Page 54 of My Darling Mayhem

“Give me a minute,” I called out, swiping at my face.

What was I going to do?

My door cracked, and Archer’s face was suddenly there as his gaze swept me from head to toe. He didn’t wait for me to tell him if he could enter; he just walked in and shut the door behind him.

I couldn’t compose myself, so a whimper escaped my lips, and Archer crossed the space between us in three long strides. His hands cradled my face, tipping my head back. His lips pressed gently against the tears staining my face in the most tender moment I’d ever shared with anyone.

Once he’d kissed away every tear, he pulled me into his chest.

“I fucked up, Wren. I’m so sorry.”

My throat still felt tight, so I let him continue talking while I clung to the leather at his back.

“I wanted to do something nice for you and Cruz. I thought I was—” He trailed off, his own voice catching with emotion. “I am so sorry. I went about this the wrong way.”

Pulling back from him, I swiped at my face. “What do you mean?”

His blue eyes were dark, remorse had transformed his features into something soft and unsure. “I didn’t like how fast that mechanic worked, and I did some research on the year, make and model and realized you were going to need a new car within the next year if not sooner…and I just?—”

“What, sabotaged it?” My voice rose as shock splintered my chest. Who the fuck would do such a thing?

His face shuttered as his hands dropped to my waist, trying to pull me back.

“Yes, I did, but only because I have a car ready for you. It’s one the club owned and was fixing up to sell.”

I pulled away from him and brought my hands up to rub at my forehead, confused and frustrated.

“What do you mean, you have one ready?”

He looked helpless as he watched another tear trail down my face. “I figured if I impaired your car, made it seem like it was beyond hope, and then swooped in with your new car, you’d be okay. I didn’t want you to feel overwhelmed by it. When you ran into the house, I was about to offer you the new car.”

“Archer...” How did he think this sort of thing would be okay with me? I was so confused by his actions. “I can’t afford to buy a new car from you. That’s why I’m stressing out…I just need a little time to wrap my head around what you did, it’s?—”

He was back in my space, cradling my jaw and tipping my face up to his. “It’s not being sold to you; it’s being given to you.”

Shaking my head, I tried to push at his chest, but he only held me firm.

“Please, Wren. Let me give this to you. It’s in excellent shape, and it’s going to be better in the snow for you and Cruz. I need?—”

“I need to understand what made you think this was acceptable? It’s crazy, Archer. I can’t…this is too much.”

“Taking care of you and Cruz, that’s too much?” His voice pitched, and it made my heart feel frantic. It was like we were about to touch something precious, and it might break, but if it didn’t, then it would be the most wonderful thing we’d ever experienced.

“It’s the way you went about it, Archer.”

He moved so he was closer to me again, and how his eyes flashed with concern made my stomach flip. “You have to remember who I am, Wren. I’m not one of those guys who will call a tow truck if you need it. I’ll call my club. We operate outside of the laws of normal society. You, of all people?—”

His mouth suddenly snapped shut, and I wasn’t sure what that meant, but I was too frustrated to focus on it.

“That may be how you’re used to doing things, but you’re trying to get custody of Kane. You have to start thinking like someone who would call a tow truck. Someone who doesn’t press the tip of a knife into someone’s arm simply because they keep flirting with someone who?—”

“Someone who what?” He was in front of me again, his hands fastened at my hips.

My palms went to his chest as his familiar scent wrapped around me. “Someone who might mean something to you.”

His forehead pressed into mine. “Might?”

“Archer.” I started to pull away, but his lips caught mine in a firm kiss before pulling away once more.

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