“I felt a satisfaction in knowing I would never have to watch the news and hope for the best. But now you and Seraphina each have a vested interest in two of this city’s highest-profile policedetectives. Where one goes, the other follows. It wasn’t until today that I realized, even if my daughters married safe, you and Ms. Lewis went in a completely different direction. It’s worrisome.”
“Yeah? Well, the good news is you don’t have to worry about me. But Tabby married a veterinarian, didn’t she? Statistically, did you know a person is far more likely to be attacked by a cow than they are a shark?”
Archer settles back in his chair, his nose twitching, and, from between the buttons of his shirt, a nasty red and purple bruise blooms just as surely as flowers in the spring.
“Ah, well…” Justin clears his throat. “Care to cite your sources, Chief?”
“Sure. I read it in one of those 1001 Cool Kids books Mia was carting around recently. It’s true. The book says so.”
Impatient, Archer leans forward and places his finger over the button on my phone. Threat? Warning?Wrap it up.“I’m sorry, Chief Mayet.” His voice is husky and rough. Aching and hard. “I have a few questions regarding my case. Do you have a moment?”
“Sounds like you need to go,” Justin rushes out. “I appreciate you taking my call, Chief, and I’m relieved the detectives are okay. Captain Bower will be in my office in the next hour or two. He understands my vested interest in situations such as these.”
“You shouldn’thavea vested interest,” I mumble, my heart thrumming much too fast in my chest. “But I understand your concern. I’ll talk to you later.”
“I’d like to have you in my home for dinner shortly, Chief. My Jen texted me a little earlier and said she’d be in Copelandsometime next week for work. I’ll touch base with your assistant just as soon as I have the details ironed out.”
“I don’t know that I?—”
“Find a slot in your schedule, Chief. Don’t make this more difficult than it needs to be.”
“Chief Mayet?” Archer growls. “Now, please.”
“We’ll discuss it another day. Goodbye, Justin.” I offer the phone and allow Archer to place it in the cradle, then I settle back in my chair and take as much space as physically possible. Snatching up my coffee mug and glancing inside at the old, cold liquid, I sigh at my misfortune.
“Finally.” Archer stares at me across my desk. “We should?—”
“How’s Steve?” I set the mug down again and steel myself, forcing my eyes back to Archer’s. Even when it hurts. Even when it fucking stings. “Is he well?”
His jaw ticks, and beneath the stubble he’s grown longer than usual, his pulse races. “Recovering. You should stay at the house.”
“I should—”Sit. Stay. Be calm.“I’m sorry.” I blink. Blink. Blink. “What?”
“Go back to the house. I was being impractical when I suggested you should stay at the apartment.”
Impractical? I narrow my eyes. “How so?”
“The apartment is hot. Steve is your guest. You should be at the house throughout his recovery.”
“You’re asking me to come back?” My throat aches. My voice crackles. My entire world balances on whatever he might think to say, and yet, there isn’t a single response he could mutter that won’t compound the hurt I already feel.Because healready asked me to leave. The damage has been done. “You wish to reevaluate things?”
He flattens his lips and brings one foot up to rest atop the opposite knee. “Sending you back to the apartment was wrong. I’ll stay away from the house in the meantime and keep out of your way.”
You’ll stay away… Away…“I see.”
“So you agree? I’ll pack a bag and clear out, and I’ll tell Mary to expect you at the house for dinner. Steve will be pleased to?—”
“No.” I push up from my chair, the dumb thing rolling back and crashing against the bookshelves behind me, then I snatch up my phone and force the brightest, fakest, most convincing smile I can muster. “We don’t agree. Honestly, I’m quite comfortable at my apartment.” I stalk around my desk and stand over the man who knows, so easily, how to cut me down. “We weren’t married for very long, so I hardly consider it fair that I take the home I lived in for exactly three nights.”
I twist on my heels—please, for the love of God, let me escape—but Archer grabs my wrist and yanks me to a sharp stop, drawing a pained gasp from the depths of my chest and a whimper right after.
Because his eyes blister and burn. Desperate and aching.
“I love you, Minka.” His voice crackles, breaking with an anguish that almost undoes me. “I love you more than I love literally anyone else on the planet. More than I’ve ever?—”
“It’s too bad that love still wasn’t enough.” I tug free of his grip and fold my arms to keep him from grabbing a second time. “I’ll tell you the same as I told Lawrence.” I swallow the aching rasp in my voice. “You don’t have to worry about me.I’ve been alone my whole life; I learned early on how to deal with that kind of existence.”
“You don’t have to be?—”
