Champion

by Marie Higgins

  He shrugged. “Then if I cannot have you in my picture, I would rather be by myself.

  That’s fine,” she answered almost breathlessly. This was the first time a male model had asked for her to be in the picture. Why wouldn’t the uneven rhythm of her heartbeat slow back to normal? She wished she didn’t act this way whenever he was near.

  He stayed still, his gaze not leaving her face. She shifted from one foot to the other. “Um, did you want to go upstairs and take a break with the rest of us?

  Not really. Why? Are you tired?

  No, I’m not. I just knew the others were.”

  He took her hand and pulled her over to the area where she’d placed the models earlier and pointed to the black leather lounge chair. “Can you take my picture now? Just the two of us?”

  Payton’s heart hammered faster. It wasn’t like she hadn’t done this before by herself, but then again, she was never physically attracted to any of the other models. Except Calvin, of course, but he was a different story altogether. But she’d never taken Calvin’s picture with nobody else in the room, either.

  She tried swallowing to moisten her suddenly dry throat, but even that was difficult. She really should wait for the others to come back. After all, Archer needed his hair fixed, a touch of make up to highlight his eyes, and he needed the fan to tease his hair a little.

  However, she liked the idea of having Robin Hood all to herself, and something in the back of her mind told her to make the best out of it. He had suddenly appeared in her life, and she didn’t know how long he’d be here before he left for good.

  Just as all the other men in her life had done.

  FOUR

  Payton’s hands trembled, as she positioned Archer on the lounge chair the way she wanted him for the photo. It was bad enough to be this close to him—and touching him—but when she realized his eyes were on her the whole time, it made her more nervous. She wanted to tell him to look elsewhere, but she couldn’t bring herself to form the words on her tongue. Besides, she didn’t need him knowing how his intense stare made her uneasy.

  For these particular photos she’d just have him relax on the chair. After that, she’d make him suit up in his armor.

  She stood back and ran her gaze over him, trying her hardest to think like a professional. “Lift your arm over your head.” She took his left arm by the wrist and placed it in the location she needed it, about two inches above his head. Before backing away, she spread out his long hair a little better to make it more noticeable.

  Stepping back again, she smiled. Perfect. He was perfect...well, close to it, anyway.

  Her gaze dipped to his shirt, and without thinking, she reached down to untie it at the throat. When her fingers brushed his warm skin, excitement shot through her and quickened her heartbeat. He stiffened slightly and inhaled sharply. Had he felt the electrifying spark of awareness as she had?

  Keeping in her role as a professional photographer, she rearranged the shirt over his chest so that a glimpse of his throat could be seen. Moisture gathered on her forehead, and she silently cursed herself for getting worked up like this. She wasn’t hot. However, her nerves were making her appear as though it was one-hundred degrees in this room.

  She rearranged the lighting to give a soft glow to his appearance, and then she turned the fan on low. Really, she should have turned it higher and put it on her, but she didn’t want him to know she felt like a panting dog in the heat of the day.

  She backed away to get the overall effect—and sighed dreamily. He was positioned just the way she wanted, but it was his penetrating gaze that had her enthralled. The way he looked at her reminded her of when Calvin was staring at Jill last night, except Archer’s expression was more vivid. It awakened feelings inside of her she wished would go away.

  What was wrong with her? She’d been around many handsome, well-built men, and not once had she acted like a complete ninny. So why was she acting that way now?

  “Don’t move,” she told him, wishing her voice wasn’t so deep.

  She grasped her camera and went to work.

  His eyes followed her as she moved, taking shots standing above him, and kneeling on the floor in front of him. She issued instructions on which way to turn his head, but she didn’t concentrate on that as much as she did his mesmerizing cobalt eyes—bluer than anything she’d ever seen.

  Gradually, his mouth shifted into a smile, and his dreamy eyes literally twinkled.

  “Perfect,” she called out.

  Click, click.

  She shifted again.

  Click, click.

  Good grief, she couldn’t get enough of this man’s sultry expressions. Indeed, he was made to be in front of a camera. She couldn’t wait to see the pictures, either.

  But now she wanted to see a more serious expression on his striking face.

  She set her camera aside, and took hold of his hands to help him sit straighter. Kneeling in front of him, she pulled on his arms, leaning him toward her a little more.

  “What are you doing?” he asked in a tone she’d never heard from him.

  “I want you to lean your arms on your knees and look right at me. Don’t smile, either. I want you to be serious for a minute.”

  He chuckled. “What do you suggest I think about, to make me this way, to remove my smile?”

  Pausing, she tried to collect her thoughts. How should she know what he needed to think about? Yet, she realized he was new at this, and she needed to help him. “Um, how about think of something that upsets you.

  I know not what that can be.

  Hmm, well perhaps that’s not a good suggestion because I don’t want such a fierce scowl on you, either. So let’s have you think about something that confuses you...something you are trying to sort out in your mind.

  Like when I think about you and this strange world?”

  She grinned. “Exactly.”

  His hand shot out before she could stop it, and he tenderly stroked her cheek. Tingles cascaded over her. She held her breath, hoping he wouldn’t touch her this way, but then wishing he would never stop.

  “You should smile more often, fair maiden. It brightens your face.”

  Heat crept up her neck again. Why did he have to say that, and why did he have to touch her? Maybe the question should be—why did she enjoy it so much?

  She breathed slower, trying to regulate her heartbeat once more. “Archer, you’re supposed to be serious right now. Not someone who is bent on flattery.

  But I am serious.”

  His focus shifted to her mouth, and suddenly her tongue dried up, along with her throat. He wasn’t going to kiss her, was he? She couldn’t have him doing that. Not here. Although, for some reason, they were still alone, so maybe it would be all right.

  She mentally shook away the thought. No, it wasn’t all right at all.

  Where was everyone? Yet, she didn’t have the strength to look away or call out for the others. She was caught like a fly in this spider’s charming web, and like a fool, she didn’t want to leave.

  Finally, she was able to get enough saliva in her mouth to swallow, but it was difficult. Other than that, she couldn’t move. Did she want him to kiss her? Although her mind argued why it would be wrong, her heart cheered yes!

  Slowly, he leaned forward and she held her breath. Licking her lips, she readied herself for his mouth to cover hers. However, voices coming down the stairs startled her out of the spell he’d put her under and she jumped back.

  Archer returned to the position she had him in before. His expression wasn’t exactly what she’d wanted. Instead of being serious, he looked almost upset. Still, she clicked the camera and took a few more pictures.

  “What’s going on here?” a man snapped.

  Payton swung around to see who could have asked her that ridiculous question. Wasn’t it obvious what was going on?

  When she noticed Calvin, she rolled her eyes. “What does it look like?”

  Mary entered the room righ
t after him, a frown marring her face. She was approximately ten years older than Payton, but right now the stress etched on the woman’s face made her look much older. Something was definitely wrong. Since they had worked together for two years, they could read each other’s moods well.

  “Mary, what’s wrong?” Payton asked.

  “I’ll tell you later,” she muttered.

  Calvin marched toward Payton. When he stopped beside her, he crossed his arms across his muscular chest. “So is he your new man now?”

  Tilting her head, she looked into Calvin’s eyes. Why was he acting this way? “Archer wanted me to take some pictures of him. I thought it was a good idea. He looks perfect in those period clothes, don’t you think?”

  Calvin released a snort and shook his head. “Have I been replaced, then?

  Nobody is being replaced. I’m just adding another model to my group. I can do that, you know.”

  Growling, Calvin gripped her upper arm and pulled her to the side of the room. She gasped from the suddenness of his action, but then whimpered slightly when pain shot through her arm.

  “Let me go. You’re hurting me,” she hissed as she tried to yank her arm away. “What is wrong with you, Calvin?

  You have no right,” he said with clenched teeth.

  “Are you kidding me? May I remind you that Into the Past is not your company, but mine and Mary’s? You cannot dictate who I hire or what pictures I take.

  I don’t like him,” he said quieter. “There’s something not right about that man. I think he’s crazy.”

  Although she had wondered the same thing about Archer as well, she still found it comical that Calvin would voice the thoughts that had been running through her mind. “And he is not your problem, is he?” She tried to jerk her arm away. “Let go of me.”

  Calvin took both of her arms, his grip still very tight as he glared into Payton’s eyes.

  “If you are doing this to get back at me somehow—” he began.

  “Think again,” she snapped. Anger roared through her stronger this time. How dare he assume this was all about him? Then again, Calvin had always been selfish.

  “Now for the last time, let me go or I’ll—

  You’ll what?” Calvin challenged with an intimidating voice.

  Suddenly, he stiffened and his eyes widened. It was then when she noticed Archer standing directly behind him. The anger on his face matched the frustration speeding through her perfectly.

  “If you don’t release her,” Archer said in a commanding tone, “you are going to feel the blade from my dagger pierce through your back. I can assure you, it won’t be a small wound, either. Is that something you want?”

  Payton’s heart dropped. No! He couldn’t possibly...

  Calvin let her go and raised his hands in surrender. “I’m not touching her anymore.”

  Archer stepped away and motioned for Calvin to move. “I suggest you leave her alone. It’s obvious she doesn’t want your company any longer.”

  Calvin tried to compose himself, forcing a laugh as his gaze fell to the dagger still in Archer’s clutch. “Look at you,” he snickered, “still playing the part of a warrior. I wonder if you know that dagger is just a toy.

  A child’s toy, you say?” Archer asked before he turned and threw the dagger toward the wall. The weapon sliced through the wooded panel and stuck.

  Payton’s knees almost collapsed, and she had to hold onto the nearest chair for support. Good grief! Where had he gotten that? It definitely wasn’t one of her props.

  “Tell me, can a child’s toy do that?” Archer asked with self-assurance.

  Color faded from Calvin’s face. “I could call the police on you—

  But you won’t.” Mary stepped in between the two models. “Calvin you’ve been drinking again, and because you were being forceful toward Payton, I’m sure the cops would be hauling your butt off to jail, not Archer’s. He was only trying to protect her from you.”

  A tremor began in Payton’s body, starting from her toes and moving up to her head. She folded her arms to try to keep still, but it wasn’t working. She couldn’t say anything, mainly because her mind refused to work.

  “Now I suggest,” Mary continued in a tight voice as she glared at Calvin, “that you go sleep it off and come back when you’re back to being your fun-loving, cheerful self. Is that clear?”

  Calvin threw Mary a scowl and then aimed his irritation toward Payton. “This isn’t over,” he grumbled as he walked past her, around the spectators that had gathered in the room, and up the stairs.

  Archer moved beside Payton. He reached out to touch her, but then quickly withdrew his hand as though he’d suddenly changed his mind.

  “Are you all right?

  I’m fine.” Her voice shook.

  “Okay everyone,” Mary called out, “we’re taking a longer break so that Payton can have a breather. Let’s all go back upstairs.” She motioned her hand and ushered the herd up the stairs.

  Archer went to the wall and yanked his dagger out of the wood panel before slipping it back in his black knee-boot. “I pray you are not vexed with me for what I did, but I needed to prove my point with Calvin.”

  She chuckled, even though humor was far from her thoughts. “I think he understood what you were trying to prove.” She walked to him and placed her hand on his arm. “But you need to remember that this is a different place than what you’re used to. We don’t use weapons here. It’s too dangerous.

  I understand.” He nodded. “Forgive me.”

  Forgive him for what? Being himself? She took a deep, cleansing breath and tried to smile. “It’s all over with. Let’s join the others upstairs, shall we?”

  PAYTON STARED OUT THE sliding, double glass doors in the kitchen. The models had gathered outside, even Archer. Thankfully, they talked and laughed with the new model, welcoming him into their circle. It surprised her that he didn’t try to flirt with the pretty girls like Calvin had always done. Several times, Jackie placed her hand on his muscular arm, but he didn’t act like he enjoyed it, or encouraged it.

  Really, he was a strange man.

  Since the incident downstairs with Calvin, one thought had plagued her. Was Archer really her fairy tale man? Men in today’s world wouldn’t dream of threatening another man with a dagger, unless he was in a gang fight, of course. And he was definitely not a gang member. The confused man she’d found in the bushes didn’t have any markings or piercings of those of a gang, and he wasn’t wearing gang colors, either. She didn’t know of any of those hoodlums who went around dressed as knights in shining armor.

  Why was he really here? Was it for her? And if he wasn’t, how could she convince her rapidly beating heart of that?

  “Where did you find him?” Mary asked as she poured them both a glass of lemonade and brought it to the table. She sat by Payton.

  Sipping her drink, Payton returned her gaze out the window. “In the bushes.”

  Mary choked on her drink. “The bushes?”

  Payton sighed heavily and turned her head to her friend. “Oh, it gets worse, Mary. He thinks he’s Robin Hood.”

  Mary snorted a laugh and choked again. “Robin Hood? The fairy tale character?

  Yes, but don’t call him that to his face. He doesn’t like being called Robin. His name is Archer Robert, Lord of Loxley.

  Are you kidding me?”

  Payton shifted in her chair and faced her friend. “I wish I was. He came with the armor and sword. He wasn’t wearing anything besides the armor and dirty clothes underneath, and the material was nothing I’d ever seen before. Whoever had sewn these together didn’t know the first thing about making costumes. Yet, his armor and sword are real.

  Unbelievable.” Mary shook her head. “So what’s he doing here?”

  Chuckling, Payton lowered her head into her hands and rested her forehead against the table top. “You’re going to think I’m crazy, but... I wished him here.

  Excuse me?” She pulled Payton back in
to a sitting position. “Did I hear you correctly? You wished him here?”

  Payton nodded and explained how everything happened. Mary’s expression didn’t waver as she listened. If she believed Payton, there was nothing on her face to show it.

  “I still don’t believe it myself, Mary, but nothing else makes sense to why he is here acting—and talking—the way he does. He didn’t even know what a shower was when I showed him into the bathroom last night. In fact, he didn’t even know what a potato was.

  Well, if I remember correctly from my history classes in college,” Mary scratched her head, “potatoes weren’t discovered in Europe until around the sixteenth century.

  Exactly,” Payton exclaimed. “And who else would know that unless they lived back in Robin Hood’s time?”

  Mary chuckled and shook her head. “It’s a little hard to believe, though. You’re talking time-travel.

  Not only that, I’m taking about folklore legends coming to life. It’s crazy, right?” She glanced back outside. This time Archer watched her with his deep, probing gaze. Her heartbeat quickened again. “But tell me how many men do you know who would have done what he did with Calvin? None of the guys I dated did anything heroic like that. Archer is certainly an alpha-male, and I guess I’ve only dated wimpy men.”

  A deep sigh came from Mary, and Payton turned her head to look at her friend. Mary stared out the double-glass sliding door at Archer. A crooked smile tilted on her lips.

  “He’s definitely easy on the eye,” Mary said softly. “And he looks remarkable in those clothes.

  I know. That’s the problem.” Payton frowned. “I don’t want to become attracted to him merely because of the way he looks. I’ve done that with the other men in my life, and my relationships haven’t turned out well.

  Yeah, I understand that one,” Mary grumbled as she took another drink. “My ex-husband is trying to cause problems again.