Page 45 of Broken Halos
Ryder’s scowling caused a deep V to furrow on his brow. It wasn’t attractive and would cause premature wrinkles, but it wasn’t my concern. Not that I worried he would turn Archie’s head.
“Heading to Ryan’s Place?” he asked. His voice was innocent, but his eyes were a calculating ice blue, a sharp contrast to his black hair.
“I am.”
“Archie said you were stopping by and the reason why he needed to cut things short.” His lips turned up into a smug smile when I looked at him through unblinking eyes. Could he see my pulse pounding in my throat or hear my heart thudding in my chest? I hoped not because I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing his arrows constructed of words struck me in the heart.
“Then why did you ask me if I was going to Ryan’s Place if he told you I was stopping by? Could it be you wanted to cause trouble by implying you had to scurry out of his home so I wouldn’t catch the two of you in the throes of passion?”
Ryder threw his head back and laughed like I’d said the funniest thing he’d ever heard. “Throes of passion? Pastor Ollie, the rest of the world refers to it as fucking.”
Did he think to shock me? He was bound to be disappointed. I stepped closer to him, closing the distance and inhaled the air around him deep into my lungs. He jerked like I’d tried to lick him or something, but I liked that I had caught him off guard. “You didn’t just come from fucking Archie, Ryder. I’d recognize his scent anywhere, and I don’t smell him on you.” Ryder moved to open his mouth, but I cut him off with a raised hand. “Save your breath before you make yourself look more pathetic than you already have. I know the expression a man wears after spending time in Archie’s bed, and that’s not it. You’d be too tired to pick a stupid fight with me. You won’t come between us, so stop trying.”
I wanted him to confirm he hadn’t just left Archie’s bedroom, but he just smiled and shook his head. “Keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better, Pastor.”
Claire looked torn between throwing him out and not creating trouble with a paying customer. “It’s fine, Claire,” I said. “I’ll let you know what I think about these pumpkin pie cupcakes next time I’m in.”
“Have a great day, Ollie,” she said, offering me an encouraging smile. “Tell Archie and Henry I send my love.”
“Will do.”
On my drive to Archie’s, I’d convinced myself Ryder was just causing trouble, and there was no basis for the fear that suddenly seized my heart. Archie and I spent every spare moment we could together either at his place or mine. We went on special dates every weekend such as trips to the zoo, a day at Kings Island, exploring the museums that dick face didn’t work at, canoeing on the Little Miami River, or hiking at state parks. The passion between us hadn’t waned over the past month; it had grown as our relationship got stronger. I wouldn’t let the sore loser ruin my day or my relationship with Archie.
When I entered the house, I saw Henry had joined Bart, Douglas, and Jeremy to watch the soap opera. “Hey, fellas,” I said, setting the cupcakes, muffins, and coffee on the table in front of them.
“Hi, Ollie,” they all said without looking away from the television.
I could hear music coming from the kitchen and knew Esther would be there baking or cooking. I popped my head in really quick to say hello, and she warmly smiled when she saw me.
“Thank goodness you’re here,” she said. “It chases off the bad juju left behind by the snake who just left.”
“Not a fan of Ryder’s?” I asked.
“No,” she said dryly. “I shouldn’t say that because I don’t even know the man.”
“Then why did you?”
“He upset Archie, and I don’t like it.” A part of me said Ryder couldn’t upset Archie unless he still cared. Maybe I shot myself in the foot when I told Arch I didn’t need him to reveal what happened between them because it might’ve given away clues when he talked about the man. “Wipe that look off your face right now. Archie wasn’t mad because he’s pining after the fool,” Esther said fiercely. “He’s mad because the guy implied your relationship wouldn’t last.”
“Esther, can I ask how you know this? I can’t imagine Archie left his office door… Wait. They did meet in his office, right?” Esther responded by putting her hands on her hips and narrowing her eyes. “Okay,” I said, putting up my hands in surrender. “I don’t see either Ryder or Archie wanting their personal business broadcasted, so I’m certain the door would’ve been shut.”
Esther giggled. “Ryder showed up here out of the blue asking to speak to Archie. When I brought him back to Archie’s office, Ryder moved to close the door. Archie told him to leave it open. Ryder objected, of course, because he wanted their business to remain private. Archie told him there was no personal business he was willing to discuss, so he might as well leave. That’s when Ryder claimed to be here to discuss business to which Archie said there’d be no need to close the door.” Esther picked up a glass off the countertop and held it up for me to see. “I was prepared just in case.”
“Esther!”
“I won’t have that rude, arrogant man upsetting my Archie and ruining the best thing to ever happen to him. A woman has to do what a woman has to do.”
“I appreciate it so much, but I trust Archie.”
“As you should,” Esther said before returning her attention to the pot on the stove. “I could tell you what they discussed, but I think it’s best Archie tells you after he gets out of the shower.”
“Shower?” It was a damn good thing I stopped by to talk to Esther first. I can’t imagine what would’ve gone through my head had I found Archie in the shower after Ryder just claimed to leave his bed.
“Dumped an entire cup of coffee on himself after the asshole left. Oops!” she said, covering her mouth.
“Heisan asshole, Esther. The Lord forgives us both for a momentary lapse.”
I let myself into Archie’s room and sprawled on his bed, listening to the sounds of the shower. I didn’t have to imagine what he looked like naked and wet with water running all over his leanly muscled body because I was blessed to see it several times a week. My heart raced with excitement when the shower turned off because I was moments away from seeing the man I loved. I sat straight up as soon as I thought the L word. Six weeks of lusting and pursuing him, then four weeks of missing him like crazy until we reconnected, followed by the happiest four weeks of my life. Could I possibly love Archie so madly and deeply in fourteen weeks?