Chapter Archer #2
“Yeah.” I hook my thumb in her direction. “What she said.” Then I glance over my shoulder and estimate we have five more minutes before Minka walks through that door. “Your building was bought out by an investor approximately two months ago. You recall the changeover?”
Silently, Steve bobs his head.
I take another sip of my Coke and grin behind the lip of the can. “That building belongs to the Malones now, which means technically, your contract belongs to the Malones, too.”
His eyes swing impossibly wide. “Y-yours?” And then he explodes.
“You let me lecture you!? You let me gripe and grumble and eat your food and sleep in your guest bedroom? Jesus, Mr. Malone! You can’t expect a man to conduct himself perfectly at all times when that man doesn’t have all the information. If I knew—”
“This isn’t like that.” I set my soda on the counter and press down on his shoulder before he bounces clear off his seat.
“We’re not turning this into one of those relationships where you yes sir, no sir me.
Your job is not at risk. You’re welcome in my guest bedroom for as long as you wish to stay, and no,” I meet his eyes with a steely glare, “Minka doesn’t know. So zip it.”
He gulps. Then he nods.
“I want you to stay here. Inside this house. Permanently.”
His mouth drops into a wide O.
“You’ve managed an eight-apartment building for years and done a stand-up job of it. Previous tenants speak highly of you, and we both know my wife thinks you walk on water, even if she can’t say so out loud.”
Finally, he closes his mouth, but then he chuckles. “I think the same of her.”
“Exactly. She’s had a rough time as far as family goes, and she doesn’t love easily.
But she loves you, and she doesn’t want to move here permanently if that means leaving you behind.
I propose a gradual step-up plan where you take on more responsibility here as you recover.
Mary’s home is in New York, so although she has very generously offered to stay with us for a little while, she’ll eventually wish to return, at which point, this house will probably turn to chaos.
It’s me, Minka, and Cato, which basically means we’ll live on burritos and bad choices. ”
“But—”
“We’ve already got a temp managing the downtown building in your absence, so we could bring them on full-time, and they’ll report to you. Or, if you think they stink, we can start the hiring process, and I’ll let you choose your successor.”
“I—”
“You’ll still manage the apartments, but from a slightly elevated position.
” I’m running out of time, and my date tonight won’t go well if Minka overhears me talking about her.
“You’ll oversee administration, sign work orders, approve quotes for maintenance, and audit the building to ensure it continues running to the same standard you currently have it, but…
” I risk another glance over my shoulder.
“It’s my hope you’ll accept a new position here.
Run this home for us. Manage the maintenance, cook for us, grocery shop.
That pool outside is always clean, but I have no clue how or who or why, so you’d probably need to figure that out and fold them into your administrative Rolodex. ”
“But I—”
“If you say no, then that’s the choice you make.
If you go back to your apartment, then I’ll respect your decision, but you need to know that if you leave, Minka will follow.
Even if she wanted to stay here, she’s terrified of letting you go alone.
God forbid your heart craps out a second time, and she’s not there to pump it manually until an ambulance arrives. ”
“It-it’s not her job to care for me, Detective. I don’t want her to—”
“We can tell her until we’re blue in the face, but at the end of the day, she worries about you, and there’s nothing we can say that’ll make that go away.
Contrary to what you believe, that worry is a privilege she hasn’t experienced in the past, because prior to Copeland, she lived a solitary life.
She wants to worry about you. More importantly, she wants to keep you close.
So if you go back to town,” I shrug. “I guess we’re going back to town.
If you accept my offer, your salary will be increased to match your new responsibilities.
Even better, if you stay here, I could move Fletch into the newly emptied 1B, and he could be the new eyes inside that building for you.
That means I could pay him an appropriate salary on top of his existing pittance from the city, he and Mia get to move out of that rat infested junk box they’re currently in, his wallet gets a little plumper and alleviates a lot of the stress he’s always carrying, Mary can go home, Minka and I can eat actual food most nights of the week, and my wife can go to sleep knowing you’re safe and sound under the same roof she is. ”
“Thank you, Mr. Harrison.” Minka’s voice carries from the front of the house, soft laughter bouncing in her tone. “I really mean it this time… you can clock off. I don’t need you anymore tonight.”
“Take a few days to consider my offer,” I murmur.
“Don’t start being awkward about bosses and employees shit, don’t tell Minka a damn thing, and no,” I raise my voice as Minka’s shoes tap-tap-tap against the tile.
“You can’t go for a swim yet, Mr. Morris.
Jesus, how many times must the doctor tell you before you’ll listen? ”
“Really?” Minka strides into the kitchen and takes stock of everything, everyone, in a single glance.
She firms her lips and shakes her head at the old man still reeling, then she sets her bag by the door and strides closer.
“You’re like a child, I swear. You’re not allowed to swim until your treating team clears it. ”
“Hey.” I hook my hand around her hip and thrill in her playful squeal.
I don’t even feel guilty as her knee crashes against Steve’s thigh, because I drape her across my lap and force the other two to look away.
“Welcome home, Minnnka.” I lower a feather-soft kiss to her lips and swallow her happy sigh. “I love you.”
“I love you t—”
“But as your husband, it’s my duty to tell you that you really fucking stink. Still. How is it possible you smell worse?”
“I wasn’t gonna say anything.” Steve plugs his nostrils and slides off his stool. “It’s not polite, but holy hell on a cracker, Chief. Did you shower in dog feces today?”
“It’s not my fault.” She slumps against my thighs. “Sometimes, these things stick to us even after a shower. It’s getting better, though.”
Mary holds a hand towel over her reddening face. “Wow, Chief Mayet. It’s, uh…” She gulps. “Ripe.”
“Go. Shower.” And yet, I nibble on her lips.
I fold her across my lap so her spine arches almost too far, but her leg comes up to make the stretch feel good, and in spite of Steve’s noisy gagging and Mary’s towel-flapping, I sink into our kiss and covet the tap of her tongue against mine.
“You smell so fucking bad. But you taste so damn good.”
Steve growls.
Mary strides to the back door and whips it open.
Minka trembles.
And then Cato skids to a stop in the doorway, drops an overflowing gym bag to the floor, and scowls. “What the fuck stinks? Jaysus. Someone better confess, or I’m gonna start pulling up fingernails.”
“Fine. I’m going!” Minka rolls clumsily off my lap and stomps back the way she came. “It doesn’t even smell that bad anymore!”
“That was you?” His face scrunches in disgust. “But you’re too pretty to smell so bad.”
“Oh my goodness.” Mary flaps the back door with a vengeance. “Should we expect the chief to bring such all-consuming odors home regularly, Detective? Yowza.”