Page 10 of Take My Place

“Where are we going, Romy?”

“I thought you didn’t want me to talk?”

“Don’t be a smart ass.”

“You’ll see,” came the enigmatic reply. “Anyway, we’re very nearly there. You might as well sit back and enjoy the ride.”

“Haven’t you learned anything from last night? I don’t like not being told what’s going on. Where are you taking me?”

“Almost there… almost there… and here we are!”Romy pulled into the car park of a quaint little cottage with a sign over the door that simply saysWeaver’s.Parking in a space close to the entrance, Romy says to me, “This place makes one of the best cooked breakfasts you’ll ever have. I figured you’re going to need the energy for a long day of shopping, and you can’t do better than some delicious crispy bacon, cooked to perfection.”

As we walk into the café, I see something which makes me come to a halt, even though the sight brings my mood skyrocketing to exhilarated.

My mouth goes dry as my heart beats happily in my chest as I stare at them. Archer looks too good as he sits on a stool, his leather jacket covered arms resting on the sides of his seat. Tight jeans, navy tee-shirt and heavy boots finish off his bad boy look that has me completely lost in him for a moment.

But my gaze drifts to Declan at his side, looking his exact opposite in style and looks. The blonde, pretty boy has black trousers and a clearly designer white shirt on, tucked into the trousers. His sleeves are rolled up, making him look incredible in so many ways. I clear my throat as he runs a hand through his hair and stands up.

“Oh yeah,” Romy says. “Archer and Declan both thought this was a good place to meet.”

I run over to where Archer and Declan are sitting, falling into their arms in a crazy, three-way hug. “You guys! Why didn’t you tell me they were going to be here, Romy?”

“What–and miss that look on your face?” Romy leaves me to sit down with the other two as he heads over to the corner of the counter to order food for us.

“How have you been?” I ask. “It feels like forever since I saw you.”And I’ve thought of both at least twenty times a day.

“Seven months, two weeks and four days,” Declan grumbles. “Not that I’m keeping track or anything like that.”

We stare at each other, a thousand words going unsaid. I pull my gaze to Archer, who hasn’t answered me.

“And how are you healing, Archer? Did my father’s doctor do a good job at least?” I ask as I take a seat and they both sit back down in theirs.

Archer’s leg presses against mine, and I almost gasp from the contact.“He did.” Archer pulls the neck of his shirt to one side to reveal an impressive scar. “I’ve got full mobility back in my arm, although it still aches when the weather’s about to change. The one thing I’ll say for your father is that he always did know how to find good help.”

“So, am I forgiven for keeping this little secret?” Romy asks, coming to sit in the empty chair next to me, his arm wrapping around the back. It doesn’t escape my notice when Archer and Declan both look at his arm like they want to chop it off.

“Thisone, yes,” I say. “But that doesn’t excuse you for our engagement.”

“Your engagement?” Archer tightly asks.

“Wanna explain this one, Romeo?” Declan growls.

“Oh, didn’t Romy tell you?” I say lightly. “It’s the condition for looking after me. His father is insisting we get married, otherwise he’s sending me straight back to my father.”

“That is not fucking happening,” Archer snaps, leaning across the table into Romy’s face. “I will not let you marry my girl. Asshole.”

“Your girl? Huh, funny that,” Romy replies with a cocky smile.

“Enough!” Declan shouts, grabbing Archer’s jacket and roughly pulling him back into his seat.

I glance around the room, noticing how we are being watched by everyone. It takes a few moments for the room to pick up its chatter once again.

Romy’s confident smile loses a little of its brightness as Archer looks like he is about to kill him–literally.

“I want Ivy safe. That’s all I care about, and I assume you both want the same.” He turns to me. “I know you thought you had done a good job of flying under the radar, but you should never have stayed in touch with Katy, let alone live so close to her.

“I honestly believe the only reason your dad didn’t get to you before I did is because he’s been fixated on control after his failed coup attempt. I had to get you out of there before he started looking. The only way my dad would allow an Archaic to stay with us is if it benefited him. I tried to argue with him, but once Dad’s got an idea in his mind, there’s no shifting it. He can be really stubborn. I figured the important thing is to make sure you were safe. We could work out the details later.”

“Details like the colour my bouquet should be?” I sarcastically ask.

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