Cattail Ridge (21 page)

Archer smiled despite the tension that was building. “Okay.”

“When Emma came home she was about as whipped as I’ve ever seen her. And while she’s successful at her job and one of the best damned mothers you’ll ever see, that confident part of her hasn’t resurfaced. Not as it pertains to her personal life.” He waved his hand. “Part of it was her growing up. She settled down, all of that subsequent change. But that son of a bitch who got her pregnant took something from her. He used her and in all her confidence, she never expected it. She thought she was smarter than that. So she got knocked down twice, badly.”

“I can understand that.”

Jack’s smile was sad. “She had a couple of knocks once she got back, too. Rick told me about a sewer rat that Mom chased off when Sydney was around two. She closed up more after that. You probably know what I’m talking about.”

Archer did. He could almost tell Jack to the day when it had happened. Though he’d questioned Amelia she hadn’t known what had caused Emma’s sudden reticence. Since she’d been dealing with her own demons at the time he hadn’t pushed too hard. Now he wished he had.

“So what are you trying to tell me?” he asked.

“To be aware that Emma doesn’t think she deserves happiness. She’s like a dog that’s been kicked too many times. She’s probably afraid to let herself reach out to you because reaching out in the past has gotten her hurt. Keep that in mind. And don’t let her sabotage what it is that you have.”

Archer blew out a rough breath. Jack’s words resonated deeply, and some of the pain he’d felt at Emma’s reaction to his declaration of love eased.

“So don’t let her push me away?”

“No. And she will try. You’ll have to call her bluff.” Jack clapped him on the shoulder. “I hope you’ll forgive my interference, I just want to see both of you happy.”

“Amelia isn’t the only Cupid in the family, is she?” Archer asked as Jack left the service bay.

He turned, grinning. “Why do you think I invited you home with me all those years ago?”

Archer was astonished. “You knew? How?”

Jack shrugged. “I didn’t know you were for Emma, I was actually thinking Rachel. And I’m not anything like Pip is, feeling the hum as she says. But I liked you, thought you were solid, figured that even if nothing came of it, inviting you up to the farm was the nice thing to do. It became pretty obvious, rather quickly, where your interest lay. I’ll tell you what, I’ve learned patience watching the two of you over the years. I’d better get back out there. They’ll think I’ve run away.” He left with a wave and Archer stood there, shaking his head.

“I’ll be damned.” Archer had never suspected Jack was playing matchmaker all those years ago. It was a good thing, because if he had known he probably wouldn’t have gone.

As he finished straightening up the work space he went over Jack’s revelations in his mind. He was starting to get a picture of Emma that surprised him. He decided to take a step back, watch her this evening, and see if he gained any new insights. His instincts told him he would and his anticipation started to grow. Instead of half dreading the meal, now he was looking forward to it.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

D
inner Wednesday evening went well enough. Sydney kept up a constant chatter, making up for her illness the previous weekend in spades. Archer used the opportunity to study Emma, watching her with new eyes.

He wasn’t sure Jack was right, that she was holding back because of her fear of being hurt, but he wanted to believe her uncle knew what he was talking about.

By the end of the night he’d decided to hold off on confronting her about her reaction. See if she came to him again. After all, she’d asked him out. That had to mean something.

Friday he was as nervous as he’d ever been getting ready for a date. She’d said casual but he didn’t think a T-shirt and his ratty jeans would cut it. He tried on three different outfits before finally settling on a pair of comfortable but nice jeans and a button-down flannel shirt in a dark print. Amelia would have been laughing her butt off at him if she’d seen him, but he wanted to look good. This was his and Emma’s first date, after all.

When she opened the door to greet him, his breath caught. She was wearing a deep red dress that wrapped around. It was held together by a belt tied in a bow on her hip, and Archer’s fingers itched to find out what would happen if he tugged on one of the belt’s ends. The skirt ended just above her knees, and her legs were encased in soft brown boots. With the added height she was at least three inches taller, bringing them even more in line.

He couldn’t speak as he handed her a single red rose. She ducked her head shyly to smell it, a pleased smile moving across her face.

“Thank you. Come on in and I’ll put this in a vase.”

Archer followed her down the hall and leaned against the doorway while she got a vase down. “You’re wearing a dress.”

Emma shot him a glance. “Yes. Is that okay?”

“Very much.” He let his gaze travel over her curves, which the dress hugged lovingly. Although he’d seen her in a dress once or twice it hadn’t been anything like this, and the circumstances had been very different. The heels on the boots were something else he’d not seen her wear much.

“I figured you didn’t like high heels.”

She laughed. “They’re not practical when I’m working and I don’t get the chance to dress up that often. And rarely on dates–you’re a little taller than most of the men I’ve gone out with. They didn’t appreciate my being as tall as or taller than them. I probably shouldn’t have said that.”

“We’ve already established I’m not like the men you’ve dated in the past. That isn’t news.”

“Still, it’s rude to mention it on our first date.”

He straightened as she approached, knowing that if he touched her now they’d not make it out the front door. “I won’t hold it against you. Where are we meeting your cousin?”

She named a restaurant adjacent to a newer hotel. “And we can figure out what to do after that. Maybe take you guys line dancing.”

Archer huffed as she locked the door. “Line dancing is ridiculous.”

“That’s what Michelle and I thought you’d say.” She poked his arm. “Have you ever done it?”

“No. But I have the strangest feeling I might end up trying it tonight.”

She laughed when he looked at her, his eyes crossed, tongue stuck out.

To his surprise dinner went well enough. He hadn’t expected to enjoy it that much, what with Burke being present. But after he saw that Emma treated the man like a third brother, and just how smitten the state trooper was with Michelle, Archer started to relax. There was no intimacy between Emma and Burke, he saw that now.

The men allowed themselves to be dragged to the honky-tonk across the road that was known for its line dancing. Even that wasn’t too bad, especially once Archer saw how often he’d be putting his hands on Emma.

They danced for about an hour and when Emma finally dragged him off the floor to a quiet table, Archer groaned.

“Still think line dancing is ridiculous?” she teased. Her hair was coming loose from the twist she’d pinned it in and her cheeks were flushed from the exertion. A faint sheen of perspiration had formed on her face and upper chest and her skin fairly glowed in the soft light. She looked like someone had been making love to her, and Archer was grateful for the table that hid his growing erection. When Burke and Michelle joined them Emma had to move her seat even closer. Her nearness was a tantalizing agony he was happy to endure.

They were talking about what to do next when a familiar bottle blonde came up to their table, a plastic smile on her face. “Well, look at you all. Emma, Michelle.”

Archer had his arm around Emma’s shoulders and felt her stiffen.

“Jennie. What hole did you crawl out of?”

The blonde’s smile turned menacing. “Now, now. Here I am trying to be friendly and this is the reception I get?”

“Your idea of friendly and mine have never been the same,” Emma said. “Why don’t you leave us alone? I’m sure you have better things to do with your time.”

Jennie had dated Rick, Michelle’s brother, several years ago. Their breakup had been especially hard on the man and the family had worried he’d never get over the loss. But he’d managed to and had found a sweet girl he adored. She felt just as strongly about him, and they’d gotten married a year ago. From everything Archer had seen they had a true love match.

Jennie hadn’t taken Rick’s moving on well. Her catty remarks proved that.

“You know for someone who has a little bastard child to raise, you sure do like to sit on that high horse of yours.”

Emma straightened. “Excuse me?”

“Just that you act like you’re a scion of virtue, and everyone knows that isn’t true. Of course you did always act like you were hot shit.”

Michelle’s eyes were narrowed, and Archer glanced at Burke. The other man looked like he wanted to step in, but was too smart to get in the middle of things. Archer had no such compunction.

“You’re one to talk.” His words surprised the women and they all turned their attention to him. He shrugged. “What? It’s the truth. I know why Rick really broke it off with you. If you don’t want everyone in this bar to know, you’ll leave us the hell alone. Not only tonight, either.”

He knew his voice was cold, and he knew that he was quite imposing when he was angry, but he’d heard Amelia rant about various encounters the family had endured over the years. Enough was enough.

Jennie turned her ire on him. “You’re that dumb hick that works at the garage with Jack. You don’t know anything.”

Archer leaned toward her and spoke in a voice that wouldn’t carry beyond their table. “I know you went down on Jody Roberts in the middle of a bar full of people one night. And I know you disappeared with him for several minutes right after. From what he said, you weren’t trading baseball cards. And I also know that Jody thought bragging about it was a good idea. Problem is, he didn’t realize the person he was bragging to was friends with Rick.” He picked up his beer and saluted her with the bottle, then took a swig. Her face had leached of color, and her mouth was opening and closing like a fish out of water. Everyone at the table was staring at him.

“You—you stupid grease monkey!” With a furious hand gesture, she stomped off.

He rolled his shoulders, trying to shrug his anger off. He was afraid to look at Emma. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

Emma was the first to speak. “Was that true?”

“Every word. Jody used to come into the garage all the time and we were chatting out by the pop machine one day. He couldn’t keep it to himself. Once I realized who he was talking about I let him hang himself.” He wiped a hand over his face and looked at Michelle. “I was the one who told Rick. Do you know your brother has a strong right hook?”

“Oh, Archer. I’m sorry. But thank you. If you hadn’t told him he might have married her. He was thinking in that direction,” she said. “You know they got back together after that summer when John and Zanny were apart. We didn’t much like it but we couldn’t say anything.”

“A man should know if he’s being cheated on,” Archer stated. “And I wasn’t about to keep my mouth shut, not with something like that.”

Emma was shaking her head, her eyes wide. “So she… in public? I can’t grasp that.”

Burke snickered, then a laugh rolled out. “Just don’t say you can’t get your head around it.” Michelle smacked his arm and he laughed louder. “What? I worked with Jody. We used the same locker room. It’s not that big.”

Archer half choked on his beer. “I did not need to know that. Truly. Damn it, Burke.”

They decided to part ways not long after that. “I might have Archer take me out and teach me how to shoot pool,” Emma said as they stood between their cars. The air was cold and Archer wrapped his arms around her, leaning back against his truck.

For some reason, that statement caused incredulous looks and more snickers from both Burke and Michelle.

“In that case, good luck, Archer. You’ll need it.” Michelle sidestepped Emma’s halfhearted kick. “Thanks for coming out with us. This was mostly fun.”

“We’ll do it again,” Emma answered. “Even if you are mean to me.”

“Just realistic, cuz.”

Archer kept his arms around her as they drove off. The area of the parking lot where they stood was dark and for the most part, private. “Want to let me in on the secret?”

Emma sighed and dropped her head back onto his shoulder. “There’s no secret. I just really, really suck at pool.”

“You can’t be that bad.”

“Don’t put money on that.”

“Let’s go find out.”

As much as he’d doubted her words, he saw that she was telling the truth after they’d finished half a game at an all-night diner not far from his apartment. Archer didn’t even try to pretend he wasn’t appalled, and after she sent the cue ball spinning halfway across the room he quickly pocketed the other balls.

“That’s not fair! You aren’t supposed to shoot mine, too.” With her hands on her hips, eyes narrowed, he couldn’t tell if she was really outraged or not.

“It might not be fair but it was the safest way to end things.” He took her cue stick and put it with his in the rack on the wall. “Come on. Let’s get some air.”

She followed him to the door. “Where are we going?”

“It’s a full moon. Not too cold, and I stashed a couple of blankets in the truck along with a thermos with some cocoa. How about we drive up to my land?”

“I don’t know. I’m still feeling pretty insulted,” she said as she went to the truck and waited for him to unlock it. “My ego is dented. You didn’t even try to teach me how to shoot. Most men would have taken advantage of that.”

Though her words were teasing he picked up on a little thread of hurt. “First off, I know a hopeless cause when I see one. Ow!” He rubbed his arm where she smacked him, grinning. “And second of all, if I’d gotten behind you to show you anything we’d have put on more of a display for the people in there than you’d probably want to. Have I mentioned how much I like that dress?”

“No, you haven’t. Not since we left the house.” She slid in the seat, but didn’t swing her legs in. “I thought maybe you’d lost interest.”

Archer had her caged in well enough and he took a step closer. “Don’t confuse restraint with disinterest. If you hadn’t made a vow of chastity, we’d still be at your house.”

Emma sucked in a breath. “You know about that? How?”

“Two guesses. Move your legs.” He stood back. Once she was in he closed the door and went around.

“Amelia?” she asked when he opened the driver’s door.

“Of course.”

“I’m going to strangle her. Fair warning.”

“Why? She didn’t tell me to be gossiping. She told me because she knew I was interested in you. And I would just about guarantee you it went no further. Pip is a lot more mature than people give her credit for.”

Emma lowered her hands from her face. “I know. It’s just embarrassing.”

“She doesn’t want to see you get hurt.”

“Or you. She warned me to not break your heart.”

His hands tightened on the steering wheel. “That sounds like good advice to me.”

“I wouldn’t do it intentionally, you know.” Her voice was quiet.

“But you still might do it.”

She didn’t have a response. When they reached the end of the bypass, where going right would mean going to Archer’s land, she asked him to go left instead.

“I think we need to talk, and my house might be the better place to do that.”

“Okay.”

A few minutes later they were sitting in the living room, an awkward silence spreading between them. Emma had one corner of the couch and Archer the other.

“Well, let’s talk,” he said finally.

“I don’t know where to begin.”

“How about with whatever it is that’s bothering you?”

She tucked her hair back behind her ears. “I guess I’m still trying to figure out why you’re interested in me. There are a lot of women out there, even some in my own family, who are better bargains. I’m no good at relationships. And honestly, I don’t know if I can take a chance on a relationship. Not with Sydney still so young.”

Shit. Jack was right. Archer ran his hand through his hair as he tried to figure out how to convince her that he was serious.

“Why are you a bad bargain? Is it because you had two breakups?”

She frowned. “You
have
been talking to someone. And yes, that’s part of it. But I’m a single mom, and I can’t drop my child and her needs to pacify a man’s ego. It’s nothing personal. It’s just how my priorities are.”

Archer felt like he’d been punched in the gut. “Do you seriously think I’d ask you to shove Sydney aside for me? Emma, what kind of man do you think I am?”

“I–I don’t… I don’t think you’d do that. But I have responsibilities that women without children don’t. This date tonight? It’s the first time I’ve been out in months. Not counting Tennessee, which was a total aberration.”

If she hadn’t had such a sincerely confused look on her face, Archer would have been furious. As it was, he was hurt and insulted. He stood and paced to the empty fireplace as he tried to get his emotions under control.

“I know there’s a lot more to being a parent than what I’m aware of, but you’re making it sound like it’s nothing but drudgery. I know that isn’t true. And I’m not afraid of responsibilities, Em.” He decided to put all his cards on the table. “I want to marry you, I want to be a father to Sydney. Not temporarily, but for the rest of my life.”