Page 30 of A Texas Hero

“Not at all.”

“It has been a long time since I’ve had to perform that function.”

It was difficult to believe that.

“Well, it’s much appreciated.” She made a point not to break eye contact.

He also didn’t look away, a blazing heat in his gaze.

“Thank you.” She took his hand in hers, a bold move. “And I’m sorry again about making you wait.”

Archer slid the back of his hand down the curve of her jaw. “Now this is soft. You are so beautiful.”

Zoey had heard those words for many years, from men, photographers, strangers, friends and family. But they had never in her life made her heart squeeze in such a powerful tug. Those words from him meant far more than they should. She wondered if he also felt the heat sliding between them, the sizzling chemistry.

“You think so?”

“There is nothing wrong with my eyesight,” he said, and for some odd reason she felt as though he was telling her that something else about him was defective.

And in that case, it had to be something she couldn’t see.

Like his heart.

Chapter Twelve

Archer dropped his hand as quickly as he’d raised it to cup her face.

He couldn’t have this. Couldn’t have Zoey. It was inappropriate to zip her dress, to touch that luscious skin, but, damn, that dress paired with that face. He was a goner.

Missing pieces and all.

He cleared his throat and tugged at his tie. “Shall we go?”

“Yes, but…” She walked out of the room into the kitchen, giving him an amazing view of her behind. “I want to be honest with you, and I’m not going to downplay this anymore.”

She swiped and unlocked her phone and handed it to him. “I blocked him, but this must be another number.”

He read the text from someone without a caller ID. The freaking nerve of this guy! He’d like to meet up with him in a dark alley, though he doubted there were many of those in Charming.

“Is this the guy? The one who sent the flowers?”

“Well…who else could it be? It sounded like Scott.” She pointed. “In the card, he asked why I’d blocked him.”

“Right.” He nodded, then started texting without her permission.

“What are you doing?” She leaned over his shoulder, and Dio Mio, she smelled as good as she looked.

He took a step back, for the sake of his sanity. “Don’t worry, you’ll get final approval.”

In the end his text read:

Listen: do not contact me again. The unwanted gifts verge on stalker behavior. Cease and desist or I will go to the police if you continue.

He showed it to her and she blinked.

“That sounds mean.”

“Good.” He quickly hit Send.