Leaning forward, Archer held the pen out for Atticus.When he reached for it, Archer made sure not to let their fingers touch.
“I don’t bite, you know.”
Is it wrong that I wished you did?
Dumbass, of course it’s wrong.
Ignoring his internal rant, Archer sighed.“Sorry.It’s not you.I swear.”
“Yeah?You sure about that?Ever since I made that blunder in the truck, you’ve been actin’ weird.”
Figuring it was best to play dumb, but not too dumb, Archer said, “Have I?”
Atticus sighed.“Look.What I said was way out of line, and I apologize.If I somehow made you uncomfortable…”
“You didn’t.”Archer snorted.“Not the way you think.”
Atticus looked horrified.“But Ididmake you uncomfortable.”
“No,” Archer blurted as he shot to his feet.He needed to move.“No,” he said calmly.“It didn’t bother me.I just … I reacted badly to it, and I think I oweyouan apology.”
Atticus snorted.“What?You realize that doesn’t make a lick of sense.”
Archer planted his hands on his hips, stared up at the ceiling, and choked on a laugh.“It doesn’t, does it?”
Atticus felt like a complete idiot.
He knew exactly what comment Archer was referring to, and he’d been fretting over what he’d said from the second the words had tumbled out of his mouth.It had been completely inappropriate.He’d even considered talking to Brantley and Reese, admitting to having crossed a serious line.
“I’m new to this partner thing,” he admitted.“And I’m not all that PC to begin with.I guess I should’ve warned you.”
Still turned away, Archer shifted that piercing blue gaze his way.
God, the man had the most intense eyes he’d ever seen.They were just so …blue.
“Plus…” Atticus let it trail off because he wasn’t sure it was a good idea to admit what the real issue was.Or even acknowledge it, for that matter.
Archer turned to face him, clearly waiting for him to finish his sentence.“Tell me.”
Shaking his head, Atticus laughed.“No.It’s stupid and really unimportant.”
“Let me be the judge of that.”
Leaning back on the couch, Atticus stared up at his new partner.Way, way up.The man was enormous.Like break-me-in-half enormous.And yeah, he was most definitely hot.
But so was Carson.
And Slade.
His reaction to Archer was simply his old habits coming to light again.Old habits that Atticus refused to give in to.He was not that guy anymore.More importantly, he did not want to be that guy anymore.Being with Slade and Carson, while not as fulfilling as he’d anticipated, had opened his eyes to possibilities.He wasn’t broken.He couldfeelthings.And he wanted to feel those things.He didn’t want to hop from one bed to the next, walking away satisfied but ultimately incomplete.
He wanted …more.
One day.
When the time was right.
Sitting up straight, Atticus exhaled a harsh breath.“It’s nothing.Really.I’m sorry for the comment.I assure you, it willnothappen again.”
