Chapter Three
Janie rode in the backseat of the chauffeured car. She clutched the key to Larissa and Quinn’s house tight in her hand, nervous about the man sitting next to her. It was odd. She normally felt perfectly fine in the company of men. Perhaps it was the fact that Archer was unhealthy and off limits for her normal kinds of interactions.
“I’m surprised Larissa sent us ahead without her,” Archer said, seemingly unaware of Janie’s tension.
Trying to compose herself, Janie offered him a grin. “I’m sure she wants to check in with Quinn to make sure he doesn’t mind us crashing at their place. They’ve only been in it a few months. Even though he’s going to be gone a lot with work, he deserves to know they’ll have house guests for a while.”
Maybe up to two weeks. She’d been astounded when Dr. Peterson recommended that long of an observation period. Sure, they needed to watch Archer for signs pointing to dry drowning, a condition where a rescued victim’s lungs could suddenly fill up with fluid. It could kill someone days after they appeared fine following a drowning episode. Still, two weeks seemed excessive.
Maybe the doctor was more worried about Archer’s ribs than he’d let on. Dr. Peterson did say he was sending the films over to Kona to be checked by a radiologist. Considering Archer’s pain level, Janie worried she might have cracked a few of them while performing CPR. Not that it could be helped, but if his ribs were broken, Archer would be out of work for much longer than originally estimated. As much as she said she couldn’t play nursie, if Archer’s ribs were busted up, it was technically her fault. She had to help get him back on his feet, with or without Larissa’s meddling.
“I’m sorry about all this,” Archer said softly. “I’m sure babysitting duty was the last thing you had planned for tonight. I hope your date understood when you canceled.”
Janie snorted, unable to contain her mirth. Archer hadn’t yet figured out Larissa had been talking about him out on the beach. That was okay. As soon as he could function under his own power and they left Larissa’s house, Janie would show him a good time. He’d understand soon enough.
“What’s funny?” Archer’s deep green eyes peered into hers, the intensity of his gaze hard to break away from. “Was your date angry? I guess I could understand that. Someone stealing his angel for a couple weeks would be upsetting.”
Was Archer flirting with her? Janie had a hard time telling. His words were suggestive, but the look in his eyes was earnest. It looked serious and not at all flirtatious. What was with this man?
She shrugged and flashed another smile to cover her unease with the fact that she couldn’t get a read on Archer’s thoughts. “I didn’t have a date planned for certain. Larissa knows I don’t spend many nights alone, so was harassing me earlier. She did it mostly to keep me from punching the lifeguard who left his station and caused this whole problem. Plus, she’s been on my case today. She thinks I should settle down, but it’s too much fun sampling the men on the island, so I don’t take her advice.”
“You date a lot of men at the same time?” Archer’s brow furrowed, his chiseled face looking troubled. More than troubled, he seemed shocked and disgusted. “Do you just date them or...”
So, he wondered if she slept with them. It wasn’t because he felt excited about the prospect of getting a turn in her bed. The twist of his lips and wrinkling of the skin around his nose showed it mortified him more than it did Larissa.
Geez… She thought men were into that. This was a first for her, having a man show judgement against her lifestyle. Normally, it was women who were angry about all the men she snagged.
Somehow, having Archer judge her hurt nearly as bad as Larissa’s opinion going against her. Janie wasn’t sure she could handle one more sidelong look concerning her private affairs. Knowing how upset and disappointed in her Larissa felt was more than enough. She didn’t need the man she’d thought would be her next conquest judging her as well.
“Just never mind my dating life. It’s none of your business.”
“But sleeping with more than one man is kind of disgusting isn’t—”
“Oh, look!” Interrupting him to point out the front windshield. “We’ve arrived. I see our bags already. Housekeeping left them on the porch. We’re good to go. It’s amazing how quickly things get done when a McCallister requests it. Glad we had Larissa call them.”
Archer nodded, his brow smoothing from his earlier disgust as he gazed at the house. “Looks less fancy than I thought it would. Still big for a family of three.”
True, the house was big for a small family, but Janie knew Larissa’s hopes for the future. As long as her health held out and she didn’t relapse with another cancer, Larissa hoped to fill her and Quinn’s home with many more children.
“They built for the future. Little Lilly is just the first of their children,” Janie murmured. She wouldn’t entertain the idea that Larissa would get sick again and be unable to have more. Her friend needed to stick around for a long time. Janie needed her as much as Quinn and Lilly did.
Larissa was the only one who cared enough to worry about Janie instead of only judging her for her lifestyle. Larissa was the one person Janie could count on no matter what happened. Therefore, the woman had to live forever. There was no other solution.
The chauffer stopped in the round driveway just near the porch steps, exiting the car to open Janie’s door.
“Wait right there,” Janie warned Archer. “I’ll come around to help you walk inside.”
“I can do it myself.” His voice was gruff and offended-sounding as he opened the door and put a shaky leg on the ground.
Damn stubborn man! Janie, herself, was tired after the rescue this afternoon, and she swam for a living. He was a muscular man but fighting for life like that was exhausting in a different way than something requiring brute strength. He’d probably fall if he tried to go up the stairs on his own.
Rushing to his side of the car, Janie reached out her hand to support him just as Archer took his first shaky step. “Let me help, or I’ll tell Dr. Peterson to send you to the hospital after all.”
Archer favored her with a scowl, which was somehow sexy beneath the dusting of stubble on his face. “Fine. I hate showing my weakness, but you did save my life today. I guess I’m not too proud to admit I need your help again.”
He leaned heavily against her, allowing Janie to support him as they walked to the house. He groaned and clutched at his chest with his free hand, making Janie worry.
The driver bid them a good evening and returned to his car, pulling away from the house.
“Does your chest hurt?”
“It’s pretty painful,” he admitted, stumbling along beside her and hissing in shallow breaths.
She needed to call Dr. Peterson and tell him how bad Archer’s pain level was. While the doctor hadn’t seen a fracture, they needed that radiologist’s opinion sooner rather than later. If Archer had broken ribs, they needed to be even more careful with him.
Once they made it up the steps, Janie settled him onto a patio chair. “Wait right here. I’ll get our luggage inside while you rest a bit. Larissa said the beds were already made up for guests, so we just need to get you to a room.”
Archer nodded, no longer energetic enough to offer any protests. He really did seem like he was in pain, plus the few steps up to the porch had wiped him out. Janie hoped she could get him up an entire flight of stairs all by herself. Perhaps she should have asked the driver to help before he left.
Knowing there was nothing she could do about it now, Janie unlocked the house and grabbed the bags left by housekeeping. She hauled them up the steps that were just inside the entrance, letting out a soft whistle as she stared around the entryway. It didn’t matter that she had already visited several times. The homey house always took her breath away. She’d never experienced the warmth and joy upon entering a place she had lived like she did when visiting Larissa’s home.
It was times like these that she wished she could have the life her friend was blessed with, the one Larissa continually claimed Janie should have. It might be nice living in an actual happy home with a steady man who truly loved her, all while making children of their own.
No! I can’t think like that.
That direction only led to pain. Even if people loved each other, that didn’t stop one of them from getting cancer and leaving in the end when death took them. Besides, Janie’s father hadn’t even stuck around to help while her mother fought for her life. So much for true love and storybook romances.
Janie would enjoy living with Larissa for the next couple weeks, maybe even pretend she was part of a real family while they took care of Archer and Lilly. However, it would only be pretend. Janie knew she’d never belong in a situation like this. It wasn’t something she should even consider hoping for.
Setting her bag inside the smaller guest room upstairs, Janie crossed the hallway and placed the suitcase with Archer’s belongings on a bench at the end of the bed in the other room. Luckily, this floor had its own bathroom, so Archer wouldn’t have to traipse up and down the stairs for that purpose. After Larissa returned home with groceries and they cooked dinner, Janie could take it up to his room.
Perhaps in the coming days he’d do better with his pain level and they could enjoy meals around the huge oak table in Larissa’s dining room, but for a while he’d have to deal with being waited on, especially if he had any fractures, even if it made him grumpy and left feeling helpless. His health and speedy recovery was the most important focus in the coming days.
Somehow, Janie didn’t imagine he’d mind too terribly bad. What man didn’t want women at his beck and call? Especially someone as pretty as Larissa, even if she was already spoken for. Larissa was kind and nurturing, pretty much the opposite of Janie. It would be interesting to see how long Janie could handle helping Archer out before she grew tired of taking care of him.
Not that she was against playing nursie—it just normally involved a special uniform and an unforgettable night, not any actual caregiving.
With a sigh, she walked out the door and trotted back downstairs. She didn’t know what was wrong with her today. Perhaps Larissa’s nagging combined with almost losing two lives had had an odd effect on her. Her thoughts weren’t normally so melancholy and hopeless.
Whether or not she bedded Archer at the end of his convalescent period would not define her as a woman. If he preferred a good girl like Larissa, there were plenty of other men on the island perfectly happy to share a night of passion with Janie.
Archer was no one special. She couldn’t allow herself to think about the judgement in his eyes when he’d asked about her dating life. Nor could she let herself imagine what it would be like to have his respect, to have him really love her and want a home like this one.
After all, Janie was unlovable. No one ever stayed with her. Larissa might not understand how her words had cut into Janie’s soul, making her long for something she could never, ever have, but Janie needed to block them out. Marriage and family were for other people—people who could trust completely in someone despite the fact the very person they trusted would more than likely betray them.
***
A faint knock on the bedroom door woke Archer from a light sleep. “Come in.”
The door cracked open to show Janie’s pretty face. She’d changed into a lime green tank top and a pair of super short denim shorts. Archer had a hard time controlling his features while checking out her sexy body. She certainly knew how to show off her assets to the best advantage, one that would bring a better man than Archer to his knees with desire. He might not want anything to do with women, but that didn’t stop him from enjoying the visual feast she presented.
She gave a little smile, likely fully aware of the effect she had on him. “I brought dinner. How’s the pain?”
Archer struggled to sit up in the bed. As he did so, his chest shot sharp pains throughout. Even breathing seemed to bother it. Also, his throat and lungs continued with the persistent burning feeling he’d experienced since Janie rescued him.
Giving up on getting himself upright, he flopped back against the soft bed. “It could have been worse,” he said. “If my angel hadn’t come, I’d be dead right now. I can handle a little discomfort.”
Making a tsking sound of irritation in the back of her throat, Janie stepped into the room, carrying along a tray made to sit over a person’s lap while eating in bed. “You have to stop calling me an angel. I might misunderstand what you mean.”
Well, she had a point there. Since he couldn’t be interested in her that way, it probably wasn’t fair for him to continue praising her. Janie was a person who seemed to enjoy the carnal side of life. His words could totally be taken as hitting on her.
“Sorry,” he said. “I’m really grateful, though. I didn’t think through the consequences of my actions when I jumped into the ocean. You saved my life.”
She gave a short nod, setting the tray on the floor near the bed then coming to his side. “Let me help you sit up. It’d be impossible to eat in that position, even if I hand fed you.”
Archer suppressed a sigh, deciding that allowing her to help him upright would be less mortifying than having her feed him like an invalid. He might be hurting, but he wasn’t that bad off.
Gritting his teeth against the pain, Janie finally helped settle him into an acceptable position, propping several fluffy pillows behind his back and head.
She set the food tray across his lap, frowning down at it. “You said you were a chef, right?”
Archer nodded, carefully picking up the spoon next to his plate and dipping it into the mashed potatoes. “At the Pavilion, though my dream is to work with Shane McCallister at Paradise Point.”
“I hope this food doesn’t suck too bad.” She grimaced and sat in the chair next to the bed, crossing one gorgeous, slender leg over the other and leaning closer toward him. “I tried my best, but I’m nowhere near chef level. Still, I thought mashed potatoes would be the easiest on your throat. If you can’t handle eating the pork chop, don’t worry about it.”
Archer couldn’t help but think it rather cute that she worried about her cooking skills. She might be a horrible flirt, but she had some womanly ways about her as well.
Bringing the potatoes to his lips, he took a bite and rolled them around his mouth, letting Janie see the consideration he gave to her concerns while eating the food.
Once his mouth was clear, he smiled. “They’re good. Just the right amount of salt, creamy without being sticky. As far as a mashed potato goes, you have it down. I’ll be happy to eat anything you want to make me until I’m well enough to do the cooking for you.”
Her long lashes fluttered downward against her cheeks and a shy smile crossed her lips, much different from the flirty, lustful looks she’d favored him with earlier while at the clinic. “They’re just mashed potatoes...”
He chuckled and scooped up another spoonful. Maybe he’d judged her too harshly earlier when she said she dated around a lot. He knew he’d been sort of a jerk, but after breaking up with his ex because she thought nothing of having more than one boyfriend, Archer had been unable to stop his immediate reaction to Janie’s dating habits.
Still, she saved lives for a living, cared enough to take a couple weeks out of her own life to keep an eye on him, and had prepared him a dinner she was nervous about disappointing him with. There was more to Janie than the flippant flirt she showed the world. She truly had a good heart, it seemed, even if she hid it behind a playgirl exterior.
He figured her best friend knew about the softer side of Janie, which was why Larissa had been nagging her about changing. Archer wasn’t sure why Janie had relaxed around him and allowed him a glimpse at her real self, but he had a feeling she didn’t let that show often. Maybe he and Larissa were the only people on the island who had seen it.
He ate in silence for a while, and Janie messed around on her smart phone. Before long, he couldn’t stand the quiet between them. It felt somewhat uneasy, and he worried that he’d hurt her by the way he acted in the car.
He cleared his throat, nervous about how she’d react to his words. “Janie, listen, I’m sorry about the way I acted earlier.”
She glanced up, giving him a vague smile. “Earlier? You didn’t do anything wrong.”
It was doubtful that she’d truly forgotten about it. When he’d asked if she dated around, the scorn and malice in his voice had surprised him. She’d cut him off before he could finish stating his unforgivable opinion, but he hadn’t missed the look of shock that had morphed into hurt across her face for a split second. She had quickly covered it with a smile after interrupting him, but it panged Archer’s heart to know he’d been inconsiderate and hurt her in the first place.
“You know what I’m talking about,” he insisted. “Your life’s none of my business, and I’m sorry for treating you poorly.”
A bright smile flooded her face, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Don’t worry about it. You need to get yourself well. That’s what matters here. My sex life is hardly a topic for us to discuss.” Her smile deepened, and she arched an eyebrow. “Unless, of course, you’re offering to help me out in that department.”
Though her smile was suggestive, and she oozed sexiness, Archer didn’t think it was his imagination that she put on an act. She had seemed at ease talking earlier, but now there was a bite to her words. She seemed to be baiting him, trying to make him lose his cool again, rather than actually offering herself for his pleasure. The change didn’t sit well with him. Had his harshness truly affected her to the point she’d lost confidence in the span of an afternoon?
Wait... He was being entirely too egotistical. Of course, his words hadn’t affected her. He shook his head at his own foolishness, eating more of the food she’d prepared. He was hardly important enough for her to take his opinion seriously. If anything, perhaps it was the fact that Larissa had been on her case about it, even nagging her while she rescued him, that had Janie seeming a bit confused and out of sorts.
Archer knew he had a good body and was generally sought after by women, but he couldn’t be so conceited to think he could wound the beautiful, confident angel sitting next to him with a simple bad opinion. She might care about helping people to the point that she risked her life all the time for strangers, but that didn’t mean anything he said could actually affect her self-image.
He didn’t respond to her about the offer of sex, continuing to eat his dinner in silence until he’d cleared his plate. Then again, Janie didn’t seem to expect him to. She was lost in her own world, looking at the screen of her smartphone as though it held some answers she desperately needed.
“That was good.” He wiped his mouth with a paper napkin. “Thanks for that.”
She nodded, not looking up from the phone.
Was she just going to sit there? Archer understood the doctor said someone needed to keep an eye on him, but it was a bit embarrassing to have her there, especially when he figured she didn’t really like him all that much after his attitude.
“Where’s Larissa?” he asked, desperate to start a conversation and get her to relax again if she was going to stay at his bedside.
Janie finally glanced up, setting her phone on the nearby nightstand and pulling something from her pocket. “Here, take these. The doc said you don’t need narcotic pain pills, but acetaminophen is okay for tonight and should help a little at least.”
She passed him two small pills, her fingers brushing the inside of his palm as she gave them to him. As though the touch burned her, she jerked her hand back as soon as the pills were transferred.
She certainly couldn’t stand him now. It hurt a bit, but he understood where she was coming from. Deciding it was pointless to talk more, Archer brought the straw of his drink to his lips, using the water to take the pills.
Once he finished, Janie stood and lifted the tray from his lap. “If you need anything, I’ll send Larissa up. We’ve already put both our phone numbers in your cell, so just send her a text. Don’t try and get out of bed on your own, at least not for tonight.”
She’d send Larissa? He really had upset her. Things couldn’t go on like this, not if she was going to be stuck with him for a couple weeks. Archer wrinkled his brow, reaching out to touch her arm lightly so she would look at him.
As though sensing his intentions, Janie stepped away, avoiding his hand as she headed for the door.
“Wait!” he called. “Let’s talk this out. I see that I’ve upset you somehow yet again. I don’t want you angry with me.”
A heavy sigh made her shoulders rise and fall, but she slowly turned, her brown eyes full of sorrow when she looked at him. “I’m not mad at you. Disappointed with myself, maybe?” A tight, fake smile once again graced her lips, not touching her eyes. “I know what you think of me, even if you tried to apologize. It’s obvious you’d like someone sweet and wholesome like Larissa spending time with you instead of a devil like me. I’ll be around if you need help when it’s just you and I, but when she’s home I’ll let her handle it.”
“Janie, wait. That’s not at all what I’m thinking.”
Despite his protest, she turned to the doorway again. “It’s okay, Mr. Croft. Please don’t worry about my feelings. Larissa will check on you in a bit.”
Without waiting for his response, she dashed through the doorway and pushed it closed with her foot.
Stunned, Archer laid in the bed, staring at the far wall. While it was true he wanted nothing to do with women in general, he’d spent his entire life taking care of other people. So much so, he’d lost himself in the care of his last girlfriend, convincing himself he had to save her from her overly demanding family. Now, he’d hurt someone who only wanted to help him. It was the first time in his life that Archer could remember being the cause of someone else’s pain in that manner.
He felt like a total shithead. He’d really like Janie and Larissa to become his friends. He was new to the island and didn’t know anyone yet, and it was rather lonely. They were both nice to him, taking him under their wing without a moment’s hesitation. Besides, being friendly with Shane McCallister’s sister-in-law couldn’t be bad for his future job advancement opportunities.
More than that, though, he wanted to see Janie smile a real smile, the one she’d first shown him when he looked at her on that beach. The sadness in her eyes right now was enough to break his heart. He didn’t understand exactly what was going on with her, but he wanted to help make her better. Maybe Larissa would have some ideas. Archer was determined to help Janie.
For the first time since his breakup and the decision to come to the island, Archer felt more like his old self. Maybe a romantic relationship wasn’t something he could handle anymore, but that didn’t mean he had to stop being the person he had always been. He loved nothing more than making people happy. He’d do what it took to find Janie’s smile.