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He stared at her for a long beat and then nodded, surprising her by sliding his hand down her ar her hand as they crossed the courtyard to Tina’s coffee shop

Tina’s welcoht of Elle "Sit," she said, pointing to a free table "You sit right there and don’t move"

Less than a minute later Tina was back at their small table with an ice pack, a basket oftea

"I love you," Elle said fervently

"Right back at you," Tina said, and then she turned to Archer "Whatever you want, on the house, both of you"

"Coffee will do it for e Instead she put her hands on her hips and stared at hiaze slid to Elle’s for a beat and then back to Tina "I do"

"You need any help kicking ass and taking names?"

"If I do, I’ll let you know," Archer said, taking Tina’s request as seriously as she’d uttered it

Tina nodded curtly, squeezed Elle’s shoulder, and went back to get Archer his coffee, which she brought right away

Archer thanked her and then reached across the table and peeled the ice pack fro it back to her skin

"Ahten the ht not" He shook his head, a very s a fucking stapler at a guy twice your sizewhen you told me that, my heart nearly stopped"

"Heavy-duty stapler," she said "Just like you taught ood," she said proudly

His eyes were just as proud "That you did, slugger You didn’t need me, you had it under control on your own"

"Maybe," she said "But boy, was I ever happy to see you You got ot your call And noe have ain but she nodded "I know And Morgan’s not answering her phone"

"Because I thought this should be done in person" Morgan had appeared at their table looking pale and shaky "I need to tell you both so"

And just like that, Elle knew thea Morgan--she’d been holding back

On everyone

Archer nudged out a chair for Morgan "I’ to tell us," he said evenly