Free Breaking (Fall or Break #2) by Barbara Elsborg Page A

it.”
    Conrad’s heart bounced on his stomach and lodged in his throat.
    “I’d imagine you’re the same.” Archer continued to stare at him.
    “Yeah, I am. What did you go in for?”
    “A big, black, noisy, bad-tempered guard dog.”
    Conrad looked at Deefor who was turning in a circle trying to bite his tail, and he chuckled.
    “Yeah, quite,” Archer said.
    But the fact that he’d picked Deefor said a lot. A bastard with a heart? That wasn’t so bad. Conrad was seven, make that nearly eight years out of practice at this, though he was good at reading people. This guy set something other than his sexual interest flaring. That small knot of anxiety still twisted in his stomach, but the awareness of the need to be careful was almost overpowered by the upwelling of raw lust. He knew nothing about this man so it was unfortunate that made him more appealing not less. A mystery to solve. An element of danger. For the first time since before the car hit him, Conrad felt a real interest in something.
    Archer rose to his feet. “Thanks for breakfast. I appreciate it. I’ll take Deefor off your hands now.”
    What? Don’t go yet. “Where are you staying?” Conrad asked, wondering how he could ask him to come back. Dinner? Lunch? Sex?
    “Nowhere yet. I was going to look for a bed-and-breakfast around here and surf for a few days while the conditions were good, but I don’t want to risk head butting any more sharks. I’ll have to look for something else to occupy my time.”
    Conrad didn’t misinterpret that look. “Would you like to stay here?” His heart thumped hard. My cock is talking for me now? “There’s an unused bedroom and bathroom upstairs, and a living room.” And it was still talking. “I haven’t managed to negotiate the stairs yet. You’re welcome to hang about for a few days.”
    When Archer didn’t respond, Conrad wondered if he’d miscalculated. “Well, it was just a thought.”
    “I could pay you.”
    Oh God, he’s agreed? Conrad shook his head. “No need. I’ll enjoy the company.” He hoped he would .
    “I’ll cook for us then. I need to go to the supermarket to buy dog food. Is there anything you don’t like to eat?”
    “Dog food, oysters and caviar.”
    Archer laughed. “Right. Can I add lobster, truffles and Kobe beef to that?”
    “I love lobster, truffles and Kobe beef, though not all at the same time. Sure you’re okay driving?”
    “Yeah. I feel much better now I’ve had something to eat. Even muesli.”
    “World’s most dangerous cereal. Very apt for you. You have to be careful the currants don’t drag you down.” Thank you, Malachi, for that crap joke. What the hell am I rabbiting on about?
    Archer pushed to his feet. “Anything else while I’m out?”
    Condoms. Lube. More condoms. Maybe more lube. “Can’t think of anything. Give me your number in case I do.”
    Archer tapped his number into Conrad’s phone, called it, and Conrad heard the mobile ring in Archer’s pocket.
    “You staying, Deefor?” Archer asked.
    The dog looked up at Archer, then put his head back on his paws.
    “He likes you. Good taste.”
    Conrad didn’t think he took another breath until he heard the door close. Did he hear those last two words or were they merely what he wanted to hear? Particularly after that terrible joke? I was nervous. He could hardly believe it but he suspected he knew why. No way was Archer going to submit to him. But then he wasn’t going to submit to Archer, which left them precisely nowhere.
    He heaved himself up, gathered his damp sandy clothes from the floor and pushed them into the washing machine along with his trainers. He stuffed the emergency blanket under the sink. He swept the sand into a pile near the door but couldn’t muster the energy to do more with it. Once he’d hung up his coat, he grabbed his laptop from the drawer beside the microwave and carried it to the table.
    An incognito search on Google for Archer Hart brought a few hits.