Page 65 of The Soul of Archer
She could only think of one answer. “Yes!”
The smile Lance gave her was blinding. He stood, gently wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. The kiss was full of passion, love, adoration and every other damned emotion the man was feeling. It all flowed from him and into her. What she had thought was wishful thinking only moments ago was not becoming reality. He would be her husband and she would be his wife. They would belong to each other and only each other. Lance broke the kiss and just stood there holding her, her head against his heart, the steady beat the sweetest sound she had ever heard.
“And before you ask about the ring, my mom is bringing it. When I graduated boot camp, my grandma gave me her engagement ring. She said when I met the perfect woman I was to give it to her. And no, it’s not the ring I gave Tegan. I never even considered giving her that ring. I guess looking back, that should have been the first clue she wasn’t my other half. You however are. You are my other half Alora and I’ll make sure you know it, that the damned world knows it for the rest of our lives.” Lance declared.
“I never believed in destiny or fate, or karma, but I do now. We made our own the day you saved me from that car and I told the doctors I was your wife. Guess fate decided we were meant to be. I love you Lance Archer.” Alora smiled tearfully.
***
That evening, Lance stood at the grill with his team and Danny while a few feet away Alora sat with Krista, Krista’s publisher Stacey Carlin who was visiting from New York and Krista’s girlfriends. “Congratulations Hawk. I think you and Alora are a good match.” Gage grinned.
“I never thought I would ever consider marriage again, but then I met Alora and well, here we are.” Lance chuckled, flipping the burgers.
“That’s usually how it works. It hits you when you never see it coming.” Tony said. “Least, that’s what my ol’ man keeps telling me.”
“It was like that when I saw Krista again. Hell, even before I left for the Marines I never really considered a family. Marriage sure, but not the kids’ part. Yet last year when I saw her again, I wanted the whole damned package.” Ethan added.
Lance nodded. “I feel ya brother. Before with Tegan, kids were never mentioned. With Alora though, fuck man, I can pretty much picture them. Little girls with her eyes, her attitude, my hair. Boys that are a perfect blend of both of us. God, I sound like a fuckin’ Hallmark movie or something.”
The guys all laughed at the mushiness coming from Lance. Of the six of them, he was the last one to spout out romantic and sentimental stuff. Even Lance found it a bit strange to hear those words coming from his mouth, but what the hell was he gonna do about it? Not a damn thing, that’s what. So what if he was changing a little? His dad always said that finding the right woman will change a man but for the better. That’s what was happening with him and he wouldn’t give it up for anything in the world. His Alora could handle him in any type of mood it seemed. She had seen him mad, happy, scared, and still she stuck by him.
“Hate to change the subject but I figured tonight would be a good time to bring this up since we’re all here.” Danny spoke up.
“What’s up Danny?” Ethan questioned.
“It’s about that job offer you made me Ethan.”
“You’ve made a decision?” Grant asked.
“I can start in two weeks if you guys still want me.” Danny answered.
Ethan clapped his brother-in-law on the shoulder. “Guys, what do you say?”
“I say welcome to Blackout. Brother.” Lance said, his teammates echoing the sentiment.
Chapter 24
Lance sat at his desk. It was his first week back at Blackout in nearly a month. After the events in Terrell, Lance had been by Alora’s side. The day after she came home, his mom and Jessi had arrived and were currently staying at Lance’s house, which had been repaired right before the showdown with the Malconi’s. Yet one thing about the case still bothered Lance and the others. Where the hell was Monica Malconi? That one last loose end had caused the delay in Danny leaving the D.E.A. and joining Blackout. The week following him saying he was coming to Blackout, his bosses informed him that Monica was M.I.A. When the authorities had gone down to Costa Rica to apprehend her, they found she had fled and there had been no trace of her since.
Lance hated loose ends and from her history, Monica was a dangerous one. He had no doubt that she knew her husband and children were dead and that she would be out for blood. That meant, Alora still had a target on her back. Leaning back in his chair, he ran his hands over his face trying to clear his head enough to focus on the report he was working on for the D.A.’s office on what happened. He was brought out of his musings by a knock on his door.
“Yeah.”
The door opened, and Alex stepped in. “Catch you at a bad time son?”
“Hey dad.” Lance smiled. “I thought you were coming in tomorrow?”
“Decided to surprise you.” Alex replied, sitting across from his son. “I just came from Sassy Explosions and your mom and Frank filled me in on where things stand from the administrative stand point. Jessi seems to have a handle on the bakery end. In fact, Frank said if she hadn’t already promised me and your mom she’d run our bakery and coffee shop back home, he’d snatch her up here.”
Lance had to laugh at that. Alora had said the same thing when they had stopped by a few days ago after her appointment with Dr. Tinedale. “Alora said the same thing. Dad, Alora and I can’t thank you, mom and Jessi enough for all the help. I know it’s kind of inconvenient what with the book shop and new construction going on back home…”
“Stop right there. You’re our son and Jessi’s brother. You’ve always gone out of your way for our family. With me and your mom, Jessi and Jack while in school. Now it’s our turn to help you and Alora. And it’s not an inconvenience. I’ve got the time saved up and the staff at the shop back home are fully capable of running things. Plus, helping Alora out gives Jessi some experience that will benefit her later.” Alex interrupted.
“Still, thanks. For everything.” Lance said.
Alex nodded. “Well, I’ll let you get back to your report. I’m heading to the house drop off my stuff and figured I’d take my future daughter-in-law out to lunch.”
“She’d like that. She’s over at Ethan and Krista’s. Since we still have no effin’ clue where Monica Malconi is, she and I agreed she won’t be left alone.”
