Risky Pleasures

by McKenna Jeffries

  She flicked her eyes to Archer’s face. He was totally focused on the woman who’d both borne and taken his son from him. Shutting them out, along with the pain the emotion on his face caused her, she got to work.

  Five minutes later, she skimmed her lower lip with her tongue and sat back on her haunches. She’d failed. Lacy Donavon lay in her front yard, dead. She wanted to scream, cry and yell, but she did none of those things. She closed the woman’s eyes and drew a sheet, given to her by one of the cops, up over her.

  Archer knelt beside her, head down, bloodied hands resting on his thighs. She wanted to touch him, to offer comfort, but he seemed to be within himself.

  “I’m so sorry, Archer,” she whispered when the cop left.

  He lifted his head, but those amazing indigo eyes seemed to see right through her. “I know you did everything you could, Lis.”

  Her heart broke as he pushed to his feet and headed for his truck. Leo reached out a hand to stop him only to drop it when she shook her head. She didn’t move as he got in then drove away.

  Lis. He’d called her Lis.

  Leo approached and helped her to her feet. “You okay, Lis?”

  “I tried to save her, Leo.”

  He pulled her close. “I know you did. You always do.” He kissed her cheek. “I have to go take care of the Justin thing.”

  She stared at her dead cousin with dispassionate eyes. “Good. Get his fucking car off my property as soon as you can.” With a heavy heart, she went to gather up her things.

  Delicia sat on her porch until all the flashing lights left, all the lookie-loos went back inside their own homes and all that was left was her and her exhaustion. She’d spoken to her family and told them not to come over—all she wanted to do was sleep. But now that she sat there alone, she realised alone was the last thing she wanted to be. She wanted Archer, but him calling her Lis and staring through her, didn’t inspire much confidence.

  Exhaustion pushing her, she stumbled to her feet and went inside her house. After a long hot shower, she crawled into bed and was asleep before her head hit the pillow. When morning came, she was still alone and there was no sign of Archer.

  With a groan, she got up and ready for work before walking slowly to her Jeep. She could still see some of the blood on her rocks, but she ignored it, making a mental note to clean it up.

  * * * *

  Over the next five weeks, things progressed in the same way. Yes, she saw Archer, but he’d become different. Distant. His mother had left—where, she didn’t know or care, but Archer had withdrawn into himself. And honestly, she didn’t have the energy to fight right now. When they did spend time together, he was subdued and quiet.

  Saddened and feeling alone, she met Thom at the ambulance after a very uneventful weekend. Thankfully, he was as he always was, just what she needed. When they were on the road, he handed her a card and she looked at it before glancing back to him.

  “What is this for?”

  “Remember the two men I introduced you to about a year ago? The Kline brothers?”

  She nodded her head. “Yes. They had the training facility in Washington State.”

  “They’re here in town and want to talk to you.”

  Delicia swallowed once then nodded. Last year had been extremely rough on her and she’d debated whether she should even stay in McKingley. Thom had got her in touch with these two men. Maybe it might be worth talking to them.

  “Set it up.”

  Thom smiled. “Already did. Meeting them tonight at Bella’s.”

  “Thank you, Thom.”

  He reached across the interior and squeezed her leg. “You know I love you, Lis. I just wish you’d tell me what’s wrong and what I can do to help you get through this.”

  It was tempting to tell him, but she kept it to herself. She was private. Always had been. Always would be. “I love you too, Thom. And thank you. We just have to get over this hurdle.” However, she wasn’t even sure that would be enough.

  The day passed with surprising quickness and soon she found herself heading for her brother’s law office. When she was waved back, she cracked the door open and peered around the edge. “Got a minute?”

  “For you, Lis, always.” Jonathon closed the file and gestured her in while getting up to greet her. After sharing a hug and kiss, he gestured her to the leather couch and sat nearby on a matching chair. “What’s up?”

  She licked her lips and forged ahead. “I need to borrow your car.”

  He gave a short, disbelieving bark of laughter. “My CL600? Are you serious?”

  She held his gaze and gave him her patented baby sister plea. Jonathon had never been able to say no to her, especially with her eyes shimmering with tears, just poised to flow over. It didn’t matter he knew they were crocodile tears—he hated to see her cry.

  “I just got that car, Lis,” he said.

  “I won’t hurt it, Jon,” she said indignantly.

  He ran a hand over his head. “Why do you feel you need my car?”

  She wouldn’t meet his gaze and she knew he was suspicious. “It would just be for the rest of the day. I’d bring it to you late tonight or early tomorrow morning.”

  “Why, Lis?” He added the tone he used in the courtroom when a witness was treated as hostile.

  Her hands rubbed along her legs. “Can’t you just lend it to me?”

  “Did your Jeep break down or something like that?”

  “No,” she replied immediately. “I just want something classier for tonight.”

  “Dimitri has trucks.”

  Her sigh said it all. She didn’t want to go to her eldest sibling. Dimitri had a way of acting like one of their parents.

  “Tell me why.”

  Her sigh was one of resignation. “I have a dinner meeting with some people and I didn’t want to take my Jeep.”

  “Dinner meeting? And you need my car.”

  “Yes.”

  “So this isn’t with Archer?”

  She wouldn’t meet his gaze. “No. It’s a job offer.”

  “Look at me.” She did and he narrowed his eyes. “Are you leaving McKingley?”

  She shrugged. “Nothing’s concrete yet. Please don’t say anything to anyone. I just want a vehicle other than my dirty Jeep to climb out of in my dress.”

  He pushed to his feet. “Don’t keep this from everyone, Lis. Including Archer.” In that sentence, she realised he really liked Archer.

  When he exhaled heavily, she knew she’d got her way. After he took her to his vehicle, she left him with a kiss and a wave then headed off to prepare for her evening.

  Chapter Nine

  Archer stared at the box on the table before him. It had arrived today and he’d yet to have the courage to open it. He knew what it was—stuff from Lacy she’d kept of their son’s.

  Lacy. He couldn’t believe she was gone. Justin had done it, he’d actually killed her. Moreover, he hadn’t been able to save her. She’d given her life to save him, stepping in front of the bullet Justin had meant for him. He felt like he’d failed her again. He couldn’t manage as her husband and he couldn’t save her.

  “I’m sorry, Lacy,” he said, reaching for the box.

  Lifting a knife from beside him, he slit the tape and folded back the flaps. His hands were shaking as he reached in and withdrew a few aged photos. The boy even looked a bit like him, same dark brown hair as opposed to Lacy’s Nordic blonde. Tears stung as he flipped through all three of them. There wasn’t much stuff in there. Just a letter addressed to him telling him how sorry she was for her actions and what she could remember about Tony.

  In the bottom lay a toy soldier, a dinosaur and a tow truck. He sat there for a few minutes staring at the items, and mourned the loss of his son. The son he’d never had a chance to know.

  The house was silent as he grieved and when he finished he carried the contents of the box to his office and put them up so he would always have a connection to Tony. His mother was gone. After Lacy
had been murdered, he’d come home and kicked her out, not in the mood to deal with her. So with the promise of retaliation if she ever went near Delicia again, he showed her the door and told her with no equivocation that she was never welcome at his place again. Where she went, he didn’t know. Didn’t care either.

  He picked up his phone to call Delicia, only to hang up when the doorbell rang. With a groan of disappointment, he snapped it shut and walked to the front of his house. He missed her—there was this chasm growing between them. Even when they made love there was something missing. Yes, it was amazing as all get out, it always was with her, but the connection he’d felt before was gone.

  He needed to get in touch with her for a talk. After reaching for the doorknob, he swung it open. He arched one eyebrow as he stared at his visitor.

  “Can I help you?”

  “What the hell did you do to my baby sister?” Jonathon Wright demanded.

  Archer took in the youngest Wright brother. Six feet tall, he was well dressed in an expensive suit and had a serious expression on his face. Correction—he had a fierce scowl on his face.

  “I’m sorry?”

  Brown eyes bore back at him. “Don’t play dumb, Bennett. Why else would she be interviewing for another job—an out of state one at that—if you hadn’t done something to her?”

  His stomach clenched and he felt nauseated. Leaving? “What are you talking about?”

  “She’s interviewing for a job in Washington State right now with two guys. So I’ll ask you again, Archer Bennett. What the hell did you do to my baby sister?”

  “I didn’t do anything to her. Where is this meeting at?” He needed to go. He needed to stop her from leaving him.

  A harsh chuckle. “I’m not telling you where it is. I debated even telling you period, since she told me she’d not mentioned it to you. So I figured you’d done something to run her off and that, I don’t like. Our family is supposed to be here, not leave. We just got Arissa back and I’ll be damned if I lose my baby sister because you two are having some kind of lovers’ quarrel. So get your ass to her house and fix it.”

  “How do you know about this?”

  “She came to borrow my new Mercedes.” He scowled. “My brand new Mercedes.”

  Archer kept his shock contained. He’d heard that Jonathon was buying a new one, but he’d never known him to let his siblings use any of his cars. “Thank you for telling me.”

  “Don’t make me regret having done just that. Fix this. Make my baby sister happy again. I hate to see her sad. And I promise you, if I know she’s sad, so does the rest of our family.”

  He got the message. While the Wright siblings might be okay with him dating their sister, they wouldn’t put up with him hurting her. Not that he wanted to. With a nod, Jonathon walked back down to his Mercedes SUV and drove away without another word.

  Glancing at his watch, he noted the time. Eight-thirty. He hurried back inside and showered before dressing in jeans and a T-shirt. Keys in one hand, he made sure to have his phone and wallet in the other as he headed for the door. Once in his truck, he made one stop before driving to her place. It was almost ten by the time he arrived and saw there was only the outside light on.

  Pulling in the drive, he parked next to her Jeep and smiled at it as he got out. This vehicle personified everything he loved about Delicia. Real. Earthy. And a trooper. He trailed his fingers along the dirty, scratched and dented vehicle as he moved around it towards the steps.

  He unlocked the house and walked inside. After putting his bag down in the bedroom, he made his way back up to the front and sat out on the porch in her rocker-glider. He was antsy, yes. But he’d waited for her for a long time and he would keep on waiting. So, feet propped up, he did just that. He waited.

  It was close to midnight when headlights crossed the house as a low car swung into the drive, its powerful motor purring. He sat up a little bit. The engine shut off and the door opened, warm light spilling out into the night.

  His cock jerked in his pants as he stared at her. Damn! She hesitated when she looked at his truck before she shut the door and locked it. Seated where he was in the darker corner of the porch, he watched unobserved as she walked up to her house. The outside light framed her and he found himself with a mouth drier than the desert.

  The asymmetrical steel-grey dress clung to her body like nothing he’d ever dreamed. She looked almost ethereal. Yet he sensed her exhaustion beneath all that poised perfection.

  He spoke when she reached out to unlock the door. “You look beautiful, Delicia. Where’ve you been?”

  She started, but recovered quickly. Anger began to grow in his gut when he saw the expression, which had been on her face since the night Lacy was murdered. Her ‘I’m keeping the world at arm’s length’ look. He didn’t like that. Archer wanted his Delicia. The one who blushed when she said something off the wall or impetuous. Not this one, who had a mask on to keep an emotional distance.

  “Out with some people I know.”

  He wanted the one who didn’t keep secrets from him. Pushing to his feet, he prowled towards her, watching how her eyes never left him. Desire pooled in them, but it was quickly masked.

  “Can we talk?” he asked, stopping before her. With her heels on, her lips were even closer to his.

  “Sure. How about tomorrow. I’m tired.”

  “No, now.”

  She narrowed her eyes slightly before all expression smoothed away. “Fine.”

  Have I said how much I hate that impersonal look? “What’s going on?”

  “Nothing,” she replied. “I was going to change and go to bed, but you said no.”

  He reached out and cupped her chin in his fingers. “You’re running.”

  Retreat was all over her face. “No, I’m not.”

  Archer lowered his head until their lips were a miniscule distance apart. “Bullshit!” He kissed her hard and so possessively she almost melted into him then lifted his head to stare at her. “Bull-fucking-shit.”

  Delicia stared up at Archer. Her belly was a mangled mess of jumbled nerves. She wanted him so much, but she wanted everything or nothing at all. Her lips still tingled from his dominating kiss.

  “What?” she asked, more aware of his large body than his words.

  “You heard me,” he growled. “You’re running.”

  Maybe, but so was he.

  “You’re one to talk,” she snapped, hating how she felt so defensive.

  “What are you talking about?” he demanded. “I’m right here, trying to talk to you.”

  She opened the door and stomped in, tossing her purse to the bench beneath the coat hooks. Having a row on her porch at midnight wasn’t her style. “Don’t play dumb with me, Archer Bennett. You’ve been just as distant ever since your precious Lacy died.”

  His expression hardened and those indigo eyes darkened with escalating fury. All it did was further her own. Had it all been a lie with him?

  “I did what I could and I’m sorry I couldn’t save her life. If I had maybe you’d be happy again.” She crossed her arms desperately trying to contain her feelings.

  He seemed taken aback by her comment and the rage drained from his gaze. “Is that what you think?”

  She shrugged and put her hands on her hips. “What else would I think? I try to offer you comfort and you look through—not at—through me and…and call me Lis!” After whirling around, she managed to take two steps before he grabbed her and whipped her back around to face him.

  His expression shocked her. Never had he looked so imposing, not even in confrontations with Justin. Flames flickered in his eyes and his face appeared carved from marble for all the emotion it had.

  “I don’t call you Lis. Never have. And even if Lacy were alive, I’d still be here with you.”

  She ignored the burgeoning bit of hope that sprouted within her. “Yes, you did. You did call me Lis. The night she died. You held her close and looked at me like I didn’t even exist.”


  He shook his head. “I never wanted you to—” He raked his hands through his hair.

  Delicia watched him pace wanting to touch him, her anger dissipating at the sight of his own personal distress. Instead, she forced herself to remain immobile.

  “Is that why you met two guys about a job in Washington? In that dress and with your brother’s expensive car?”

  Damn you, Jon! “I was exploring my options.”

  His gaze narrowed and froze her to the spot. “You, Delicia Wright, belong here in McKingley.” He paused. “With me.”

  Archer stalked towards her with such purpose, such determination, all she could do was back up until the wall prevented her from going any farther. He pinned her in, strong arms on either side of her head.

  “Why?” she managed to ask through dry lips. Her tongue sneaked out to dampen them.

  His gaze smouldered. “Because you love me and I love you.” He trailed his knuckles down her cheek and along her bottom lip. “I’ve loved you since the day I met you, Delicia. And I will love you past the day my life leaves my body.”

  Her heart clenched and she was at a loss for words. He’d never said those words to her before. “Lacy?”

  His finger followed her neckline before drifting towards her breasts. “I protected her from Justin in school once. I felt like I failed her. But I’ve never loved her, not even remotely close to how I love you.”

  Words still wouldn’t come. The tears, however, had no problem. They leaked over her eyes and ran down her face. He swiped them away with his thumbs.

  “I’m not letting you run, Delicia.”

  There it was. The bassy, seductive and unhurried way he drew out her name. The way it made her feel so safe and protected. So…his.

  “Things have changed,” she protested.

  “Do you love me?” he asked.

  She nodded.

  “Tell me,” he whispered the command.

  “I love you, Archer Bennett.”

  His smile was just as seductive as his voice and she found herself melting all over again. “I’ve waited years for you to say that to me.” He kissed her until she nigh forgot her own name. Desire burned in his gaze when he pulled back and looked at her. “Don’t leave, Delicia.”