Page 17 of The Soul of Archer
"Alora." Lance pushed, his voice taking on a deep authoritative tone.
"Oh, fuck it, I told them I was your wife, alright? It was the only way I could think of to get them to sedate you." Alora huffed, dropping his hand and leaning back her chair, crossing her arms.
"My...wife?" He stuttered.
"Yeah. Look, I couldn't bear it to see you restrained so I acted." She said.
Silently Lance rolled her explanation around in his head.'Alora Archer. Hmm, not a bad ring to it.'He sat up in bed, biting back a hiss of pain. Alora was out of the chair and on the bed next to him in a blink. "I'm okay. My hip just hurt."
"I would imagine considering you were clipped by a car." She stated, propping the pillows behind him. "Here, ease back. Slowly."
"Yes ma'am." Lance teased, easing back.
"Ugh, why is it you men always turn into baby's when you're sick or hurt. Ryan acts the same way with Jacquie." She complained.
"When are they letting me out?" He questioned, changing the subject.
"Eight tomorrow morning. It's almost ten now. You think you can eat something?"
"Yeah. Food sounds good, as long as it's not the slop they serve here. I swear MRE's are better than hospital food." He grumbled.
Alora smiled, standing. "Well, you're in luck. Dr. Marcs said it would be late when you came around and that I could bring in outside food. Gage brought your truck over earlier. Any place in particular you want?"
"Gabe's Burger from Gabriel's Café. Just tell them it's for me and they'll take care of it." Lance requested.
"You got it." Alora nodded. She leaned over and kissed him softly. "Be back in a flash."
Lance could only nod. With one last smile, she was out of the room. He just laid there. She had kissed him. First, she says she told the doc that she was his wife and now this. How many more shocks could he take from this woman?
***
"Damnit, why do I have to be in this damn chair? I can walk." Lance growled as Alora pushed him down the corridor.
"Hospital rules Mr. Archer." The older nurse answered sweetly. "Consider yourself lucky Dr. Marcs is letting you go home this morning. Anyone else would be here till tomorrow."
Lance huffed and crossed his arms. Alora laughed. "Stop being such a baby. We'll be back at the house soon and you can grab a shower while I fix breakfast."
"Fine. I'll behave but only because you promised food woman." Lance grumbled, causing Alora and the nurse to laugh more.
Lance loved Alora's laugh. It was sweet and melodious. He promised then and there to make her laugh more. When the trio exited out the front, he found his truck ready and waiting for them. Alora pushed the chair closer and without waiting, Lance pushed out of the chair and moving slowly, opened the door. When Alora moved to his side to assist him into the truck, a small part of his frozen heart thawed even more.
He studied the woman who only a week ago he hadn't known existed as she talked to the nurse. Over the last week she had not only gotten under his skin but had begun thawing his heart. That was the biggest shock. When she hopped in a minute later, she flashed him a sweet smile before pulling away from the hospital.
"So, what do you want for breakfast?"
"Huh?" He said.
Alora giggled, "Breakfast. I told you while you were getting a shower I'd cook. So, I'm taking requests."
"Oh. Well, in that case. Three fried eggs over medium, hash browns, bacon extra crispy and ham steak. And yes, I have all that. Course the hash browns are the frozen ones and I got a fresh pound of ham steaks from my butcher guy that Ethan sent me to when we moved here." He replied.
"Then that's what I'll fix. And which butcher? I go to Johnny G's." She stated.
"I use Hudson's on Congress. Ethan's family knows the owner, so it works."
"Oh yeah, Frank uses them. He keeps telling me I should go there but from the first time I walked into Johnny G's I've been hooked. I guess kinda like you and Gabriel's. When I went in last night and placed your order they asked about you. I told them you were in the hospital. The manager didn't even charge me and threw in the extra-large fries and drink."
Lance had to smile at that. "Yeah, they're good people at Gabriel's. I go there for lunch at least twice a week."
