Not that he cared what their opinions were of him and Cassie being together. Theyweren’ttogether. Not yet, anyway. But damn if he didn’t want her more than he’d ever wanted any other woman.
Fucking. Ever.
And besides, Logan and his wife had first become romantically involved while Logan had been protecting Natalie from a pair of ruthless killers. Granted the two had been friends for years prior to becoming a couple, but still.
Archer and Cassie were two grown, single adults who clearly had an undeniable attraction brewing between them. If that kiss they’d shared was any indication, when he finally did get the enticing blonde into his bed, there was no doubt in his mind it would be anything less than incredible.
“Same goes for me,” Chase piggybacked off of Van’s comment to reach out if the need arose. “I’m only a few minutes’ drive from here, so anything else happens…”
The skilled sniper didn’t finish the sentence because he didn’t have to. Chase, Logan, Lucky, Van…they weren’t just Archer’s teammates. They were his brothers.
If one needed help, the rest were right there, ready and willing to do whatever it took to have their backs.
“Thanks, man. Appreciate it.” Archer slapped Chase on the back after pressing the button to open the wide door to the two-car space. The motor’s low humming filled the air as the door slowly began to rise.
As Lucky stepped out of the garage and onto the driveway, he turned to Archer and said, “You know, I have to admit. When you first came to us about taking Cassie on as a client, I was worried. I mean, the evidence against her is pretty fucking stacked.”
“And now?”
“Now…” The computer guru paused. “The more I get to know her, the more I’m thinking your gut was spot on with this one.”
“Agreed.” Logan nodded as he stood beside Lucky.
“I’m with them.” Chase flashed a boyish grin. “I mean, evidence or not, I’ve never really gotten the whole femme fatale vibe from her.”
Neither had he, which was why he’d been so adamant about taking her case. And while Van remained silent in his opinion, the slight nod the dark-haired man gave was all the confirmation Archer needed.
“Once you get the meeting set up with Knox, let us know when and where,” Logan instructed. “We’ll be there.”
“Copy that.” Archer shook his team leader’s hand. “Thanks for coming.”
“Never have to thank us for that, Nash.” Logan frowned. “Wasn’t that long ago you guys came through for Nat and me? If not for you, she would’ve been…”
The other man’s voice thickened with emotion, and Archer knew Logan was thinking of the moment Natalie was seconds away from losing her life. Thankfully the team was there, and the sweet CPA was alive and well, the newlyweds both deliriously happy.
Nowhewas the one needing their help. He was the one protecting a woman he feared he was already falling for. Only…
I’m not afraid.
Andthatshould have scared the ever-loving shit out of him. But it didn’t.
“I’ll let you know once the meeting is set,” he told the others.
Following another round of parting handshakes, the other men left. After securing the garage door once more, Archer went back inside.
The atmosphere seemed much quieter than before, and it took him a second to realize why.No water.
The muffled sound of running water had ceased to exist, which meant Cassie was no longer in the shower. His urge to go upstairs and make sure she was okay was strong, but Archer bypassed his own personal desires to give her the space she clearly needed.
Walking past the stairs, he continued on, not stopping until he was outside on the home’s back deck. Archer pulled his phone from his pocket, retrieving the card with Knox’s number on it, as well. Ignoring the gorgeous, sunny view of Elliot Bay, he stood at the deck’s railing and began typing out the message he wanted to send.
The address to the small warehouse where he hoped to meet with Knox was one the team had purchased in anticipation of confidential meetings such as this. Their war room back at the office was great for their team-only conversations. But a meeting like this required a different level of confidentiality.
If Detective Knox really did plan to share inside intel on Cassie’s case, he wouldn’t want to risk doing it here or at the E.N.S. office. He’d need a location that was private. One with little to no chance of them being spotted by the press—or anyone else—that could cause the law enforcement official trouble.
Archer’s thumbs flew over the phone’s smooth screen as he messaged Knox with the address and a meeting time of noon tomorrow.
He would’ve preferred to talk to the guy now, rather than wait. Especially if the guy had intel that could help Cassie’s case. But he’d seen how weary the woman had begun to look as they all realized they weren’t any closer to uncovering the truth than when she’d first stepped foot inside his office days before.