“Anytime, handsome.”
When she walked off, Atticus leaned forward, lowered his voice.“That happen to you a lot?”
“What?”
“Chics hittin’ on you?”
“From time to time.”
“Whatever.”Atticus laughed.“I think God made you gay to protect you from the ladies.”
Archer grinned, staring back at Atticus.He wasn’t sure he’d been this relaxed in … well, quite some time.He used to hang out with Simon and Paige, get drinks at the bar, chat for a while, but they rarely asked him about his personal life.Simon did it out of respect, although Archer would consider them good friends.And Paige … well, Paige was too busy talking about herself to really care about other people.He didn’t fault her for it.It was just the way she was programmed.
“Riddle me this, Batman,” Atticus said, chuckling.“If Spencer called you up right now and invited you over, would you go?”
“Sure,” he said, although he realized he wouldn’t leave Atticus to go to Spencer’s.But that wasn’t what Atticus was asking.“Yeah.I’d go.”
Atticus took a long pull on his beer, and Archer pretended there was a gleam of disappointment in Atticus’s pretty green eyes.
“What about you?”he asked because the silence was getting weird.“If Slade or Carson texted right now and told you to get home ASAP, would you go?”
“After I finished my beer … sure.I would.”
They stared at each other for a moment, the silence settling in again.Archer ignored whatever was going on down south, reminding himself that Atticus was in a relationship.With two people.
Atticus lifted his shot glass, holding it up.Archer reached for his, did the same.
“To new possibilities,” Atticus said.
They tapped glasses before downing the drink.Archer couldn’t keep from staring at Atticus, wondering what would’ve happened if Atticus had been single when they met.For whatever reason, he felt a connection with the man.One he was eager to explore.Not necessarily in a sexual manner.
Big ol’ liar, that annoying inner voice said.
Fine.Would he pass up a chance to fuck the man?If the tequila had any say in the matter, then no, he wouldn’t pass it up.And though he didn’t think the attraction was one-sided, he had to remember that Atticus James was off limits for a long list of reasons, the least of which being that he was his partner.
Plus, Archer was likely projecting since Spencer had shunned him.Rejection was a bitch, and Archer had experienced his fair share, despite what Atticus thought.
As he sat there, he ignored the persistent tequila-riddled thoughts and made a silent vow to keep this thing with Atticus professional and friendly.Nothing more.
“I should probably get home,” Atticus said, looking up at him.“I’m sure Slade’s gonna have a few things to say about me havin’ a few drinks with my partner.”
“Well, just tell him we were talkin’ about the case.”
“Wouldn’t matter.I could record our meeting, play it back to prove it was innocent, and he’d still find a way to accuse me of cheating.Someone really did a number on him, and I’m not sure he’ll ever get over it.”
“He will.”Archer stared at his beer.“Give him time.”
“Time’s the one thing I’ve got in spades.”He grinned.“Patience, on the other hand…”
Archer knew the feeling all too well.
Sitting at his desk, Reese looked upwhen he heard Brantley’s heavy footsteps.
The man appeared in the doorway, looking tired and sexy as hell.“You about ready for bed?”
Reese leaned back in his chair, stretched.“What time is it?”
“Time for you to get naked.”
