Page 60 of Cruel Love

He nods. “Gotta agree with you there.”

“I don’t know how to tell her that. How do I ask Caleb Fawn to drop everything she’s built for herself because I think sand is a little overrated?”

“Sounds like you need to sit down with her and talk it out.”

I shake my head. “I can’t suddenly come home with doubts after convincing her that everything was going to be okay. I’m gonna screw it up. Just like always.”

“Well…” He chews on his lip. “If you want my opinion…”

“Yes. Please.”

“You want this child, yes?” he asks.

“Yes,” I answer. “Of course, I do.”

“And she wants it, too?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

“And you’re happily married?”

“For now,” I joke from the edge of my mouth.

“Then, this child is officially far better off than I ever was.” He leans in. “Forget about what you don’t have, Boxcar, and take a moment to stop and appreciate what you do have. Believe me when I say that what you have is worth more than the dollars in your bank — or lack thereof. You took a bullet for this woman. I think you’re way past the awkward stage of the relationship, Sparky. Talk to her.”

I blink. “Wow.”

“What?”

“If you can’t get Caleb to sleep with you, I probably will.”

He rolls his eyes and turns around with the paper sack clenched in one hand. “Come on.”

“No, really,” I say, following behind him. “You’re totally right about that accent. If I wore panties, they’d be around my ankles right now.”

“I assume your jovial tone means you value my opinion?”

“I do.” I tap his shoulder, stopping him. “Thank you, Archer. I really needed to hear that.”

“You’re welcome.” He gestures forward. “Now, let’s get back before Lilah gets bored and kills someone.”

I wince. “Speaking of the awkward stage of the relationship.”

Archer shakes his head. “You have no idea.”

Chapter 16

Dani

ROXIE ROBERTS MISSING.

Well, this isn’t good.

I adjust the baseball cap on my head as I focus an ear toward the TV mounted on the wall behind the cash register. This was supposed to be a quick trip in and out to grab snacks and caffeine for the road. I didn’t expect the media to catch wind of my latest disappearing act so quickly.

“LAPD officers are asking for any witnesses to come forward concerning the sudden disappearance of actress Roxie Roberts and the murder of her assistant, Lena Wilde,” the reporter reads aloud. “Ms. Wilde was discovered late last night in a theatre storage room with two gunshot wounds to the head.”

I sigh. “Oh, boy...”

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