Sworn to Be His ( The Archer Family 3)

"Yeah, just like he is now apparently. Makes you wonder, doesn't it? Everyone is freaking out about a mole in the department and this guy suddenly can't make it into work?"

"Are you saying Derrick is responsible for all this?" She knitted her brow and stared him down, trying to read his expression. Seriously, what was this dude's obsession with Derrick? If she didn't know better, she'd think Zac was just as interested in the guy as she was.

To her surprise, though, Zac looked taken aback by the question. "No, I would never say anything like that. No, no, I just meant you might want to call him and tell him it does look a little suspicious, you know?"

"Right, good tip, but like you said, I'm not really in a position to be calling him." She frowned.

"Right. I was hoping things might have changed since this weekend. But..." Zac speared a hand through his thick wave of hair. "So, you think you guys are definitely done?"

A cold chill went through her. "What?"

"I'm sorry, maybe that was indelicate. I just meant, you know, you and Derrick...you're cute together, but I think you could do better."

She raised her eyebrows. "Don't you think that's a little..." She couldn't find the word for it. Forward? Rude? Idiotic?

"Look, I'm doing this badly. It's been a while since I..." He smiled at her, losing the full power of his sterling white teeth. "I always sort of had a crush on you."

"You..." She stuttered.

"I know it sounds odd, but I always liked you. You were just always so much smarter than me. I never thought you'd go for a guy like me. But, you know, now that you and Derrick aren't together...Maybe we could give it a try?"

Her mind was reeling. Zac Flynn had been interested in her in high school? That couldn't have been. He'd never even noticed her. Barely spoken to her.

Worse, the feeling of exhilarated joy she thought she would have felt at his declaration was replaced instead by a creeping ache in the pit of her stomach. Something wasn't right here.

She studied his eyes, but there was nothing behind them. No desperation, no anxiety. There wasn't even a glint of hope. They were just blank.

Like the outcome didn't really matter.

"I had no idea you felt that way," she said slowly.

"I'm a little embarrassed to be honest with you. What kind of grown man can't just walk up to a woman and confess his feelings?"

"Right." She nodded. "I can understand that."

"So, what do you say? I know it's a little fast, but I'd love to see you tonight."

"Tonight...I, you know what, I'm not really finished seeing Derrick and—"

"From the way he made it sound, he was finished seeing you."

Ouch.

She wanted to touch her heart from the physical sting she'd felt that the words, but then her mind kicked up into overdrive. What exactly had this alleged conversation consisted of? And why would it have happened in the first place?

"What exactly did Derrick say to you?" She asked, but Zac held his hands up in a gesture of innocence.

"You know what, it probably wasn't my place. I don't want to get in the middle—"

"But you're already getting in the middle by trying to take me out tonight. Can't you just—"

"What does it matter what he said?" His words were a little too forceful and Jade took a step back, trying to get a better read on the situation. His blank eyes were strained now, like he was thinking hard about something.

He shoved one hand in his pocket, and then said, "I think you'd feel better if you didn't hear the particulars."

"Right," she said. "Well, I don't think I'm free tonight. Maybe another time."

"Are you going to make me chase you?" Zac reached out and clasped her wrist with one hand.