Cattail Ridge (19 page)

Even though they kept the conversation light as they drove there was a hum of energy running through her that Emma couldn’t ignore. She didn’t bother kidding herself that it was solely because of the interest she had in seeing this mysterious piece of property.

The further away from town they got the less traffic they encountered. Archer turned the truck onto a road a couple of miles before the turnoff that led to Sarah and Owen’s farm. He drove to a driveway on the left not far up in the hollow, and followed the road alongside a small creek. The road curved and Emma saw that they’d reached the peak of a ridge. He pulled into a flat spot, the house seat presumably, and parked.

“This is it. Welcome to Cattail Ridge.”

She looked around. They weren’t quite on top of the mountain, but they were close enough that the sky around them was mostly open. Most of the leaves were still on the trees but the way the land la y across the ridge, the trees didn’t block the view of the sky.

“How does your property run?”

“It starts about a hundred yards back, down where that curve was, and goes about another hundred yards on the other side of that line of trees,” he pointed. “It makes a kind of lopsided circle around this flat.”

“No close neighbors?”

“No. That’s one of the reasons I wanted it.”

“What are your plans? Are you going to build up here?”

They got out and she stood at the tailgate while Archer arranged the lounge cushions in the truck’s bed. She passed him the blankets and helped him spread them out. The night air was cool, and somewhere off in the distance an owl hooted.

“I don’t know. Time will tell. For now I enjoy having the place to come to and think.” He held out his hands. “Come on up.”

Once in the truck bed, she hesitated. Archer sat down in the middle of the nest and held his arms out to the side. “Lean against me.”

She snuggled in between his legs, her back against his chest, and he arranged the blankets around them. Before long Emma was toasty warm, and as they sat quietly, she felt herself start to relax.

“I should have called you,” she admitted. “I wanted to.”

“Why didn’t you?” His voice was low against her ear, and she felt the words as they rumbled through his chest. He tightened his arms around her waist and moved her back a smidge.

“I really didn’t know what to say. What happened at John’s, it was so… intense. I wasn’t expecting that.” She laced her fingers through his. “I guess I chickened out.”

“What were you expecting? I don’t think I’m overstating things to say we have chemistry.”

She moved her head against his shoulder like a cat, relishing in the feel of him. “I’ll be blunt, okay? Before Sydney, the relationships I had? They were pleasant enough. I mean, I was happy with the way things were. No complaints. So I was expecting something maybe like that, but with a little more heat. Because we do have good chemistry. But Monday? That blew my expectations out of the water. And that scares me.”

He let out a sigh and the breath tickled the hair on her neck. “I know. It scares me, too.”

“So Monday wasn’t the norm for you, either?”

“Not even close.”

Because the experience was so out of the range of normal for both of them, Emma wondered what that meant. She wondered if this was what her parents felt for each other, her siblings with their mates.

They watched the sky quietly after that, content to let the night happen around them. A yawn surprised her a few minutes later.

“I’m sorry. I guess I’m more tired than I thought I was.”

Archer rubbed his face on her hair and smiled. “Yeah, you’re just trying to spare my feelings. You’re bored.”

She laughed. “No. I’ve not felt this relaxed… probably since Tennessee. And it’s been a rough couple of weeks.”

“I guess I should get you home, then.”

As much as she wanted to argue she could barely hold her eyes open. If she hadn’t trusted Archer implicitly she would have thought he’d drugged her somehow.

They broke the makeshift bed down and Archer carefully turned the truck around. The heat felt good after being out in the wind, despite how warm their nest had been, and Emma thought she’d close her eyes for a minute. Just rest a little bit so she’d be more awake when they got to town. And that was that.

Chapter Twenty-Four

A
rcher could tell by the way her breathing changed that Emma was asleep. He didn’t mind; he’d use the rest of the drive to think about what she’d said.

His behavior at John’s had appalled him. He honestly had forgotten they weren’t alone, the kiss was so carnal. He’d called Amelia the next day when he knew she’d be away from home to leave a message and apologize.

He’d balked at calling Emma. He was afraid he’d find out he’d pushed her too hard, been too aggressive.

When Jack called to tell him that Emma needed a ride, he was torn between jubilation and angst. Why hadn’t she called
him
, he wondered? Had he recklessly scared her off? He knew Jack was trying his hand at playing Cupid and Archer didn’t mind in the least.

Now it looked as though she’d been having the same self-doubts he had. That confusion gave him more hope for the future than anything.

He took the turns as carefully as he could, not wanting to wake her. She didn’t stir until he’d turned the engine off in her driveway.

“We’re here.”

“Mmmm. I see that. I guess I fell asleep?”

“You did.” He went around and opened the door for her, catching her when she stumbled. “Easy. Where are your keys?”

“Here.” She pulled them out of her pocket. “Big one next to the car key.”

Once she was steady enough to walk he led the way to the door. “No offense but are you that tired, or do you just not react well to alcohol? I know it was only one beer, but damn, Em.”

She goosed him. “I’m that tired. I usually require at least two beers before I’m falling down.”

“Lightweight.”

“You got that right.” She closed the door, leaning against it to look up at him. The small lamp on the table by the stairs cast an intimate glow in the foyer. “Thank you for tonight. I enjoyed it, even if I did fall asleep on you.”

Archer gathered her into his arms. She was usually on the top of her game, holding herself a little bit separate, but tonight she was open, soft. Her eyes were slumberous, her dark chocolate hair falling softly over her shoulders. She was vulnerable, and he knew she was aware that her guard was down. That she was exposing herself to him humbled him. His emotions felt too big to hold inside and he wanted her with a passion so strong he half-feared that if they ever made love he’d fall apart.

“Why don’t you stay?” she whispered. “I’m so tired all we might do is hold each other, but I’d like it if you stayed.”

“Okay.”

Upstairs he let her lead. “I’ll change into a gown. Do you… I might be able to find a pair of shorts or something.”

“I’ll be fine.”

She went into the bathroom and Archer tried to stay calm as he waited for her to come back out. He turned the bed down and figured he might as well go ahead and get ready for bed. He usually preferred to sleep naked. When she and Sydney had come to Tennessee, he’d had to swing by a department store to get some pajama bottoms. Those were at home so his shorts would do for tonight. He had his sweater and T-shirt off and was unbuckling his jeans when Emma came out.

Dressed in a sleeveless gown that reached her knees, she was biting her lip, hands laced together in front of her. He went toward her as she spoke.

“I’m acting silly, I know, but it’s been a long time since I had a man in my bedroom. And even though you’ve been here, Sydney’s been here, too. So I’m nervous.”

“If it makes you feel better, so am I. You’re so tired tonight, Em, I think we should just go to sleep and worry about tomorrow when it comes.”

She smoothed a hand over his chest and let it trail down his stomach. “You’re sure about that?”

He wasn’t but he wasn’t about to tell her that. “Yes. Come the morning, though? All bets are off.”

When he stepped to the other side of the bed to take his pants off, she gave an appreciative hum.

“I’m not feeling as tired as I was.”

The picture she made, one knee propped on the edge of the bed with her head tilted to the side as she ate him up with her eyes, almost changed his mind. But there were also circles under those eyes and he’d be the worst kind of cad if he ignored her fatigue.

“Sleep first. Play later.”

She sighed and flopped down on her back on the bed. “I tried.”

Archer laughed as he joined her. “Goodnight, Emma.” He stretched across her to turn the lamp off, and she let her hands trail down his body as he moved. He managed to catch one before she touched his erection and let his weight trap the other behind his back.

“Spoilsport.”

Not climbing between her legs took all his willpower but he managed it. He let her hand go and she rolled over to face away from him.

“Wait until the morning. Then we’ll talk.”

She groaned. “This is how the kids feel on Christmas Eve, isn’t it?”

He kissed the spot below her ear and snuggled up to her back. “I believe it is, yes. Maybe we should let them open a present or two early this year.” Holding her felt so natural and so good, he could hardly wait to see what the morning brought.

She was asleep soon after that, confirming his decision to take things slow. He didn’t go to sleep for a while, though. Instead, his mind was racing. He had struggled earlier to hold back on telling her how he felt. If they made love there was no way he could be with her so intimately and not tell her he loved her. Archer didn’t know if she was ready to hear that yet, but he wasn’t about to be with her and have her think he was just about the sex.

Given what he’d gleaned over the years from Amelia he was all too aware that Emma’s previous relationships had been disasters. Hell, Sydney’s biological father sounded like a piece of work whose cunning could rival Candace’s. Archer knew that Emma had made a promise to herself before Sydney was born, that she’d have a ring on her finger and vows said before she consummated another relationship. He didn’t know if she still felt that way, though.

The hell of it was he was willing to wait. He didn’t want to. He wanted to be inside her, making love to her all night and day for the next month. But if Emma said no, if she was reluctant to take things to the next step without a permanent commitment, he would get on board. He wanted to prove to her that she meant more than a quick lay to him.

When they were both awake in the morning he’d ask her about it. After the past week, when they hadn’t seen each other or spoken because they were both afraid, he was finished being so subtle. That tact obviously wasn’t working. He was tired of being afraid that he was going to scare her away. If he wasn’t careful, he’d be too cautious and lose her just the same. That was a risk he wasn’t willing to take.

Chapter Twenty-Five

E
mma was so warm and comfortable when she woke up she didn’t want to move. But she had a pressing need to use the bathroom and she reluctantly stretched, preparing to throw back the covers. It wasn’t until she arched her back that she felt the warm body behind her, and her memory returned.

Archer.

She held her breath, but he didn’t wake up. A glance at the clock told her it was past eight. As much as she wanted to stay in bed she couldn’t wait any longer, and she eased to her feet quietly.

In the bathroom she took care of her needs, then brushed her teeth. Her heart was pounding as she rinsed her mouth out. She couldn’t tell if she was more scared or excited. Chances were good that when she went back in the bedroom she was going to be intimate with Archer.

She examined her reflection in the mirror before opening the medicine cabinet to down her birth control pill for the day. She’d taken the pill since shortly after Sydney was born, as she’d not wanted to risk getting pregnant again if she wasn’t ready. As she’d been celibate since before Sydney was born she’d recently started thinking she should stop taking the things. Now she was glad she hadn’t stopped.

Archer was stirring when she went back to the bedroom. He rolled onto his back and stretched, blinking at her sleepily. A good amount of beard stubble had grown in overnight, and Emma’s hands itched with the desire to touch it.

“Hi.” She folded her leg underneath her, sitting on the side of the bed.

“Hi. How’d you sleep?”

She laughed. “Like a rock. You?”

His grin was wicked. “Oh, I’m like a rock, all right.”

“Archer!” She made a move toward his ribs, intending to tickle him, but he grabbed her hands and pulled her down on top of him. Before she knew it she was on her back, with him half on top of her. The covers were twisted around them but she managed to kick one leg free, which she promptly wrapped around his hips.

He buried his face in her neck at the same time as he cupped her breast. “That’s better.”

Emma moaned her agreement. His palm was so hot it seared her skin. When he teased her nipple through the cotton of her nightgown it quickly stood at attention.

“You hold that thought,” he told her, voice husky with sleep and arousal. “I’ll be right back.” He untangled himself from the sheets and stood, his erection tenting his briefs in a very obvious fashion as he gazed down at her. If Emma had any doubts about his desire for her that, as well as the hot fire in his eyes, quelled them.

He had just opened the bathroom door and started out when the phone rang. She wasn’t sure which of them cursed the hardest, which set off a round of laughter as she flipped onto her belly to reach and answer it.

“Hello?”

“Hey, it’s Pip. I’m sorry to bother you but Sydney isn’t feeling well. She’s a little warm and she says her belly’s upset. Do you want me to bring her home?”

Concern for her daughter was first and foremost in her mind but Emma was big enough to admit that she was heartily disappointed, too. “That’s probably best. Has she thrown up or had to go to the bathroom?” As a mother she knew all too well what those symptoms likely meant.

“Not yet.”

“Good. Don’t feed her anything, and just let her sip water if she wants it. We’ll see you in a few minutes.” She felt the bed dip and Archer’s hand wrapped around her foot, massaging gently.

Amelia’s voice lowered to a near whisper. “We? Oh, geez. Archer’s there, isn’t he? I’m sorry, Em.”

“Don’t be. See you soon.” She hung up and let her head fall to her arms.

“Sydney’s sick?” he asked, his hand trailing up her calf a short distance.

“Yes. Pip’s bringing her home.” She rolled over and sat up. “Sorry.”

He shook his head, dismissing the apology. “How can I help?”

Emma felt herself soften, and she walked on her knees across the bed to give him a hug. “You don’t want to volunteer for this. Trust me.”

“Why not?” He pulled her into his lap, the embrace both intimate and comforting, as he ran his hands up and down her back.

“Because Sydney probably has that stomach flu that’s been going around and if she does, it’s going to get very messy, very fast. I hope she can make it home before it hits.” Emma wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. “But it’s very sweet of you to offer.”

“Em, I’m not here for kicks and giggles. Let me help. At the very least, keep me on hand so that if you need something from the store or need to take her to the doctor, you have access to a vehicle.”

She traced his collarbones as she considered his words. She’d forgotten about not having a vehicle. He had a point. But at the same time she knew just how bad a stomach bug could get.

“You could end up coming down with it, too. I’m pretty much immune now, but you haven’t been exposed. Kids are little germ factories.”

“I’ll risk it.”

“Okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

He hugged her close. “I won’t.”

Much as Emma had feared, Sydney grew sicker as the day went on. She’d been home an hour when the first wave hit and from there, it was everything Emma could do to keep up. To her surprise Archer stepped in and quietly took care of soiled laundry and garbage cans while she cleaned Sydney up from each bout.

By that evening they were both exhausted. Sydney finally fell asleep after Emma gave her some anti-nausea medicine. Emma joined Archer on the loveseat, and they both watched the little girl sleep on the couch.

“I had to wait to give it to her, to let her try to get it out of her system,” she told him. “I feel so guilty. Most of the time the doctors tell you to give it to them right away, but Nonny always frowned on that. She said it was useless to give the medicine until the body was finished purging, and to only give it when the worst was over.”

“The poor kid. I didn’t know such a little body could hold so much,” he said. “You’re sure she’s not dehydrated?”

Emma patted his leg. “I’m sure. She got enough fluids down that she should be okay. Hopefully she’ll be on the mend when she wakes up. If not, I’ll call Michelle.”

He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her in to him. “I should go back to the apartment, get some clothes. Then I can come back.”

“Archer…”

“Hush. You might still need a car. So unless you expressly don’t want me here, I’ll make a run.”

Emma didn’t know what to say. She gazed at him, baffled. “You can’t tell me today was fun for you.”

He laughed. “No, today was not fun. Not even close. But like I told you this morning, I’m not here just for fun. I love you, Emma Campbell, you and that little munchkin. Haven’t you figured that out yet?”

She straightened away from him slowly, stunned. “You… what?”

With the full day’s growth of beard, he was looking decidedly scruffy. He was less than fresh after having been run off his feet by a sick five-year-old. But Emma didn’t know when a man had appealed to her more. She simply didn’t know what to make of his declaration.

“I love you.”

She shook her head slowly and got to her feet to walk to the other side of the room. “Why?”

He blinked. “Why?”

“Yes. Why?”

This time Archer was the one who looked like he’d been poleaxed. He rubbed his jaw and stared at her, speechless. Finally asking, “Why not?”

Laughing was probably not the best reaction to have but his answer struck her funny bone. She clapped a hand over her mouth but her mirth spilled out. Afraid she’d wake Sydney, she hurried into the kitchen.

Archer was scowling fiercely when he came in behind her. “Why is that funny?”

“It isn’t.” Speaking set off another round of snickers and she tried to be serious. “I’m sorry. It’s been a long day. And ‘why not’ isn’t an answer.”

He slowly stalked across the kitchen and pinned her against the cabinet. “Then how about this? You are the most beautiful, hard-working, stubborn, smart, funny, infuriating, exasperating, and lovable woman I’ve ever seen in my life. And for some reason you can’t see that, which makes it worse. How could I not love you?”

“Archer…”

“I’m going to head out for a bit. Do you need me to pick anything up?”

She touched his face. “I hate to ask.”

He growled at her. “Ask.”

“Some plain bread, some bananas. Maybe some take-out for us? I’ll pay you back.” His mouth tightened and she held her hands up. “Or not.”

After a quick kiss he straightened away. “I’ll be an hour or so, probably. But I’ll be back.”

“Okay.”

Emma watched him go, trailing down the hall after him to lock the door. He said he loved her. She couldn’t make that make sense. Didn’t the man realize she was more trouble than she was worth? Didn’t he realize that she was a package deal, and that raising a child was a lot of work? A lot of heartache, even though most of the time the joy balanced that out?

Sure, she’d told Amelia she had a hankering for a child with Archer. And she had admitted to herself, even if just in the dark of night, that she was afraid she was truly falling in love with him. But the concept that he might really love her back… it blew her mind.

Sydney’s distressed cry from the living room put his declaration on the back burner. As Emma went to her daughter she knew she’d have plenty to keep her mind busy for a while. Maybe once she’d had a chance to process things what he’d said would make more sense. It had to. She didn’t know what to do with his words otherwise.