by Dark, Raven
“I want to see it now.”
Fuck. No one, not even her family or Nick was supposed to know where she and Archer were staying, which meant the woman couldn’t come up. But she wasn’t supposed to leave, either. Archer wouldn’t be happy if she left, but Pendergast would walk if she didn’t meet her.
“That’s fine, Ma’am. Ill have to meet you somewhere, though. Say the coffee shop on Senica?”
“Fine, I’ll be there within a half hour. Bring the painting.”
The woman hung up before she could reply. Gwen looked at her watch and her eyes widened. A half hour. That would give her barely enough time to throw on clothes and rush to the coffee shop. At least it was close to the hotel.
I’m not giving this guy any more power over my life. She shook her head, throwing on her clothes. She wasn’t going to let him affect her work.
Gwen raked a comb through her hair. Archer wouldn’t’ be happy, but she couldn’t’ afford to lose this opportunity, and he wouldn’t be back in time. She’d be in a public place. And she wouldn’t be alone.
Once ready, she called the guard in.
“Miss Stanton, everything all right?”
“It’s fine, Tony, but I have to go out.” She threw on a coat. Something smashed beside her and she turned. “Shit.” The end of her coat had hit the lamp that had been sitting on the hall table by the door. The yellow-white base was smashed; pieces scattered across the pale carpet, the bulb now out.
“Miss Stanton, Detective Lassiter’s orders, you don’t leave this suite unaccompanied by either a guard or Mr. Drake.”
She rolled her eyes, picking up Mrs. Pendergast’s painting from the wall it had been leaning against. “Come with me.”
“I…I’m not suppose to leave my post.”
“I’m your post.”
The guard made an irritated noise. She smiled and grabbed her door card for the suite. Then she nodded for him to lead her out.
“I’m driving you. No way I’m letting you get in a cab.”
She put her hand on his arm. “Thanks, Tony.”
“You know, Agent Lassiter was wrong about you.”
“What do you mean?”
“He said you wouldn’t be any trouble.”
Gwen laughed, a certain pride filling her at the implication. Somehow, she couldn’t help taking that as a compliment.
Archer whistled to himself as he made his way through the underground parking lot, toward the hotel elevator. He inhaled deeply the roses he’d bought while on the way home from the airport. They never did find his luggage.
Tires squealed behind him. Archer whirled around. A black Dodge Durango headed straight for him.
He leaped aside, narrowly missing the bumper as the vehicle screeched past. At the path leading out of the lot, the Durango stopped.
Archer squinted at the license plate, but the letters were obscured. He broke into a run, after the truck. Without a license plate number, he needed to look at the driver. Familiarity nagged at him. A Dodge Durango, that meant something, but what?
The vehicle revved squealing tires leaving dark rubber skids on the pavement as it turned onto the street and disappeared.
Well. Lots of people drove Durangos. But he doubted whoever was driving had nearly run him down by accident. Not after all the threats Gwen’s stalker slung at them.
He made his way to the elevator. On his floor, he stopped and looked down the hall to the suit. Where was the guard? He shook his head. He’s probably inside using the bathroom or something. Gwen’s right, you’re way too overprotective.
He opened the door. “Gwen? Tony, where are you?”
Inside the room, he froze. The lamp was smashed, pieces scattered across the carpet. His senses went into instant overdrive. Archer reached for the gun at his waist.
He stepped over the lamp fragments, making his way slowly through the suite. Silent. He hadn’t carried in years, and outside of practice, he hadn’t drawn like this in a long time, but his military training kicked in, a weapon still sharpened to a fine edge, ready for use.
A quick check of the place revealed nothing out of order. Except Gwen was gone, and there was no sign of Tony. Archer swallowed, holstering his gun. Had he gotten in? Taken her?
He looked at the coffee table. Her purse sat there along with her phone. Gwen never goes anywhere without her phone. His heart raced. Memories of Kimiko floating in the Ishikara River flashed through him. Her face pale and bloodless, black hair floating around her like dark seaweed. He closed his eyes. Please, no. Not again.
He took out his phone and dialed the hotel front desk. When the receptionist hadn’t seen Gwen, he hung up and drew a deep breath. Then he called Quinn.
29
Face To Face
“At least it was quick.” Gwen looked up at Tony as the guard led her back through the hotel toward the suite an hour later.
“Forgive me, Miss Stanton, but I can’t believe how much money she gave you for one painting.”
“Don’t you think my art is worth that much?” Tony’s ears turned bright red. She chuckled, letting him know she was teasing.
“Is that amount normal?”
“Yes, for a good piece. But only for someone who is exceptional. I can’t believe it either. I still don’t know what I’m going to do with the money, yet. I—” Gwen cut off. The door to the suite stood half open.
Archer paced the room like a caged tiger, holding his phone to his ear. Alarm stabbed at her.
“I don’t care, Quinn, just find her. I don’t…” His head lifted and he dropped the phone when he saw her. “Gwen.”
In an instant, he was across the room and crushing her to him.
“Archer, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”
He drew back and his dark brows slammed down. “Me? Gwen, where the hell were you? I’ve been worried sick about you. Tony, what the hell is going on here? Why is she outside this suite?”
Gwen blinked. She glanced at Tony, who shifted, looking remarkably uncomfortable. No wonder. It was unsettling how dangerous Archer looked when he was angry. She took his arms gently, trying to understand the panic in his eyes. This went way beyond her having left the suit. Why hadn’t he assumed Tony had gone with her?
“Sorry, I meant to text you on the way to let you know where I was, but I forgot my phone. I had a client I had to meet. I took Tony with me.”
“A client? Seriously?” Archer’s voice grated like steel.
“Yes. Tony, thank you, you can go now.” She nodded quickly at him.
The guard gave a limp smile and shut the door. Archer looked like he wanted to call him back in, but he let the door close.
“Gwen, what the hell were you thinking?”
“I was making a business deal, actually.” A ripple of surprise went through her at the snark in her own voice. Archer spun toward her, irritation darkening his eyes. Months ago, she’d never have dared saying that out loud. Jesus, she’d changed.
“Do I have to remind you of the obvious, woman? You have a psycho after you. You aren’t safe out there. Damn it, Gwen, I can’t protect you if you don’t do as I say.”
Her blood pressure spiked, fists tightening. How many times had her father, her brothers said things like that?
“Excuse me. I had a client who doesn’t wait until it’s convenient to meet. I refuse to let this asshole control my life any more than he is. It was a quick meeting in a public place, and more than worth it.”
“Worth your life? Gwen!” He looked at the ceiling. “I told you not to leave the hotel.”
Gwen glared at him. “Pardon me? I didn’t realize I was speaking to my master. Shall I kneel?”
“Don’t get sarcastic with me. You don’t know your clients well. This woman could have been a decoy for all you know.”
“A decoy?” She gave a forced laugh. “She’s an old lady whose husband wanted a sexy picture of her. I met her twice already. Quit being an ass!”
“I…” He closed his mouth. For a moment, s
he thought she saw amusement behind the anger in his eyes. Then he turned away from her, hands on his hips, shoulders tight.
“Are you going to tell me what brought this on?”
He signed. “I came back from the airport and you weren’t here. I saw the lamp smashed and your phone still here. I thought…”
Understanding hit her in a wave. “You thought he was here. You thought he took me.” She covered her mouth. “I’m sorry.” She slipped her arms around his waist.
A big, shuddering breath left him. He held her tight.
“Come here.” He drew her across the suite, sat with her on the couch and took her hands. “I’m sorry I was an ass. It’s just, when I thought I lost you… I couldn’t stand it if I failed you too.” His thumb traced her lips. “When I think I could lose you, it scares the fuck out of me.”
Gwen’s eyes stung, hearing the love, the warmth, the fear in his voice for her. She snuggled against him, nuzzling his silk covered chest. “I understand. But you have to let go of your guilt. What happened to Kimiko wasn’t your fault. I love that you want to protect me, but I can’t live my whole life in terror.”
He massaged her arms. “I know.”
“Tony was with me. I wasn’t in any danger. Besides, it’s bad enough this idiot has me too afraid to make love to you.” She sighed.
He kissed the top of her head. “I’m sorry I was such an ape. Forgive me?”
“Yes. But it really doesn’t help that you’re hot when you’re mad.”
He tilted her chin up and his lips dropped searing kisses on her neck. “I can make you forget your fear.”
Longing tugged at her, but she shook her head. It broke her heart to push him away. She stood up and turned away from him. “I can’t.”
“Gwen.”
“This morning, after you left, he sent a message.”
The couch creaked as he stood up.
She picked up her phone from the table and handed it to him. “You behaved yourself. I’m pleased. How could he know?” God, she was going to lose her mind over this wasn’t she?
Archer crossed the small space between them and slid his hands gently around her waist. “C’mere.”
Gwen buried her face in his neck, taking in his warmth.
“He can’t know. He must have just assumed he has you too scared to do anything. With a guard or Quinn here all the time, no one could have gotten in here. He’s bluffing.”
“I know. But he’s right.” She looked at him, desperate. “I keep thinking, what if he’s not? What if he somehow knows?”
“I know. I get it.”
“Damn it, I wish this would end. Every time I’m too afraid to be with you, it feels like he wins.”
“It’ll be alright, Gwen. I’ll fix this.” He ran his palms over her arms.
Archer’s phone rang, making her jump. He dug it out of his pocket, squeezing her elbow. He looked at the screen and his brow rose.
“Who is it?”
He answered the call. “Hey, Chad, what’s going on?”
She gave him a curious look. Why would her brother call him now? Sunday wasn’t a training day. Archer shrugged for her.
While Chad spoke, Archer’s brows scrunched, then rose in an almost comical mix of surprise and confusion. “Ace told you then?”
A cold feeling settled in Gwen’s gut. He’s talking about us. Chad always tried to be more accepting of Gwen’s choices, but he still sometimes took Ace’s side. After Ace’s reaction, she wasn’t sure she wanted to see how Chad would react to them being together.
“Right.” He cleared his throat. “And…how do you feel about it?”
Gwen swallowed.
Archer didn’t say much, just, “right,” and “uh huh.” Her muscles tensed, nerves fraying. She twisted her hands in her lap. Then a slow smile pulled across Archer’s lips.
“So…you’re okay with it?” He closed his eyes. When he spoke again, his tone was a little too casual. “That’s great, buddy, thanks.” Gwen put her head back, relief flooding her, and gratitude for Chad. “Sure, I’ll ask her right now. Yeah, she’s here. Wait. Chad, did Ace tell your dad yet?”
Her blood froze. Oh god, her dad.
“Oh, he didn’t?” Archer looked at her. “Well. I suppose that’s best. All right, we’ll tell him at the party after. Yeah. Yeah, I know, he’ll want to rake me over the coals. So be it. It’ll be a shame to lose his respect, but I’ve dealt with worse. Right. See you next Saturday.”
Archer hung up, then sat down, running his hands down his face. He looked suddenly tired.
“Chad reminded me, he’s supposed to have his third degree black belt test this coming Saturday. He wanted me to ask you to come.”
A small flutter of happiness warmed her belly at Chad’s support, but it didn’t dull the tension over her dad’s likely reaction. “We…we have to tell my father about us, don’t we?”
Archer nodded and took her hand, gently pulling her so she stood in front of him. He rested his forehead against her midriff. His silky black hair tickled her skin through her empire lined top. She laid her hands on his head, half to comfort him, half to stop their shaking, Archer’s big hands lifted and cradled her hips.
“I’m sorry, Archer. I don’t want you to lose what you have with my family because of me.”
Archer’s head snapped up. His grip on her hips tightened, his eyes hard. “Stop that.” The low lighting played across the chiseled angles of his face. “I’ve made up my mind. I love you, and I’m not letting you go. If your father can’t accept that, he loses a friend. Simple as that.”
The loyalty in his words went straight to her heart. “Archer.”
“I’m far more worried about what he might say to you.”
“Well. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried. But if he makes me choose, I choose you. No question.”
A soft smile pulled at his mouth. He ran his palms over her waist. “Come here.”
Anxiety wound its way through her. “Archer.” Her hands tightened on his shoulders. “I don’t…”
“Relax.” He pulled her head gently down until her mouth was a hair’s breadth from his. “I just want to kiss you.”
“Oh. I can handle that.”
“Good.” He cupped the back of her head and meshed his lips against hers. For all its brevity, the kiss lost none of its heat. When he pulled away, she ran her hands slowly over his cheeks, loving the feel of his strong features. How on earth had she ended up with him?
“This isn’t going to be easy, you know. If you thought Ace was bad, Dad’s going to be way worse.”
“I had a feeling.” His eyes didn’t leave hears. Determination radiated off him. “So, does this mean you’ll come with me to Chad’s test?”
“Yes. I have to be there.” She gave him a teasing grin. “He’s my brother, dummy.”
“Smart ass.” He slapped her butt cheek. “I meant as my date.”
“Do you have to ask?”
“You want me to order you?” He smirked.
“Go ahead. It might be the closest we get to kink for a while.”
She looked out the window behind him, wishing she could ease the tension in her belly.
Saturday afternoon came far too soon. Archer checked over his duffle one last time, but looked up when Gwen stepped out of the bathroom.
Wow. His cock stirred as soon as he saw her.
“What do you think?” Her hands were behind her back as if to stop her fidgeting, and she gave him a tentative smile.
Archer walked over, drinking in the sight. In the last few months, Gwen’s style had changed almost as much as the rest of her. A far cry from the ugly brown suit she wore that first day, clinging black denims hugged those luscious curves and a loose fitting T-shirt, topped with a thick black belt and matching kitten heals. Usually when she dressed like that, Zoe picked out the clothes, but she couldn’t have this time, with Gwen hardly leaving the hotel except for work.
“Wow. You look delicious.” He ran his
fingers through the soft curls that bounced onto her shoulders and down her back. The snowy white color of her shirt made the red highlights in her hair stand out. “Nervous?”
“Terrified.”
“About your family seeing you with me, or about the stalker seeing you like this?”
“Both, actually.”
He took her hands in his. “I’ll be with you the while time, except when I have to test Chad. Then, the guard will be close by.”
“Is Tony on shift tonight?”
“Yes. The place is going to be packed with people. He won’t try anything tonight.”
Gwen picked up her purse with a sigh. “All right, let’s go.”
Archer led her out to Tony’s car and helped her into the back seat before sliding in beside her. He took a quick glance around the packed underground lot. Nothing looked out of place, just rows of cars, here and there people getting in and out of vehicles, walking across the lot. Nothing looked suspicious, but with this guy, that didn’t mean much.
He settled his bag beside him and took Gwen’s hand, resisting the urge to check for his gun.
When Archer led Gwen into the dojo, she scanned the benches that lined one wall, packed with spectators. Her family—three of her brothers and her father—sat grouped together.
Gwen swallowed. None of them had seen her. Chad wasn’t among them. She guessed he was in the changing room getting ready.
“Gwen.” Archer’s hand tightened in hers. “Everything’s all right. Tony’s right there.” He nodded behind them. The guard gave a nod. He stayed a few paces back, close enough to watch and protect without crowding.
“So…how come there’s so many people here?” It took effort to make her voice casual.
“They’re families and friends of the other students.”
Gwen looked at him. “I thought you said Chad was the only one testing today.”
“He is. But for part of the test, Chad’s going to have to spar with three students.” He nodded to the bottom bench, where three other men, all dressed in black gi with black belts about their waists, sat together.