Free Archer's Angels by Tina Leonard Page A

“Did you give her an option?”
    “He doesn’t have to answer that,” Crockett interrupted. “I agree with Archer—let’s just eat.”
    “You don’t want to hear about marrying mothers,Crockett,” Bandera said, “because you’ve got the hots for Valentine.”
    Everyone gawked at Crockett now that the secret was out. The silence was stiff and somehow heavy. Uncomfortable. Embarrassed. He pushed back his chair, tipping it over, and left the dining room.
    Last vacated as well, throwing his napkin onto his plate with fervor.
    Bandera shrugged, got up and left.
    Archer blinked as he sat alone. “Congratulations, Archer,” he said to himself. “So happy for you, Archer. Fatherhood will suit you, Archer. Aren’t you the lucky dog, Archer?”
    Leaning back in his chair, he closed his eyes. “It doesn’t matter.” He had his own ideas about family and responsibility, and now that tricky Miss Clove had shanghaied him into being a father, everything—most importantly, her—would go by his set of standards.
    Three little boys. They would grow up to be just like his brothers and him. Jefferson males. Hardworking, hard-loving. Hardheaded.
    Just like Clove.
    One of them was going to have to bend, because he had no intention of ending up without his woman, like Mason, or having custodial arrangements, like Last.
    Clove was due a compromise, and he was excellent at the skill of convincing.
     
    “A RCHER ,” C LOVE SAID when he returned late that evening with flowers, “you do not need to romance me. I understand you have an ornery need to try to change my mind, but that just shows me you don’t understand how important this is to me. There is not going to be a compromise.”
    He grinned at her, slow and sexy. “Yes, ma’am.” Handing her the flowers, he sat at the kitchen table. “I looked forward to your cookies all day long.”
    She looked at him suspiciously.
    “Did I mention I like the new curves on your figure?”
    “Flattery isn’t going to work.” She put her glasses on and gave him a look of disdain. “You passed me up when I was wearing these.”
    “And any man would,” he said reasonably. “I can’t even see your pretty eyes. Why do you wear those things?”
    “Because I can’t see.”
    “Obviously, or the salesperson would never have sold them to you. Here, let me help you.” He slid them from her face. “Now, the real you. You shouldn’t hide behind those things.”
    Clove blinked. “Hide? Hide? I never hide. I’m a stuntwoman. I’m brave, no different than you when you’re on a bull or a bronc or your Appaloosa.”
    “I knew we had something in common. Bravery,” Archer said with satisfaction. “This isn’t going to hurt as much as we think it will.”
    “What won’t hurt?” Clove gave him another suspicious look as she placed a glass of milk in front of him. “I can’t bear to see you eat cookies without milk, but I am not serving you, for the record. I’m only complementing my baking.”
    He grinned, making her heart flutter. “Thank you,” he said. “Even if you’re not serving me. The cookies are delicious, and it won’t hurt much to fall in love with you.”
    “What?”
    He shrugged. “We’re going to have to, you know. For the sake of the children.”
    “We’re going to have to fall in love?”
    “Yes. These are the best chocolate-chip cookies I’ve ever eaten. Do you stand in this kitchen all day and bake these wonderful morsels?”
    “Yes. It’s the trade-off Delilah and I made. She wouldn’t charge me, though I said I wanted to pay her. But she said no woman related to the Jeffersons ever owed her a dime. No matter how many times I try to explain that I’m not related to the Jeffersons, she seems to think I am.”
    “Delilah doesn’t know I’m the father?”
    “No. I haven’t told anyone. Remember, I didn’t want you to know.”
    “And that makes me quite wary of you, AussieClove. Secretive wasn’t something I saw in your e-mail