I chewed on the inside of my cheek then followed him out the front door, stopping just under the overhang. The rain didn’t look like it was going to let up anytime soon, yet it was still too early in the day to try and find a hotel. Had I really told him the wrong way? If so, I felt terrible. But at the same time, he’d looked at the same Google map I had, which meant he was just as much as to blame as I was. Regardless, I wasn’t in the mood to argue right now. I was wet, hungry, and tired. So, so tired.
“So, what’re we gonna do now? It’s pouring. We can’t keep driving.”
“You think I don’t know that?” he growled, backing up, running his hands through his hair. “You think I’m that stupid?”
“Why do you keep saying that? I don’t think you’re stupid at all.”
“Yeah, right,” he mumbled.
And then the oddest thing happened.
Archer started to smile.
I held my breath, not sure what to make of his sudden mood shift. Maybe this was it. Maybe he was losing his mind. Maybe I’d pushed him over the edge once and for all.
“Hey!” I yelled at him from under the awning still. “Just come back here and wait until the rain dies down, okay? We’ll figure this out.”
He shook his head, ignoring me. “Ma used to tell me that the rain was good luck, you know.”
I frowned. He loved his mom, that much was obvious. I wondered if he’d ever truly grieved her, though.
“Isn’t that a wedding-day thing?” I asked, pulling my cardigan up and over my head.
“Fuck weddings, JP.” He dropped his head and arms, looking me square in the eye. “Marriage and all that shit? It’s not real. It ruins you. Brotherhood is life. Anything else is lies.”
I wanted to argue, mostly because I believed what he apparently didn’t. His biker world was filled with death and destruction. A world of love, on the other hand? It was filled with things a person could never get enough of. Granted the pain was there too, but the happiness? It outweighed everything. My heart ached for a happily ever after. I just needed everything else in my life to line up first. More so, I needed Mom back with me, guiding me.
“Why are you so bitter?” I yelled over a crackle of thunder.
“Because I’ve seen what happens.” He walked my way, standing a foot in front of me. His rain-soaked hair stuck to his cheeks, while his shirt stuck to his chest and stomach, which outlined the ridges of his muscles I fought against admiring. “You wanna know why I don’t kiss lips?”
I shook my head, incredibly confused. From what I’d come to know about Archer, he couldn’t stay angry long. It was a trait that might have gotten him in trouble in the biker world, but in my world…? It was endearing. Maybe even a little sweet. And though Archer wasn’t perfect by any means, he was different than any of the other RDs. Maybe different than any man I’d ever known. He was a good person, just a little rough around the edges was all.
“Because it’s like sealing a curse, that’s why.”
Reaching up, I pressed both of my hands against his throat—instinct, I called it. A need to help him heal. I held them there, forcing him to look at me.
“You don’t have to explain this to me. I get it.”
“Yeah.” He nodded. “If you got it so much, then you would’ve never tried to get me to break my rule last night, huh?”
He was baiting me, trying to push me back. I’d bet this was what Archer did to anyone who dared get under his skin. But I wasn’t scared of his bark or his bite.
“I warned you what would happen if I drank that drink.”
I smiled at him, playful. Light. Needing him to let go of his pain, and whatever made him act this way. Was it me? The revelation about Chop telling Flick? Was he scared what might happen now? The Red Dragons were all he had—he’d made that known from the second I’d met him. If he lost them, what would happen to him? Where would he go? What would he do? It wasn’t my place to judge anymore. I was trying to protect my family too.
“Yeah. You did, didn’t you?” He shut his eyes, wincing when I stroked my thumb over his pulse. Did my touch repulse him that much? Slowly, I pulled back, letting my hands fall to my side, only for him to stop me, fingers grabbing hold of mine.
Our eyes met again, his holding some unknown emotion there. It was as if he was pleading with me to understand it.
One thing I did know was that over the course of the last twenty-four hours, I’d come to realize that Archer and I were actually after the same things right now, even if the rest of our goals didn’t match up in life. We wanted peace for our families. We wanted Pops out of our lives for good. And we wanted it done swiftly, without hurting the people we loved in the process. And because of that, I’d never been more grateful to have someone trust me the way he seemed to.
Decision made, I wrapped my arms around his waist, laying my head on his chest.
He stiffened, like the simple act was terrifying, not to mention unfamiliar too. Because of that, I squeezed him a little tighter, hoping he’d feel what I couldn’t say with words. You’re not alone. We’re in this together until the end.
The rain wasn’t letting up, and soon my teeth were chattering because of it. But if he wasn’t okay yet, then I wouldn’t be either. One thing I knew for certain though: I was tired of arguing with this man, but at the same time I never wanted to stop arguing with him.
After a while, I felt one of his arms wrap tentatively around my shoulder.
“Let’s go find a place to dry off, okay?” I buried my nose into his chest, exhaustion weighing me down.
“Alright, JP. Let’s walk.”
It was then that I felt yet another shift between us. This one far more prominent than any others.
We settled inside a tiny grocery store not far from where we’d stood in the street. Soaked to the bone, both of us shivering, our clothes and my back drenched. Archer grabbed a cart and proceeded to walk the length of the aisles, me beside him. It felt oddly domesticated, reminding me of the times Sam and I would go to the store, both knowing what to get, never second-guessing the other’s choices.
Neither of us spoke, but our bodies were in sync, as were our minds. Archer got some spare clothes, and I grabbed some gum and Chapstick. After a while, the rain seemed to stop; at least it looked that way through the window. But the sun was also setting, proof that we’d basically wasted a whole day in this town, doing nothing.
“You hungry?” Archer asked, stopping next to the deli counter.
“Sure.” I tucked some hair behind my ear and motioned him toward the front of the store to grab a place in line while I picked up some sandwiches and a side salad for us to share.
As I made my way to the checkout, the first thing I noticed was Archer, learning against the cart and smiling at the woman in front of him. She was totally flirting, the whole hair-tuck behind the ear thing, and the batting of her lashes. I grinned, gaze shooting back to Archer’s face. The way he leaned into her, the smoothness of his smile, and the dimple on his cheek… He was so much to look at. A pretty boy, yeah. But there was something undoubtedly masculine about him too. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t attracted to him, that I couldn’t still feel his skin where I’d brushed it with my fingertips, the way his nose had felt against my neck when he’d spoken into my ear, the way our legs had brushed together under the bedsheets last night in the Airbnb…
Shaking my head to clear the strange sensations, I moved forward to join him in line, only for a baritone voice to call out my name from the left.
“Emily?”
I blinked, lifting my head… losing my smile. Oh, God. Sam? He was here? In this tiny town in Indiana? I thought he’d moved to Des Moines. What were the odds?
“Hey!” I smiled wide, moving closer… only for a woman to approach him from behind. A red-headed woman. Sweet face, green eyes. Tall like him. Pretty and totally not wearing a cardigan, but a dress with tiny cherries all over it.
“How are you?” Sam, with his full cheeks and blue e
yes, his smile sweet and genuine.
“I’m good.” The words felt heavy on my tongue, like thick lies. Because I wasn’t good. Not at all. But looking at my ex, seeing him there with his new girlfriend? I understood right away that it wasn’t because I missed him. I just missed what we’d had.
He awkwardly introduced me to his new girlfriend. I could tell she was kind by her genuine smile and sweet voice. And because of her softness, I knew she was the perfect counterpart for Sam. She could give him all the things I hadn’t been able to.
“What’re you doing here?” I asked, glancing back toward the register. Archer had moved out of line and was heading my way, his eyes narrowed.
“Oh, Andy’s parents live in town. We came back to visit.”
Right then, Andy lifted her left hand, and something sparkly caught my eye. A ring. I wasn’t sure if it was an intentional flash or what, but I didn’t feel a stab of jealousy. If anything, I felt sadness. Sadness because this life he was leading now was the one he was meant to once live with me.
“Oh, that’s cool.” I nodded and Archer stepped up next to me, his arm slinging around my shoulder.
“Who’s this, JP?” he asked.
I rolled my eyes yet again at the name he’d given me. “This is Sam.” I swung a hand toward my ex, then looked to Archer. “Sam, Andy, this is Archer.”
“The boyfriend.” I stiffened when Archer stuck his hand out to take Andy’s, but I didn’t correct him either. The last thing I wanted was for Sam to know how miserable I was right now, so this was the next best thing, I supposed.
“Boyfriend?” Sam wrinkled his nose and looked between us, frowning even more when he got a look at Archer’s cut. “But you’re a motorcycle guy.”
“He is.” I shrugged and looked to the floor, not really in the mood to see my ex’s response.
Sam had never understood why my mom had chosen the life she did. Nor did he really understand the world of a motorcycle club. I was not knowledgeable by any means, but I did know enough to accept my mom’s need to be a part of Pops’s life. At least once upon a time, I had.
He’d never met Pops. But he had met Niyol. Despite my brother’s rough persona, he had always been kind to Sam—as kind as Niyol could be, that was. Sam, on the other hand, had never really reciprocated that kindness. If anything, he’d tended to look down at Niyol, not knowing that he couldn’t necessarily help the way he’d been raised. At least my brother tried to make decent decisions, especially when it came to the women in his life.
When Sam had suggested not inviting my brother to our wedding because he feared a bunch of bikers would show up with him, I was hurt, maybe a little angry too. I didn’t have anyone else but my mom and my friends, so there was no way I’d not invite Niyol. We’d bickered over this multiple times and, to me, that had been the beginning of the end for us. Nobody knew that, of course. Not even Summer or my mom. I may have despised the life Niyol lived, but he was my brother. Always and forever.
Archer bent over, surprising me again when he kissed the top of my head. “JP loves living the life as my old lady. Trust me.”
I shut my eyes and blew out a slow breath. For the love of God… Just when I was starting to tolerate Archer…
“Oh.” Sam cleared his throat, clearly confused—not to mention uncomfortable. “How’s your, uh, mom by the way? Did she ever grow up and come home? Or is she still on the run with that fugitive?”
My eyes popped wide at his words. The odd smirk on my ex’s face was… off. Sam wasn’t this callous asshole. What was his deal?
“Mom’s… um—”
“We’re on our way to get her right now, actually,” Archer jumped in, squeezing me closer. “Lisa’s doing well.”
My throat closed off when I realized what Archer was doing.
Rescuing me from embarrassment.
He didn’t have to do this and I’d never ask him to, yet there he was, being the endearing man I didn’t know existed under all of his snark.
“I guess that’s good then.” Sam laughed sarcastically. “But I’m betting she’s in trouble with the law, am I right? Hiding out with your criminal father and all that.” He tutted and shook his head, catching me completely off guard.
Archer spoke before I could again, his laughter filled with mirth and anger though. “The law? Are you fucking seriously trying to throw your nerdy, tough-boy words in? You’re a goddamn—”
“Archer.” I touched his arm, squeezed his hand in mine. He stopped talking and stared down at our now intertwined fingers, inquisitive eyes watching my thumb stroke the outside of his. Can you go check out the groceries so we can go?” I batted my eyelashes at him, hoping to get through his angry state of mind. I just wanted to go. This was already uncomfortable as it was. Having him verbally sparring with my ex was not high on my agenda today. Or ever. Especially when said ex was wasting our time.
Andy looked like she’d swallowed rat poison; her face was white and her sympathetic gaze was on me in a what do we do sort of way. Honestly? I kind of didn’t know myself, which was why I took Sam’s gaping mouth as a cue for us to leave.
“Hey, it was good to meet you,” I told Andy.”
“You too.” She smiled.
Sam’s gaze was like stone as he studied Archer a second longer, melting a little when it met mine, into something that resembled pity. “If you need anything, you still have my number, right?” He lowered his voice, though I’m not sure why. “I worry about you and…” His eyes flickered to Archer, who’s body grew stiff next to mine.
“I’ll be fine, don’t worry about me.” And I would be, just as long as I got to my mom.
The memory of the last time Sam and I had been together flashed through my mind as I looked at my ex’s face for one second longer—Sam on his knees before me, crying and begging for another chance. Only now, that same guilt I’d felt had gone away. Not just because he seemed happy, but because I realized now, just how much he had judged me and my family. I would have never wanted to spend the rest of my life with someone who always thought I held baggage.
Before I could turn to Archer, grab his arm and urge him to leave, he bit out his own opinion, not holding anything back.
“Listen, bud, I’m gonna say what my girl here won’t.” He pointed a finger at Sam’s chest, stabbing it against the center. “It really wasn’t good to see you or meet you. And if I have to again, it’ll be too damn soon.” Then with those parting words, Archer turned his back to us all and headed toward the cash register again, staying there this time.
I looked after him, followed him too, feeling my lips turn up into a small smile. Archer was just so… so bad. So rough around the edges. But he was also an unexpected surprise I kind of couldn’t get enough of right now.
Twelve
Archer
We were on borrowed time and possibly hours from being tracked by my brothers. Yet the second we left the grocery store, Emily took me by the hand and started leading me across the street toward a park.
“Bike’s that way.” I tugged her in the opposite direction.
“Ten minutes, please?” She glanced over her shoulder, tugging me back. “That’s all I’m asking.”
I groaned, eyes to the people on the street walking around us. A few people glanced at my cut, my long hair pulled back in a ponytail now too, otherwise we were all but invisible. For now. At least it’d stopped raining, which meant we should’ve gotten back on the road ahead of the next storm. But Emily was being stubborn, insisting we fucking eat in the park across the road from the store while we had some dry time. I was finding it hard to tell her no, and that was a problem. A big one I’d be dealing with. Just… not right now.
“This ain’t a good idea, JP. We don’t know who’s lurking. Staying in one place too long isn’t smart.”
“I know. But we can’t starve ourselves either. And since we haven’t eaten at all today, I think we owe it to our stomachs to put some sustenance in there.” She smirked at me. “You know, since
men need to eat and all.”
I frowned at her mocking, smart mouth, surprised she could be this fluffy and perky after just running into her ex. That guy was a total dickface, and spending five minutes with him was too long. How had she dealt with it for as long as she had? However long that was.
She slowed to keep my pace, bumping her shoulder against mine. “What were you saying about me having a stick up my ass?”
“There’s a difference between us. My stick has everything to do with the fact that getting our asses to Kentucky means not meeting up with enemies. Yours means you’re boring.”
“Point made, though not appreciated.” She sighed and continued walking in the direction of a picnic table that sat just up ahead. “We can’t exactly eat on a bike, though, am I right?”
“No. But we could’ve waited until we got to the next town over, where we weren’t out in the middle of everything.”
She grabbed my wrist this time, forcing me to sit on the wooden seat. Standing above me with her hands on her hips, she said, “Stop worrying, alright? Ten minutes won’t make or break us.”
“Yeah, right. Tell that to any of Pops’s men who might be out there lurking. Or even one of my brothers looking to take you down now that they think you’re a traitor like your ma because of those damn letters.” I grabbed the bag from her hand and slammed it onto the table.
Surprising me, Emily still kept up the perk. “Did anyone ever tell you what a smart-ass you are?” She took a seat across from me and opened the bag, taking out the food.
“I’ve been told that a time or two.”
“It’s annoying, but I also get it now.”
“Get what?”
She unwrapped her pre-made sandwich. “Why you are the way you are.”
“And what way am I?” I narrowed my eyes and put my elbows on the table, studying her. The last thing I wanted was to hear her psychoanalyze me, but at the same time it was interesting to watch someone try to figure me out rather than the other way around. Not that I’d ever admit it to her.
Her Hot Ride: A gripping and sexy biker mc romantic suspense novel Page 11