Page 43 of The Soul of Archer
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Lance and Alora waved as his parents drove off. Slinging his arm around her shoulders, he led her back inside. “You get started on breakfast and I'll run the bag out to the car.”
“Hey, why am I always cooking?” She countered with her hands on her hips.
“Fine. I'll cook but I'm still running the bag out. Can't have you peaking.” He chuckled.
“What's with all the secrecy?”
“You'll find out tonight.”
He was still laughing when he grabbed the bag he had packed from the foot of the stairs. He walked out to the Navigator and put the bag in the very back. He was heading back inside when his cell rang. “Archer.”
“Hey. Just checking in.”Ethan said.
“Hey. Well, how's everything back there?”
“We’re all good to go. If Lady Luck is on our side, we'll have the Malconi’s in a damned cell by the time you guys get back.”
“We could use some luck.” Lance agreed. “Yesterday I told her I loved her.”
Ethan was silent for a moment,“That’s awesome buddy. How’d she take it?”
“She kissed me then said she loved me too. Christ Ethan, I've never felt like this. Not even with…yeah not even with her.”
“It feels pretty damn good doesn't it? Knowing your woman is yours and only yours.”
“Hell, yeah it does. Well, keep me posted Alright?”
“Will do. Tell your folks hi for us.”
Lance hung up and walked inside. He found Alora at the table reading the Sunday paper sipping her coffee. Smiling, he moved to the stove and started their breakfast.
An hour later, they were on I-40 making their way toward Raleigh. Lance just hoped what he had planned for this evening went smoothly. He wanted to fulfill her fantasy, and this was the only way he could think of.
“Do I get any kind of hint?”
“Nope.”
Alora groaned. “Ugh, you're no fun Lance.”
Lance couldn't help but laugh. Yet despite his outward confidence, inside he was worried that maybe he was going about this the wrong way. Guess he would have to wait and see how things turned out. Two hours later he pulled into The Umstead. He wanted this to be an experience she would remember so he picked this particular hotel. He had even scheduled her for time at the spa while he and his buddy got things set up in their room. They checked in and headed up to their room. When Alora stepped in she gasped.
“Oh wow! This room is amazing!”
“Glad you like it.” He smiled, closing the door behind them.
As she explored the suite, Lance placed their bag in the closet for the moment. What he didn’t bring with him, he would grab while she was in the spa and his buddy was bringing a few other things. Alora came out of the bedroom and he caught her bright smile a second before she was practically running and jumping into his arms. He laughed and hugged her tightly as she peppered his face with kisses.
“You like this?” he asked.
“Yes. Oh Lance, you treat me so good.” She replied.
Lance reached up and caressed her cheek, “You deserve to be treated like this. Hell, I think any woman deserves to be pampered occasionally by her man. A man should show his woman how much she means to him. Even if it’s something as simple as bringing her breakfast in bed.”
“I never thought of myself as one of those women who would like to be taken care of but with you…” she took a breath before continuing, “with you though, I feel so special. The way you look at me, the way you reach out and just take my hand, I feel safe, I feel loved.”
“And that’s what I want you to feel with me. I want you to know that you’re safe and loved and special to me.”
