for breakfast occasionally."
“Sure, I guess so,” I agreed, surprised that Harper was pushing us together. She was slowly becoming less hostile toward Archer, but made it clear she still didn't trust him. Why was she doing this?
Eager to be alone with me, Archer stood up and came around the counter. He took the box from me and made his way outside, leaving me to follow.
I looked at Harper. “You don't like Archer.”
She shrugged. “He's growing on me.” Handing me some napkins, she nudged me to the back.
Feeling amused and looking forward to a sweet treat, I made my way outside. Archer had already set out the cake and was sitting there, looking up at me with an eager smile.
He didn't sit until I had, then he was quick to hand me a fork. “I hope it tastes as good as it smells.”
“I'm sure it does,” I said. It was almost a shame to destroy all the delicate frosting art, but my mouth was watering. I slid my fork in, then again to create a little wedge, then lifted the bite to my mouth.
It was everything I'd hoped for. It was sweet but not too much, and there was just enough lavender to complement the honey. Most importantly, the lavender wasn't overwhelming.
Archer's low chuckle made me lift my eyes. He was watching me with pure happiness shining in his eyes.
I swallowed the bite. “It's good.”
“I guessed that from the moan,” he said.
I blushed. “It's moan-worthy.” Filling my fork with another bite, I held it up to his lips. “Try it and see if you can keep from moaning.”
He accepted the bite, never moving his gaze from mine. Our skin never touched but feeding him felt intimate.
“It's good,” he murmured. “But you taste better.”
We'd made out a few times as teenagers, but Archer's father had realized what was growing between us and separated us quickly. We were never allowed to be alone together and by then, my mother had died, and I had no one to protect me from my father.
Those kisses had happened ten years ago, but I could still remember how they'd felt: all-consuming and molten.
I needed to feel that again. Leaning over, I put my lips close to his, but anxiety made me stop short of kissing him.
“You don't have to be scared,” he whispered, his hand covering mine. It was only then that I realized I was clutching the soft fabric of his shirt. I didn't remember doing that, but my fingers ached from how tightly I was holding his shirt.
“I have no expectations,” he continued, his voice soft and comforting. “There's no timeline. I'm content to wait until you're truly ready, even if I have to wait until we're both old and gray.”
It was almost as if those words gave me the last bit of courage I needed. I pressed my lips to his.
He parted his lips and ran his tongue over my mouth. I opened it, inviting him in. He accepted, and he tasted of cake and love.
Tears burned the back of my eyes at the same time lust pooled in my belly and warmth flushed my skin.
This was the last piece I needed. I thought I had everything I wanted in my new life, but there'd been a missing piece, my mate.
As we kissed, our future together unfolded in my head: working, saving, a house, a child, and a boat. The life we should’ve had years ago, but it was a life worth waiting for. His father had only delayed us; he hadn't destroyed us.
“I should've known you were a whore, just like your mother.”
I gasped and jumped away from Archer, knocking over my chair and almost falling to the ground.
My father was standing only a few yards away with a familiar expression of angry disgust.
“No,” I whispered, fear making me back up until I came up against a wall.
Before I fell into a full panic, Archer put himself between me and Frank.
“What are you doing here?” he asked.
My father looked surprised. “Archer! How did you… I… oh, this makes sense. I'm sorry I interrupted, but you were gone for so long. We were scared you weren't going to come back.”
“I'm not coming back,” he said. “So you might as well leave.”
Frank's eyes hardened. “Not without Abby. She's my daughter so she belongs to me. I have an offer for her from the colony in Maine.”
Frank talking about me as if I were an object was all so familiar. I wanted to scream and yell at him, but fear was choking me. I thought I'd been healing and getting stronger, but one visit from this man, and I was reduced to a helpless lump.
“No,” Archer snarled.
Frank’s expression turned cagey. “If you want her, all you need to do is come back to the colony. I'd be willing to give her to you. Take your father's place as mayor, and Abby can be your reward.”
A sob escaped me, bringing Frank's focus back to me. “Get over here, girl.”
When I didn't move, his eyes narrowed and his hands went to his belt buckle. His leather belt was his favorite way to punish me. After a while, all he had to do was reach for the belt and I'd fall in line.
Seeing him perform the familiar move made me lose what little composure I had. With a cry of distress, I sank to the ground, curled my legs up, and covered my head with my arms.
I think I took everyone by surprise because I heard my father curse at how inconvenient I was being, and Archer let out a surprised breath.
Footsteps rushed out of the diner. Bodies filled the area, but I was too scared to look up.
“What the fuck is going on out here?” Harper’s familiar voice demanded.
“Who are you?” Will asked.
A flurry of questions and comments filled the air. Then angry yelling and a lot of cussing between my friends and my father.
I stayed huddled, waiting for a blow.
“Abby,” Archer's soft voice penetrated my fear. “Abby, I'm here. He's not going to touch you. I won't let him hurt you. You're safe.”
Cautiously, I looked up. Archer was kneeling in front of me. The moment our eyes met, he nodded his head.
“Wonderful, sweetheart,” he said. “You're holding your breath, that's not good. You need air. Now breathe with me. Here, put your hand on my chest. Feel my lungs moving.”
He didn't touch me. He waited for me to press my palm against him. I could feel the heat of his body through his shirt. It was comforting.
“Yes,” he praised. “You're doing so well. I'm going to breathe in. Do it with me.”
I wanted to make him happy, so I tried very hard to do as he asked. Even though my chest felt frozen, I opened my mouth and tried very hard to suck in some air.
Archer nodded. “Yes, like that. Do it again, Abby.”
He put his hand over mine, pressing my palm harder against the muscles of his chest. The warmth felt shocking.
“You’re doing so well,” he encouraged.
The moment I was able to breathe without Archer coaching me, I started shivering. I felt unbearably cold and so very tired.
Something wet trickled down my face. Tears. I was crying. Of course I was. This hadn't been humiliating enough yet.
I rubbed my free hand over my face, trying to wipe away the tears. Why didn't I have better control over myself?
Defeat washed over me, and I hated myself at that moment.
“I'm going to take you home,” Archer said, patting my knee.
I shook my head. “I have to go back to work.” The words came out more determined than my body was prepared for. I was pretty sure that if I tried to stand, my legs wouldn't be able to hold me.
“I'm going to take you home," he repeated. “I'm going to wrap you in warm blankets and make you tea.”
Home sounded good. I wanted to hide, except I had hours left on my shift.
“Abby?” Will crouched down behind Archer. “Do you want me to call Bailey or someone from the huddle?”
I shook my head. I'd already caused a scene, and I was sure that almost everyone that should be eating or working inside was outside with me. I didn't want to disrupt anyone else's day.
This was horrible.
“I can take Abby home,” Archer said. His hand was covering mine, my palm pressed against his chest. His touch only made me want more comforting contact.
My seal wanted it to. He represented safety and security to both of us. I was surprised, but I guess he'd won her over by being a constant presence with no demands.
“Ar-Ar-Archer can drive me,” I stuttered, trying hard to pull back my tears. I was already pathetic enough. I didn't need to add sobbing to the list.
Will nodded, but behind him Harper wasn't happy. “I can take her home and stay with her. Archer shouldn't be alone with her. He's not pack.”
That almost made me laugh. “Neither am I.”
Harper met my gaze. “Yes, you are.”
“I'm not a wolf,” I pointed out. Talking with Harper made me feel normal.
“Close enough,” Harper said. “Seals are the wolves of the sea.”
That made me snort, and several others around us laughed. Even Archer chuckled.
“Archer won't do anything to me,” I assured her. “He doesn't hurt people; he simply stands back while others get hurt.”
The moment the words were out of my mouth, I regretted them. Archer looked like I'd slapped him, and several others growled.
“I didn't mean it like that,” I said quickly, tugging my hand free of Archer's hold. “I only meant that I know you wouldn't actively try to cause me pain.”
“Inaction is a choice,” Will said, casting an angry glance at Archer. Everyone else was looking at him with renewed anger.
With one sentence, I'd undone all the goodwill he'd been trying to build with the Lobo Gris.
“I'm sorry, Archer,” I whispered. “I didn't mean it like that.”
He shook his head. “No, you did. I'm glad you said it. I need to know where all the hurt is so I can do better. This one is obvious. I'm never going to stand back again.”
Maybe that was true. He'd gotten between me and Frank quickly enough. He'd never done that before. Back in the colony, he'd distract Frank or pull him into a private meeting so I could slip away unnoticed. This time he hadn't hesitated to intercede. Maybe he had changed.
I looked at Harper and Will, everyone else had moved back into the diner, probably to give me some privacy. I don't know what they did with Frank, but I didn't care. I only hoped Will didn't try to cook him up, his soul was so rotten he'd make everyone sick!
“It's okay,” I told them. “Archer can take me home. I'm sorry that I can't finish out my shift. I don't feel good.”
They shook their heads. “Don't even think about coming back for a few days,” Will said.
“Jace, Mesa, and Emma live in your building," Harper said while looking at Archer. “I'm going to have them check in on you periodically. Emma lives next door. She'll hear if Abby's unhappy.”
The warning was clear. Archer nodded. “Thank you, Harper. It's good to know that you and everyone else have been looking after Abby.”
“We won't be stopping,” Will said. I'd never heard the mild-mannered wolf sound so threatening.
“I hope not,” Archer said. “If Frank is here, then so is his son. They're never far apart. I don't want to be taken by surprise again.”
I shuddered at the thought of Cliff finding me. While he'd never been as cruel as Frank, I got the feeling that he was working up to it. I didn't need him to practice on me ever again.
Archer
If I ever saw Frank again, I'd beat him until his face was nothing but pulp. I'd known he wasn't a nice man, but the extent of his cruelty had been hidden before. Now it was obvious. He was a monster.
I couldn't imagine how horrific this scene would've been if he caught Abby alone. That thought made me go cold. The only thing that would make me feel better right now was caring for Abby.
“I’m going to lift you up,” I said. “And carry you to my truck.”
She shook her head. “I can walk.”
I could tell she was determined to do this, so I helped her to her feet instead. She was shaking badly, and I wrapped an arm around her and held her tight. She kept darting her eyes around, as if waiting for Frank to jump out from behind something.
When I got her into the truck, she had trouble getting the seatbelt latched because her hands were so unsteady.
“Can I do that for you?” I asked. “Please, Abby.”
Giving up, she nodded, and I buckled her in, then patted her thigh. “It’s going to be okay.”
She refused to meet my gaze. She didn’t believe me. Her carefully constructed paradise had been shattered by Frank’s arrival.
I ran around the truck and jumped in. Harper and Will stood on the sidewalk, watching me. It would be unnerving if I didn’t know that they did it out of concern for Abby. I didn’t care what these wolf shifters thought of me, I would forever be grateful to them.
A seagull swooped down in front of the truck to try to grab something from the middle of the road while we waited at a red light. Abby focused on the seagull, then looked at me.
“I need the ocean.”
I didn’t question or comment. If Abby needed the ocean to feel safe, then that’s what I’d give her.