Chapter 254DevanteWe're in the shower, washing off this shit show of a day, when Devante turns to me, desire and love written so plainly across his face."I came here looking for a change, never knowing I would fall in love with you," I start, my voice breaking as I try to talk out my feelings. "From the first moment I saw you, when we flirted, I knew you were something special. I'm only sorry it took me so long to act on it."Her mouth screws up before tears pool in her eyes and start pouring down her face, although it's hard to tell which are tears and which is the water from the shower. I know she's overwhelmed from the shock of her kidnapping added to our fight, but I have to tell her what's in my heart. I don't want to waste any more time on miscommunication and unspoken words with the woman who holds my heart."I didn't want love, never wanted to get married. I thought sharing your life with someone was dumb, because my dad left at such a young age. I'm learning how stupi
Chapter 255Devante"Happy Birthday!"Eden shrieks with laughter, holding a hand to her chest. "Y'all scared the hell outta me!"We've all gathered in Ryan and Whitney's back yard, enjoying the last of the summer days, lounging by the pool. The biggest thing going on today, though? Eden's birthday."You surprised?" I ask her as we have a seat beside each other, dangling our legs in the water. "Shocked is more like it. I can't believe you went to this trouble.""Wasn't just me," I defend. "Stella, Kels, and Alisa had a lot to do with it too. It was a group effort.""A family effort," Alisa yells as she stands at the grill, holding a plate for Menace to transfer the cooked hamburgers and hotdogs onto. "Yeah." I sling my arm around Eden's shoulders. "A family effort.""Who knew these people would end up being our family," she whispers.I laugh right along with her. "I wouldn't trade these people for any of the other friends I've ever had.""You're right." She tilts her head
Chapter 256Archer"How'd this happen?"My head yanks toward the opening in the curtain as Alisa's voice precedes her. "Was chasing a runner. Barbed wire caught me as we went over the fence."She smirks, standing in front of me, placing gloves onto her hands. "Looks like somebody tried to ruin that pretty face of yours.""Didn't you tell me the last time I asked you out on a date that it was average, at best?""A girl has to play things close to the vest, Archer." She opens a disinfectant pack and goes to town."Holy fuck that burns.""Poor baby." She leans in, blowing her hot breath against my skin. I've always had a reaction to Alisa, but this goes well beyond professional as I feel my length hardening and pressing against the zipper of my uniform pants. "Yeah, poor me," I press out against tight vocal cords."Are you okay? You're looking a little red. Have they taken your blood pressure yet?"A harsh laugh works its way out of the back of my throat. "Oh, it's sky-high r
THE LAUREL SPRINGS EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM - ARCHERArcher"Heading onto main and hopping the fence. I'm sending Rambo over. If anyone can meet over there, do so ASAP!"The inflection in Ransom's voice over the radio causes my heart to pump faster. The adrenaline I've come to recognize flows through my veins at a high rate of speed, almost as quickly as I drove my patrol car to get here. Tapping my radio, I answer, "almost there."As I come around the corner, there the suspect is. "Hands up." It's a direction, not a question. He glances at me, then at Rambo, before turning around and attempting to scale the next fence.Rambo barks wildly, running at full-speed to where he is and grabbing him by the leg."Get him off me, " the runner screams.Hopping onto the fence to try and bring him down, I get jostled. A stinging sensation starts at my eyebrow and the feeling of blood is immediate. "Son of a bitch."Once I get him down on the ground and attempt to put him in cuffs, my gaze li
Alisa "You're really doing it, huh?" Stella questions as she takes a seat next to me at the nurse's station. "Doing what?" I lift my shoulder up in an innocent gesture.She cuts her eyes to me, a smirk crossing her face. "Must be the full moon, right? That's why you agreed to go out on a date with Archer."Sighing, I bite my lip, my stomach doing this stupid fluttery thing it does when I think about him. "That's totally it. Has nothing to do with the fact he's lean, hot, and inked in places you can't see without a shirt on.""Famous last words." Stella laughs.Glancing at her slightly rounded stomach, I give her a look. "You'd know. Number two on the way with a hot, lean, and inked K-9 handler.""What can I say? Since the first date we went out on, I haven't been able to say no when it comes to him."That's exactly what I'm afraid of with Archer. I've been there before, with a man I couldn't say no to. It got me in way more trouble than I'd ever imagined it could have. That,
Alisa"Want me to walk you out?" I ask Stella as we clock out for the night. Although she's older than me and she's obviously able to take care of herself, I like to make sure she's safe. Especially since she's pregnant. If I were in her shoes, I'd want someone to look out for me. Ransom's tried to request she be on an earlier shift, but she refuses to ask for special treatment."You don't have to." She takes a drink of her water. "I don't have to, but I want to. You'd do the same for me.""You're right, I would. I appreciate it." She smiles, tired lines at her eyes. "I'll take you up on it. It'll make you feel better and when I tell Ransom about it later, he'll be impressed I let someone help me."Together, we make our way out into the warm early morning. Even at almost three am, it's still warm and muggy. Welcome to south Alabama. "How do you like it here?" Stella asks as we walk into the security lights. "I love it!" "It was that bad at Calvert City?" A lot of the
ArcherWaking up is painful as I realize I've rolled over on the side of my head with fresh stitches. Back in my college days, I could play football in the quad, get tackled by fifteen different guys, and wake up without much soreness the next day. Fuck, I could even go out that night and have a great time.It's amazing how a few years on the body can change the way it reacts.While twenty-two-year-old me would've been hopping up, heading to Waffle House, and getting a plate of hash browns scattered, smothered, and covered. Today? I'm fucking hurting. Gingerly, I lever myself out of bed before putting my feet on the floor and dropping my head into my palms. Beside me, my phone beeps with an incoming message.AL: Are you awake? How are you feeling? AR: Just woke up and feeling pretty rough.AL: Want some company?Looking over at the clock, I can't believe she's up and at 'em . The last time I talked to her was about ten hours ago. When I work the night shift, it takes me a
AlisaI've never been one to spill my guts to others I barely know, yet here I am about ready to tell Archer everything about my life. Starting with the bitch who took my boyfriend in middle school on up to the professor who grabbed my ass in nursing school. There's an easiness to him that allows me to talk without feeling self-conscious. Together, we clean up the mess from the breakfast I brought. With anyone else, I'd already be trying to leave, but I can't help but want to stay. "I guess I should get going?" I phrase it as a question since I don't want to. I enjoy spending time with him and I want to spend as much as I can.He reaches out, grabbing my hand. His large palm encases my hand, warming me from the inside out. "You don't have to. I'd love it if you'd hang out with me. I won't be up for more than probably lying on the couch and maybe taking a walk later, but you're welcome to stay."His soft words warm my chest. "I'd love to. If you need me to leave so you can rest, ju