Chapter 39

Iheard the door open and looked up just in time to see Archer walk in. I had to bite my lower lip to keep from saying something really, really naughty. There was a young mom and her daughter in the children's section.

Still, my heart skipped a beat. I felt a rush of excitement at the sight of him. He was like a forbidden indulgence, a rule-breaking temptation that I couldn't resist. He pulled off his sunglasses and clipped them to the front of his shirt like he always did.

That was when I noticed his eyes. A slow smile spread over my face. I knew that look. He walked directly to me without stopping. He grabbed my hand, pulled me between two rows of bookcases, and kissed me passionately, I felt like a schoolgirl again, giddy with the thrill of our clandestine rendezvous. He reached around and squeezed my ass, jerking me against his body and letting me feel just how excited he was to see me.

"Someone might see us," I whispered.

He offered a playful grin before kissing me again. "This is a dusty old library," he murmured against my lips. "Nobody's going to see us. And if they do, they're welcome to enjoy the show."

"There's a mom and kid over there," I whispered.

He smirked, pulled away slightly, and looked me squarely in the eyes. "Then we'll just have to be quiet, won't we?" His voice was low, filled with a kind of intensity that made my knees weak.

Before I could protest further, he captured my lips in another fiery kiss. His hands moved lower to grip my thighs, pushing the boundaries of what was almost too far. We were in the library but he was so hot. So sexy. I just couldn't stop.

"I need to ask you something," I murmured.

"If you want me naked, the answer is yes," he teased.

"I always want you naked, but that's not the question. I was wondering if you were going to be busy in a couple of weeks."

He stopped kissing me and pulled back. "That's pretty vague. I don't think I'm ever busy. What's going on?"

"Ward and Jenny's wedding," I murmured. I felt so silly for asking him. I knew it wasn't really his vibe, but I wanted to ask him anyway. "Would you like to go with me to their wedding? As my date?"

He grinned. "That's what you're worried about?" he asked, eyes dancing with amusement. "Mary Ellen, if they're serving a free meal and you're my date, I'm there."

I let out a relieved sigh, giggling at his humor. It was one of the things that drew me to him. "Good! Because I already told them we'd be there."

"And what does your bridesmaid dress look like?" he asked in a husky voice. "Actually, I don't care. I'm only going to be thinking about you out of the dress. I'll help you with that."

I pushed playfully at his chest. "Stop, we're going to get busted."

"Do you really care?" he asked and kissed me again. "I mean when something feels this good, can it really be bad?"

I couldn't shake the feeling that something was different about him today. His mood seemed lighter, more buoyant than usual. "You're in a good mood," I commented.

He nodded. "I'm always in a good mood to see you."

"But there is something else," I said. "What's going on?"

"Well, I am happy to see you," he said. "And I planned on spending the day here, but I have to go out to my family's house."

"And you're in a good mood," I said with a little confusion.

He chuckled. "I know. My brother called. He told me there's something up and I need to go to the house today. It sounded promising. I think this might mean they want to have the conversation we should have had years ago. I think this might be my chance to get back into their good graces. I've never actually been invited to go home. I've been commanded to appear and told more than once I wasn't needed, but this time it feels different. Murray told me to dress decent and not to ride my bike."

"Why?"

"Because those are two things that irritate my parents." He grinned. "I have to play the game. It's cool. If they are willing to talk, I can bend a little."

"Sounds like a big deal," I murmured, fingers trailing down the stubble-darkened line of his jaw.

He nodded in agreement. "It's a start. I just hope they're ready to listen this time."

I could feel the heat of his body through his clothes, but I also sensed the underlying tension. His family was a sensitive subject, and their past mistreatment of him irked me.

"You don't need to prove anything to them. You've made a life for yourself, out here. That's admirable and they should recognize that."

"I know. I'm just hoping they've finally seen that."

I knew how much this chance meant to him. I pushed gently at his chest once more. "Don't dilly-dally here then," I teased. "Go. Handle your business. Call me later to tell me how it went."

He leaned in for another lingering kiss. "Bring one of those books home. Whatever one you think I'd like the most. I trust you."

"I will. Good luck."

I was disappointed he wasn't going to hang out at the library, but I was glad he was getting the chance to mend fences with his family. I knew that was really hard on him. He pretended it didn't bother him that they all but disowned him, but I knew better. Archer wasn't quite the tough guy he pretended to be. He was a good man with a good heart.

At the end of the day, I went through the usual closing duties. I had to get to Jenny and Ward's house for the first dress rehearsal that wasn't really a dress rehearsal. We weren't actually going to be dressed up. Jenny just wanted to make sure we all knew our places. I didn't think it was rocket science, but it made her feel better and that was what mattered.

I walked into the house and was immediately hit by the aroma of appetizers. "It smells good in here," I commented.

"Help yourself," Jenny said.

I greeted her with a warm hug, excited to help ease her pre-wedding jitters. She was starting to feel the pressure, and I was more than happy to lend a hand.

I picked up a plate and helped myself to some of the apps she had put out. It all looked amazing. The cheesy spinach dip and crackers were particularly good. "This is amazing," I mumbled around a mouthful. "Really good."

"Thank you." She smiled. "So, did you ask Archer to be your plus-one?"

A smile spread across my face at the thought of Archer accompanying me to the wedding. "Yes, he's in," I confirmed. "I hope it's okay. I didn't want to assume. I know you guys have been planning this thing right down to the last chair."

Jenny waved off my concern with a dismissive gesture. "Of course it's okay! We'll find a seat for him in the reception hall. He just has to be okay with eating dinner without you, since you'll be at the head table."

I chuckled at her comment, imagining Archer navigating the wedding reception on his own. "Don't worry," I reassured her with a grin. "A guy like Archer can hold his own. He's been in prison, after all. He can handle sitting at a table by himself."

Jenny laughed at my quip, shaking her head in amusement. "Fair point," she conceded. "Well, as long as he's okay with it, then I'm more than happy to have him there. I know you want him there and I want you to be happy."

I nodded in agreement, grateful for her understanding. "I'll make sure to talk to him about it beforehand," I promised. "But knowing him, he'll be perfectly fine with it."

With our conversation turning to other wedding details, I felt a sense of relief knowing that Archer would be by my side for the night. I was so tired of being the single one.

"How is the rest of the planning going?" I asked her.

Jenny sighed heavily, her eyes losing focus for a moment as she mulled over all the details. "Mostly done," she said, forcing a smile. "Just a few last-minute things to sort out. Seating arrangements, flower arrangements, and dealing with some minor things."

"I can't believe you're getting married." I sighed. "I feel like we're all growing up."

Jenny laughed, the sound light and carefree, an echo of our shared childhood. "I know," she said. "It's a little scary, isn't it?"

"Exciting too," I added, trying to keep the atmosphere light and happy. Jenny had enough on her plate without worrying about my internal musings.

Jenny nodded as we continued talking. "And babies. Can you imagine all of us as mommies? We'll have play dates and go to the park together."

"Little armies of our own, running around." I chuckled, imagining a scene right out of a classic family sitcom.

"Do you think you and Archer will be married one day?" she asked.

"Oh gosh," I gasped. "I don't know. I mean, we've only been together for a month. I don't know if we're even serious. I feel like we are, but I don't know if that's what he's thinking. I guess I'm just enjoying the way things are right now."

"But you're crazy about him." She smiled.

"Obviously." I laughed. "So far, I haven't found anything I don't love. He's amazing. His flaws and all."

"Can you picture Archer as a dad?" she asked softly. "As a husband?"

I laughed. "Now that's an image. I can see him now, trying to change a diaper!"

We both burst into giggles at the thought, an image of Archer holding up a soiled diaper at arm's length flashing through my mind. Archer might be rough around the edges but seeing him take on fatherhood would be something worth waiting for.

"I think he cares about you a great deal," she said. "Ward agrees. We watched the two of you that night at dinner. He was very attentive to your every word. He looked at you like you were the only person in the room." Her voice trailed off as she seemingly sank into the memory of that evening.

I couldn't help but smile. I cherished that night too. Archer had indeed been very attentive, every look he gave me was filled with warmth that made my heart flutter. "He's just different," I finally admitted. "Different in a good way. I know people see him and see the tattoos. I think that's part of the way he protects himself from the scrutiny. If he looks tough and gruff, people won't bother to get to know him or ask too many questions."

Jenny looked at me with a teasing smile. "It sounds like someone is in love," she declared.

I swallowed hard, considering her words. Was I in love? It seemed far too soon to admit to such a thing, even to myself. "Maybe," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. "I've never felt this way about anyone before."

Jenny gasped, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Oh my god!" she exclaimed. "This is so exciting! You and Archer. This is big."

I blushed at her enthusiasm, feeling both thrilled and nervous. "Let's not make a big deal out of it," I told her. "I don't want to rush things or put pressure on Archer."

"But that's just it, isn't it?" Jenny asked, leaning forward, her hands clasped together in excitement. "When you're in love, everything feels like a rush. Everything is exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. That's the beauty of love. It's like being caught up in the best storm. Things just click. It happens fast."

"I suppose you're right," I admitted, thinking about my fluttering heart whenever Archer was near.

"Has he said anything? Does he feel the same?" Jenny asked.

I blushed, remembering the stolen kisses. "No. We haven't talked like that at all. We're just enjoying things the way they are right now."

She smiled. "I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you."