But I couldn’t pursue those thoughts.
Not when I was hired to haul him back to Chicago for trial.
Now, if only I could get my body on board with my head.
A cold shower didn’t have the desired effect I was longing for. Though, immunity to Archer’s hot body and smoldering stare through those Clark Kent glasses was a tall order from one cold shower.
Resigning myself I’d have to combat the dirty thoughts running through my head all day, I headed out of my hotel room and toward Main Street.
Archer had made such a big deal of the pastries and coffee at Cherry Blossoms Bakery, I had to try them for myself. If it meant I had an excuse to talk to some of the townspeople about their new librarian, that was just a bonus.
The bakery was jam-packed full of people, and for a second, I considered heading to the Bumblebee Café I’d passed on my way into town to skip out on this crazy mess. But the bakery’s scents were too good to pass up, and the line seemed to be moving quickly.
As I rocked on my heels, waiting for a chance to see the pastry case and find out what all the fuss was about, I heard a familiar voice behind me. “So, you’re stickin’ around, huh?”
I turned to find Margot standing behind me. “At least for a couple of days. Daniel mentioned this place had really good coffee, so I thought I’d give it a try.”
Margot chuckled. “I swear, the first thing Daniel did when he came to town was try everywhere there was to eat or get a drink. At least, you know he’s done the research and won’t lead you astray, right?” She nudged me with her elbow. “Of course, I might be biased because I made the cut.”
“Sounds like he was very thorough.” I smiled at her, trying to picture him going around trying everywhere he could. I stepped forward, keeping up with the line. “Is that all he sampled?” I tried to convince myself it was strictly professional, a way to get to know more about my mark, not about whether he’d slept with half the eligible women in Jubilee Falls.
“Not sure I quite catch your meaning.”
“Umm…” God, this was awkward. “Does he date a lot?”
Margot smiled knowingly. “Honestly, you’re the first woman I’ve seen him out with. Sure, he flirts with some of the locals now and again, and with that smile, he could probably have his pick, but I don’t know if he’s actually dated anyone since he got here.” She smirked. “I figured it was just a matter of time, though. If there’s one thing Jubilee Falls loves more than holidays, it’s weddings.”
I chuckled along with Margot, but in the back of my mind, I wondered how much truth was in Margot’s words. If I left town, pretended as if I’d never found him, would he settle down here, make a life with someone like the bartender?
I didn’t know the circumstances of Archer’s crimes. Maybe he’d been coerced. Maybe he’d fallen in with a bad crowd. He didn’t seem like the hardened criminal type. I’d seen plenty in my day who made Archer look like a soft, innocent bunny.
But the government didn’t pay out twenty-five thousand if the criminal didn’t warrant it.
And I could turn him in easily, just for the money.
Really, who was Archer to me, other than a hot guy who knew how to push my buttons? Just another payday, a vacation waiting to happen.
The bell chimed behind us, and I glanced back to see a couple of guys strolling in. They looked like they were right out of a mafia movie. Hair slicked back, black leather jackets, black clothes. It was August, guys. This was the sort of guy I expected to find when Parsons gave me Archer’s file. A thug. A mook.
Not a tattooed librarian who could tame wild children and stubborn women by just reading a book.
My phone chimed, and I smiled at Margot, silently asking forgiveness for cutting our conversation short, so I could check an email.
Neptune, Bounty on Janson’s been raised to fifty. With a ten thousand bonus if you bring him in before the end of the week. Let me know how it’s going. – Parsons
Fuck.
Twenty-five thousand was a hell of a payday. But sixty? The things I could do with sixty grand. I just had to push aside everything in my brain screaming Archer’s freedom wasn’t worth the payout.
“What can I get ya, hon?” The curvy brunette behind the counter smiled at me—a warm, friendly look that held sincerity and trust, even though we’d never met.
“Oh, um…” Shit, how did I end up at the front of the line already? I hadn’t even had a chance to look at the pastry case. “I was going to take a box to the library for the librarians. What do you recommend?”
“Nothing with crumbs.” She smirked. “Lynette doesn’t like food in her library.” Even as she said it, she started piling pastries into a box. “You want coffee to go with these, hon?”
“Yes, please. I’ll take mine with two sugars and a creamer.” I chewed my lower lip, trying to remember how Archer had doctored his coffee at Weather the Storm. Had he put anything into it at all? Before I could decide if he had or not, she set the box and a drink carrier with three to-go cups on the counter.
“That’ll be twenty-three seventeen.”
“Thanks.” I pulled out thirty, and once she gave me my change, I stuffed the remainder into her tip jar.
“Tell Daniel and Lynette I said ‘hello.’” The baker hardly looked at me as she started moving on to help Margot.
Carrying my goodies, I headed for the library, thinking about Archer, about the time we spent together yesterday, and how much more time I intended to spend with him today. I definitely wasn’t thinking about his tattoos or how nice those strong, inked arms would feel wrapped around me again.
The library was just opening when I made it to the front door. There was no sign of Archer yet, so I smiled as sweetly as I could at the other librarian.
“Hey, you’re Lynette, right?” I picked up the coffee the baker had written L on. “I brought coffee and pastries for you and Daniel.”
She pursed her lips at the box in my hands. “I don’t like crumbs.”
I held up the cup again. “There are no crumbs in coffee.”
Lynette scowled for a moment, then reached for the box. “Maybe just one. Behind the circulation desk.”
I handed the pastries over, glad I’d snacked on one of my own before I got there. As soon as Lynette had the pastries in hand, she grabbed the coffee too.
“Thank you, dear. Daniel should be in soon if you want to wait for him.”
“Actually, I’m glad he’s not here yet. You seem like a good judge of character, and I was hoping you might have some insight into the man.” I pulled the coffee that didn’t have a label on it for myself and set the third on the counter. “You know, woman to woman.”
She sipped her coffee and let out a soft groan. “Cherry sure knows how to make a good cup of coffee.” She opened the box and looked over my offerings before she continued. “Daniel… he’s a good librarian. He’s made good connections with the kids who come in, and he’s getting the hang of the systems here.”
“But?”
“He’s not meant to be a librarian. He’s good at it, but it’s not him.”
Drinking from my coffee cup, I watched as she carefully ate a chocolate frosted cronut, holding a napkin under the pastry to catch any crumbs.
I assumed I’d make small talk with her while I waited for Archer to show up, but maybe Lynette had more insight than I’d given her credit for.
“What do you mean?”
“He’s got a fighter’s spirit. He’s not quiet enough to be a librarian, not in his heart.” Lynette seemed more sincere than bitter that he was working in her library. Almost like she wished he could find something that fulfilled him more.
“But he seems at home here too.”
I’d done a thorough search on Daniel Johnson, librarian. His social media was sparse. There wasn’t a lot of information out there except for the standard stuff. Enough to prove he was a person and living, but nothing more than that. Archer, however, had been really into boxing. He was
built like a boxer. Archer’s social media had been hard to find, like someone had tried to bury it. But if it had been on the internet once, it was still out there somewhere. His was full of info about fights, fighters, and he even posted about his own boxing stats. I doubted there was anywhere in Jubilee Falls for him to get that energy out. I’d be surprised if he could find a boxing gym anywhere in a fifty-mile radius.
It was difficult to reconcile Daniel and Archer as the same person. Was he really so mild mannered, good with children, and a good librarian or was he a boxer and a criminal? Could he really be all of it?
“How long have you worked with Daniel?”
“You ladies aren’t gossiping about me, are you?” Archer’s voice washed over me like a tropical wave, warming me all over.
I glanced over my shoulder and smiled. “Actually, yes. You wouldn’t mind waiting outside for a few more minutes, would you?”
He laughed and rounded the circulation desk. “You brought breakfast?”
“Yeah. I wanted to say thanks to both of you for letting me hang out here all afternoon yesterday. I don’t know what I would’ve done otherwise.” I held out his coffee. “Since you’ve so rudely interrupted, you might as well join us.”
Archer looked at me like he wanted to say something, but all he did was take a sip from his cup before opening the pastry box. “Looks like Cherry went all out.”
“I didn’t know what to bring. I hope it’s all okay.” God, why was I nervous? They were pastries—not professions of love.
“They look amazing, but I probably shouldn’t. At least not yet.” He closed the box and set them aside. “What do you have for me today, Lynette?”
“Oh, eat a pastry. She went through all the trouble of bringing them, you might as well have at least one. Just use a napkin.” Lynette smiled. “I’m going to go take care of some stuff in the office. Don’t neglect the other patrons talking to your friend.” She picked up a few things from behind the desk and winked at Archer. “Her book’s still under the desk.”
Archer grinned as soon as Lynette disappeared out of sight.
“Okay, you’re going to have to teach me whatever mind trick you just used on her. She’s never that cool about me eating anywhere in the library. No crumbs around her precious books.”
I bit my lower lip and fidgeted with the cardboard sleeve around my to-go cup.
“I didn’t even think about that. She’s not going to shush me later, is she?”
“Doubtful,” he laughed and reached for my hand. “Even Lynette has learned libraries aren’t the silence-filled rooms they used to be. She’ll only shush you if you get really loud.”
Why did that simple statement take my brain to way too dirty thoughts? Maybe it was the mischievous glint in Archer’s eyes. Or the way he licked his lips to catch every bit of the chocolate frosting from his donut.
“Are you planning on sticking around for a while today? Or did you just bring pastries, then plan on running?”
“I don’t run.” My tone was deadpanned.
Instead, he just grinned. “Good. I was hoping you wanted to stick around. I want to take you to lunch again, a lot easier to do if I know where you’re going to be.”
“Your girlfriend won’t mind?”
“Evelyn has playdates on Thursdays. Tomorrow’s the day you really have to watch out for her.” He held up the box of pastries and opened them again. “Want to have breakfast with me?”
“I brought them for you and Lynette.” I pursed my lips. “I’m already having coffee with you.”
“Come on, V,” he chuckled. “Don’t tell me you’re one of those women who doesn’t eat carbs.” He pressed a hand to his chest like I was breaking his heart. “Please.”
I laughed and rolled my eyes. “You do remember we ate two meals yesterday, right? And at both, I ate deep-fried food?” I picked up a bear claw from the box, then grabbed a napkin. “Are you happy now?”
“Honestly, I’m just happy you’re here. But I do like that you’re not afraid to eat.”
Shaking my head, I ripped a piece of the bear claw off and popped the whole bite into my mouth, not wanting to give Lynette any reason to chase me off—not until I had her librarian in custody.
“Based on everything you said last night, I’d say you’re not afraid to eat either.”
Archer let out a full, whole body laugh—one way too loud for the library.
“What can I say? I know what I like. And I like you.”
He stepped around the circulation desk, moving closer until we were toe-to-toe and I had to look up to meet his eyes.
“I want to kiss you again.”
My breath hitched as I tried to swallow around the desire and anxiety lump in my throat. “Shouldn’t you, like, be re-shelving books or something? What exactly do you do here all day?”
His hand slid around my lower back, pulling me in tight against him so I had to hold my pastry out, away from us.
“I can spare a minute for this. Then we’re going to test your art skills.”
I could hear my heartbeat echoing in my ears as he leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. Archer kept it a closed-lip kiss, even when my tongue darted out against the seam of his mouth. The heat and the passion behind it still made my toes curl up in my boots, and I couldn’t help the soft groan that escaped my lips when he pulled back.
“I know, I want more too, V, but if I start something here, I’m liable to want to drag you into the reference section and not stop until you’re screaming so loud Lynette will have to shush us.”
His words made my pussy clench, so I took another bite of my bear claw to have something else to focus on.
“You said something about art skills?”
The day passed with Archer creating amazing artwork for his display, and me avoiding anything at all crafty.
It was easy, talking to him like this. Neither of us probed deeper into each other’s pasts; we just let the conversation flow naturally, one thing to the next.
As time ticked closer to closing, I knew if I didn’t make an excuse to leave, I’d end up sticking around, having dinner with him again.
And maybe dessert back at his place. The kind that ended in a sweaty tangle of limbs and what I could only assume would be earth-shaking orgasms.
I couldn’t let that happen. Not if I wanted to hold on to any chance this was still all just business.
I managed to sneak out of the library when Archer was busy. I gave Lynette a lame excuse to relay to him and charged out of there. I noticed the two thugs sitting across the street. I doubted these two were from Jubilee Falls, but just because the place seemed a lot like Stars Hollow most of the time, didn’t mean there weren’t darker, seedier parts.
I headed back to the hotel to do some more surveillance. Without me around, maybe Archer would show his true colors and I could get this job done.
I grabbed another round of much needed caffeine from The Daily Grind coffee shop and then settled into my room. I had my laptop open, my feed from the library coming in loud and clear. It was a big place, but I managed to put my bugs in places where I got good coverage.
And while Archer had been busy washing the glitter and paint off his hands, I managed to get a bug on his cell phone.
I spent the afternoon listening to nothing but innocuous conversation and people looking for books. If Archer was doing anything nefarious, it definitely wasn’t being done at the library.
Later that night, the crackle of his phone came over my laptop.
“Richards.” A male voice answered Archer’s call.
“I’m being followed.”
There was a pause. “Are you sure?”
“I’ve driven by the same gas station three times and they’re still behind me.”
“They’re clearly not intelligent. You see anything suspicious?”
“Lynette found a bug in the library the other day.”
Oh shit. That was me. But I certainly wasn’t following him. And who was this
Richards guy? Why would he care if Archer was being followed?
Richards sighed. “Do you want me to pull you? Do you think you’re in danger?”
“I don’t know. This is my first time. They couldn’t find me, could they?”
“We work pretty hard to keep you hidden. But anything is possible.”
“Hang on, I think they’re gone.”
I didn’t like the fear in Archer’s voice. If he was a criminal, he wasn’t hardened. But at least he was smart enough to keep an eye out.
“Keep me on the line. If the library was bugged, you should check your apartment, car, and anywhere else. Also, you should probably check your phone.”
“Crap,” I muttered.
“My phone?” Archer questioned.
Richards gave detailed instructions on where to look for bugs, and Archer was going to find all of them at this rate. Who the hell was this Richards guy?
Someone else was moving in on my job. But that’s not what bothered me. I worried there was something bigger going on and that maybe Archer was in danger.
What the hell was going on?
8
ARCHER
After I hung up with Richards, I went the longest way possible around town before heading home. I was cautious heading into my apartment, checking all around. I scanned my door looking for any signs of a break-in.
Once inside, I locked myself in and used the chain and deadbolt, which I’d never worried about until tonight.
I hoped I was being paranoid, but my gut didn’t like what was going on.
I followed Richards’s instructions regarding looking for bugs and cameras. By the time I was done, I’d found three. I destroyed them the way Richards told me to and then I sat on my couch trying not to panic. I sent Richards a text letting him know what I’d found and that they were destroyed.
This all had to be related to Macchio, but how did they find me? And why were they just spying on me? Shouldn’t I already have a bullet in my head?
Lip Locked in the Library Page 6