Page 12 of The Soul of Archer
Chapter 6
"So, why do the guys call Lance "Hawk"? I mean I've heard it a few times now." Alora asked as she put a few pairs of jeans in a bag.
"Ethan told me it's because he has the eyes of a hawk and he's a fan of Hawkeye from the Avengers. He's the sniper on Alpha team and back when they were in the Marines together. Ethan says Lance is a deadly shot." Krista said, folding one of the chef jackets for Alora.
"So, Lance and the other were Marines?"
"Yes ma'am. More specifically, MARSOC. That's the Marine Special Forces. That's where the guys met. After their time was up they all went into business together and started Blackout."
This fascinated Alora. Oh, she suspected the guys had been former military, but Marines? Ryan had been a Marine for eight years and knew they were tough son-of-bitches. She felt even more safer knowing this.
"So, what's up with you and Lance anyway?" Krista inquired.
"What do you mean?" Alora replied quickly.
"Oh no you don't girl. Spill!" Krista laughed.
Alora groaned and sat on the foot of her bed. "I have no damned clue what's up. I mean the day he and Tony did the security at my shop he, well, we were in the back lot and he kissed me."
Krista let out a little squeal and sat beside her. "I knew it. Oh, ho ho, I'm so going to bust his balls over this. I warned him."
"What are you talking about you warned him?"
"You see, last year when I had that asshole Ingram stalking me, I was at the range with Lance and Grant for some target shooting. Just in case ya' know. Anyway, I told Lance that he'd meet a girl who’d knocked him on his ass and I'd have a front row seat. Seems that girl is you hon."
"Pffft." Alora scoffed. "I'm just a job to Lance."
"I beg to differ. The way he looked at you tonight when he offered for you to stay with him...Christ. If I wasn't so in love with my husband I'd be jealous." Krista argued.
Alora just sat there as Krista stood and finished packing. Was Krista right? Could Lance really be into her? Lord knew she found him both intimidating and fascinating. Okay more than fascinating, she found him hot as hell. The bigger question now was, what was she going to do about this?
***
Lance glanced at Alora as he drove toward his house. She had been silent since he helped her into his truck. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it and decided to stay quiet. What the hell would he say anyway? Christ, what had he been thinking when he offered for her to stay with him?
'You know what you were thinking Archer. You've been drawn to her since the day you saw her.'His mind pointed out.
Lance promptly ignored that comment. He wasn't about to delve into what he had been thinking regarding Alora St. James for the last few days. Nope, he so was not going there. Mentally sighing, he pulled into his drive. Just as he put the truck in park, Alora let out a low whistle.
"Nice house Archer." Alora said.
"Thanks. Took nearly a year to build but I'm proud of it." Lance replied, pride lacing his voice.
"You built this?" She asked in surprise.
Lance chuckled as he got out. He walked around to the passenger side and helped her out. "Well, I personally didn't build it, but I designed it. It's a modern twist on my grandpa's cabin out in Jacksonville."
"Jacksonville, Florida or North Carolina?"
"North Carolina. I'm surprised you knew that; most people assume Florida."
Alora shrugged as she followed him up onto the wide porch. "Ryan was stationed there when he started in the Marines. He took me and Jacquie there one summer."
Lance unlocked the front door, entered first to deactivate his alarm, then stepped aside for her to enter. He studied her as she looked around the living room of his home. The room was big and open. The walls were like those of a log cabin with a beautiful warped glass picture window facing the front yard. Across from the window was a slate fireplace with his 64" plasma resting above it. The floors were polished hickory which was a contrast to the dark oak logs of the wall. His grandpa's old rocking chair sat to the left of the fireplace while the C-shaped sectional sofa and the oval coffee table rested in the center of the room facing the tv.
"Wow, this place looks beautiful." Alora declared in awe.
Lance could feel himself smiling, "Thanks. Come on, let's get you settled in. One of the guys said they'd bring your car by in a bit. If you're hungry, I could whip something up for you."
