Kian rolls his eyes dramatically. “Don’t be on the wrong side of this battle, Archer.”
“You might change your mind if you end up with one.”
“I could be so lucky.” He sighs. “Fernando at the diner got one. I’m green with envy.”
We continue our stroll, stopping in front of a building that says BFB PD And Puppies!
“This is the police station?”
“Police station and a grooming salon my friend, Cato, owns. You can meet him later. Let’s keep walking.” He grabs my arm and tugs me farther down the sidewalk.
“Kian, is that you?” A man steps out from the building. He looks about Kian’s age and is wearing a ballcap with Sheriff stitched across the front.
“Fuck,” Kian mutters under his breath and then does a one-eighty. “Fancy running into you.”
“Who’s this?” The guy eyes me speculatively.
“My new friend, Archer. He’s Sara’s brother.”
“Right. I heard you were moving to town. Nice to meet you. I’m Sheriff Bell.” He holds a strong hand out and I shake it.
“Sheriff Bell? Please. You can call him Jax.” Kian argues. Jax. So this is the ex.
“When I’m on official business—”
“He can still call you Jax,” Kian interrupts. “If you’ll excuse us. I’m taking Archer on an official tour.”
“Nice to meet you, Archer. If your sister needs any more help, you let her know she can call me.”
“More help?” I ask.
“With that jerk ex. I think I scared him off, but if he comes back, I’m around.” Jax disappears back into the police station.
I’m quiet as we return to our walk. Kian continues telling me stories and introducing me to people, but my mind is racing. Sara didn’t say she’d had problems with Chad. She made it sound like she found out about his affair and he happily left her. I need to know what the real story is. The only reason she wouldn’t tell me is if she were worried about my reaction. And I’d only react badly if he laid a hand on her. That fucker better not have touched my sister.
“Let’s eat at Comida’s. He has the best huevos rancheros.” Kian opens the door to a diner, and I follow him in.
We’re seated by a flippant teenager who looks like he wants to be anywhere but here. We sit on opposite sides of a booth and I open my menu, but I still can’t focus.
“Okay, what happened? You were fine and now you’re all broody and spacey.” Kian shoves my menu down to the table.
“Sorry. Something that Jax said about Sara got me thinking.”
“What did he say? I swear, that man went years keeping his trap shut about everything and now suddenly he’s so open and honest,” he rambles.
“He said if Sara needs help again. Did something happen with Chad I don’t know about?”
“Honestly, I have no idea. I didn’t know Sara before she came to work for me. I only heard rumors.”
“What kind of rumors?”
“Well, Jarrett told me that when she caught her husband cheating, she threw all his things out. He didn’t like that too much, so he…” Kian trails off.
“He what?” I growl.
“The rumor was he got physical. I don’t know if it’s true, though,” he rushes out.
“I’ve gotta go.” I stand up from the booth and rush out of the restaurant. Kian runs after me, calling my name. But I don’t stop. I’m seeing red. Why would she keep this from me? I need answers. And then I need to find that asshole Chad and teach him not to fuck with my baby sister.
“Archer. Wait.” Kian’s short steps are no match for mine. I eat up the entire street length before he’s even made it halfway.
Shop owners run to the windows of the businesses to find out what’s happening. I see their curious looks, but I don’t slow. No one attacks my sister without consequences. No one.
I’ve just turned up Sandpiper Way when an out of breath Kian pops out of an alleyway between the grocery store and the Fish Market.
“Why are your legs so long?” He bends over, panting and clutching his side. I want to walk right past him and get home to Sara, but he’s clearly in distress.
He’s one determined man to run after me when he clearly doesn’t get much cardio, judging by the fact that he looks as though he’s going to pass out after running a couple blocks. The anger at Chad still sits on the surface, but it’s knocked down a peg or two by the out of shape man in front of me. The humor of it all hits me and I can’t stop the bellow of laughter that comes out at the sight of him.
“This isn’t funny. I need water. And a bench.” He looks up, scanning the street. Seeing neither, he makes a pained noise. “Cramp. In my calf. Ouch.”
I snicker and help him to standing. I duck under his arm and wrap a hand around his waist. He uses me as a crutch to limp along, but it’s not easy considering I’m more than a foot taller than him. We trip over each other and stumble more than we make progress.
“This isn’t working. Hold on.” I turn to him and lift him over my shoulder.
“What are you do—” He starts to protest, but then changes his mind. “Actually, this is good. Anyone ever tell you that you have a bitable ass?”
“If you’re okay to comment on my ass, then maybe you’re okay to walk.” I prepare to set him back down.
“No, my calf really is cramping. I’ll be good. I promise.”
I shake my head and get us to Sara’s house, where I set him down on the sofa.
“Kian!” Sara rushes over. “What happened?”
“Just a cramp, honey.” He winces.
I push the coffee table closer and elevate his leg. I leave Sara to dote on him and get a bag of frozen peas. I lift his leg and set the bag underneath his calf. In all the chaos, my hyper focus on confronting Sara is pushed to the side.
And Kian looks all too pleased about it.
Kian
Did I exaggerate a cramp in order to get Archer to stop his tirade? Maybe. The second I told him what the rumors were about his sister, he freaked the hell out. I don’t know much about abuse victims, but I’m sure having your brother get in your face and demand answers would be a triggering experience.
I thought if I could talk to him, I could calm him down so he didn’t traumatize the poor girl, but he’s fast for being so dense. You’d think his muscle mass alone would slow him down.
So I did what all damsels in distress do. I faked a more severe injury than what really happened, and it worked. I wasn’t expecting to get tossed over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, but I’m not angry about it. I got up close and personal with the juiciest ass I’ve ever seen. I’m talking two honey hams sitting side by side, screaming to be devoured.
“Do you want an ibuprofen?” Sara asks. She’s such a mom. The second Archer tossed me onto the couch, she was all over me. I love her for it.
“No, I’m fine now. Just a charley horse from hell.” I readjust the peas under my leg.
Archer takes a seat across from the couch on a wingback chair. He crosses his legs with an ankle on his knee and studies me. He knows what I did. He probably knows why, too. His intense eyes meet mine, making me squirm.