Archer Read Online Free Page B

the group, Kage picked her up and planted her butt on a bar stool.
    “Kage!” She pushed off the counter and had swiveled halfway around when he stopped her. “Stop manhandling me.”
    Emotions played with her body and the signals misfired. Her nipples peaked, and she hated how her voice lacked any real conviction. Even his roughhousing turned her on.
    “Then don’t push me away.” He leaned closer. “You’re here to have a good time, get out of the house, and hang with your friends.”
    She squeezed her thighs together to banish the fluttery sensation his warm breath on her face caused and looked away from him. Geez, talk about bossy and hot. She looked over the group of men and curled her lip. Idiots. Not one of them had the decency to step up and tell Kage to back off or to come to her rescue.
    Anyone else would think they were on their sixth drink the way they were smiling all stupid-like, staring at her and Kage, but she knew better. None of them drank more than three beers when they had to work in the morning. Tomorrow was Thursday, a workday.
    “Stay put.” Kage walked away.
    Other women turned and watched him stroll across the bar. Jane wrinkled her nose, confused why he’d even want to bring her out with the boys. Obviously he could have any one of the ladies here, and they probably didn’t have a whacked-out ex-boyfriend trying to come after them. Yet he’d assigned himself the duty of getting her out of the office, vowing to protect her, and she didn’t know why. He’d rejected her previously, so it couldn’t possibly be that he wanted to be with her or spend time with her.
    For a moment, she wondered what it’d be like if it were only the two of them, and not her brother and the other guys out on the town. She sighed. Those kinds of thoughts had to stop.
    Kage would never be interested in her. She was damaged goods, and he was too…too…God, he was hot.
    “Janie Beaumont-y.” A female singsong voice jerked her away from eyeing Kage’s ass.
    She turned, smiling. “Charlene.”
    Owner and bartender Charlene Turner bucked all stereotypes. A former burlesque dancer from Vegas, she’d ended up in Bay City, Oregon, opened Corner Pocket, and set about taking care of everyone. Including Jane, before she’d left for college.
    Nothing had changed in her absence. Charlene was the one person Jane allowed to come and visit her at the house. She’d wanted to confide in the older woman, but in the end, she’d put on a happy face. Charlene wasn’t fooled, though, because after she left, a stream of her old friends started calling her on the house phone to talk. No one ever asked, but she knew they were curious and concerned about her. The less they knew, the better. That way Scott couldn’t use any of them to get to her.
    “It’s good to see you out of the house.” Charlene leaned her elbows on the counter. Her dainty silver bracelets, of which she had at least seven on each arm, tinkled. “Which one of those fabulous boys can I thank for bringing you here tonight?”
    “Kage,” she said.
    Charlene’s boisterous laugh startled the patrons at the bar and proved Lycra really did keep voluptuous breasts contained in a low-cut top. Everything about her she did big. Her dyed red hair, which she teased, sprayed, and sprayed again to get the maximum volume, stood out, drawing much-wanted attention to her. Everyone knew she was happiest being center stage. Her attire of choice could still be used on the stage or a pole, despite her hitting the age of fifty-five. Nothing stopped Charlene from being who she wanted to be.
    “I knew it. That boy’s been chomping at the bit for years. Too much to handle for most women, but not you. I’m surprised it’s taken him this long since you came back to do something about it,” Charlene said.
    Jane leaned forward. “What are you talking about?”
    “Kage Archer, my girl.” Charlene spotted him and whistled softly. “That man is an eight-cylinder engine