Page 25 of The Soul of Archer
***
Gage shut down his laptop and stretched. He was glad it was Saturday and it wasn't his turn on call. Course, he really wished that Stacey was there. He had met Stacey Carlin the previous fall at Krista's reveal event. Since then they had stayed in touch and he had even gone to visit her in New York a time or two. Sighing, he rose from the chair and reached for his cell, but it rang before he touched it.
"Carson."
"Gage, it's Hawk. Look, I need you to come get us."
Gage didn't like the sound of that. He pivoted and strode from his office. "Where?"
"We'll be at Q-Ball. It's a bar at..."
"I know where it is. You and Alora wait at the bar and keep the front and back exit in sight. I'll be there in ten." Gage hung up as he swiped his keys from the kitchen counter. He was in his truck and backing out of the driveway in seconds and quickly called up Ethan. "Hey Ethan, we got a problem."
***
Alora nursed her beer watched the front while beside her, Lance watched the rear. Unlike that first week after getting back to Austin where she jumped at every sound, right now she felt strangely calm. She let out breath and cupped her chin in her hand.
"What's wrong Alora?" Lance asked.
"Nothing's wrong exactly, it's just..."
"Just what?”
“Well, I know that I have Sam and his family after me and I should be scared but, I’m not. At least not anymore. What does that mean?”
Lance smiled a little, “It means my Tigress, that you’re a lot stronger than you thought when this all started.”
Alora smirked, peeling at the label of her beer. “Have you ever been married?”
Lance was floored at the question. Of all the things she could have asked, he had never considered her asking that. Let alone in the middle of crowded bar. “No.”
Alora turned to face him. Silently she just stared at him. He wasn’t sure he liked how she was looking at him, but what the hell could he do? Look away? Fuck that. He wasn’t a coward, so he let her look. After nearly a minute, she finally spoke.
“You came close, though didn't you? She hurt you. Whoever the bitch was, I can see the pain of heartbreak in your eyes. Hell, I know the look because I see it every morning when I look in the damn mirror.”
Before he could respond, he spotted Ethan slipping in the back. He turned to tell Alora and saw Gage walking in the front. He polished off his beer as his friends reached them. “Guess I shouldn’t be surprised Gage called you.”
“Nope, you shouldn’t be. You two okay.” Ethan said.
“Yeah, we’re fine. Lance hid his bike in the parking garage around the corner on the fourth floor. I suggested coming here to wait because it’s crowded. Well, that and they have good beer and I needed one.” Alora replied.
The men laughed. “Well, I’ll get the bike and Gage can take you guys to the house.” Ethan suggested.
Alora tossed back the rest of her beer and was following Gage with Lance behind her. She noticed the two men were in complete sync with each other. Knowing how the other would move and where without words. She found it fascinating and kind of a turn on. Though she doubted if she suggested that Lance share her with another man, especially one of his teammates he’d shit a brick. Oh well, can’t blame a girl for fantasizing, right? She must have been smiling, because when Lance helped her into Gage’s truck he lifted a brow.
“What’s got you smiling?”
Alora giggled, “Maybe I’ll tell you when we get to the house.”
Lance leaned close to her ear, “I’ll hold you to that.” Lance shot Gage a look when he heard his teammate chuckle. “What?”
“Nothing Hawkeye, nothing at all.” Gage grinned.
