Page 76 of Archer

“We’re not—” I started, then stopped. Because what were we, exactly?

Archer’s hand pressed against my back, warm and certain. “We’re figuring that out,” he said simply.

Knox smirked. “Uh huh.”

I looked to Maggie for translation.

She smiled. “We think you’re absolutely together, but too stubborn to admit it.”

“Sounds familiar,” Sloane muttered, casting a wink at her fiancé.

Archer watched me with an expression I couldn’t quite read. Something tender and possessive. Maybe even a little bit awed.

When I raised an eyebrow in question, he leaned close and pressed a kiss to my temple. “Remind me later to ask you nicely if you’ll be my girlfriend.”

A rampage of absolutely filthy thoughts filled my mind as he pulled back and smiled.

“…Harper,” Sloane said, expression expectant.

I blinked myself back to reality. “Sorry. What?”

“I asked what you’re working on. Music-wise. Or is that off-limits right now?”

“No, it’s...” I set down my fork. “Actually, exciting, I’ve been writing again. First time in months.”

Maggie lit up. “That’s wonderful! What’s the song about?”

Heat climbed my neck to my cheeks, and I hoped the cool wind would mask the blush. “It’s about finding safety. Coming home. Finding yourself, figuratively and literally, in unexpected places.”

“That sounds beautiful,” Maggie said. “You’ll have to play it for us sometime.”

“I’d love to, as soon as it’s finished.”

“When this is over,” Nash said, “you’re going to have one hell of a story to tell. Country star, stalker, hero bodyguard...” He gestured between Archer and me. “This is like a movie.”

“It’d make a killer book,” Archer said.

“True, but I’d prefer a less dramatic plot,” I said.

Sloane’s gaze lifted as she looked past me. “Colton’s finally joining us.”

I turned to follow her gaze.

Colton walked down the dock, laptop bag over his shoulder, his usual serious expression fixed in place.

“About time,” Knox called. “We saved you some chicken.”

Colton settled onto the bench across from me, next to Maggie. “Sorry. I finally heard back from the boat rental company. I was able to confirm that Webb used a fake name and address, and he paid cash. But we’ve got the boat’s hull number. Coast Guard’s been notified and they’re watching for it. I’m also running analytics on the three accounts we think are Webb’s. That was taking too long, so I brought the work down with me.”

“Find anything?” Nash asked.

He pulled out his laptop. “I can show you the⁠—”

“Nope.” Maggie pushed the lid closed with one finger, her hand lingering in warning. “Eat first. You can talk about work after you have actual food in your stomach. This meal is getting colder by the second.”

Colton looked at her, his eyes crinkling at the sides in a way I’d never seen before. “Yes ma’am.”

A faint smile played at the corner of her mouth. “Thank you.”