Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 137131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
“Gotcha. I’ll zip it, Dad.”
“Keep it down, too, and make sure Bree gets picked up at a sensible hour,” he commands.
Colt nods and sets off to rejoin his friends, pausing in the doorway to look back at us. “Oh, and I meant to tell you, Mom called. She wants to take us out to that new park this weekend to fly my drone. Will that work?”
My stomach tightens.
Archer’s expression darkens, a hint of the grim, angry face I saw with Holden resurfacing again.
Wow.
It’s such a dramatic shift I almost flinch.
Was his ex really that awful?
Not that he’d be alone in the terrible exes department. Holden Corban could probably give her a run for the money any day, but if she’s such a monster, why is he even keeping her around? Yes, I know there’s all sorts of legalities with trying to separate a boy from his mother, but still…
I don’t know the nitty gritty details, I guess.
My parents should’ve gotten divorced years ago, but they stayed together for money and image. I can’t remember the last time they showed each other any affection that wasn’t staged for a photo op.
“I’ll think about it,” Archer says after a moment. “But I should talk to your mother first, okay?”
“Okay.” Colt beams and runs off while Archer stares at his plate, lost in stormy thoughts—and from the look on his face, none of them are good.
It’s late.
Almost midnight, according to my phone, and the house is dead quiet except for the distant thump and laughter of Colt and Evans still gaming. Briana left a few hours ago, saved from any new drama erupting with two teenage boys on a summer night.
Understandable, since I think they both have a crush on her.
I pad across the almost-silent landing, my robe wrapped tight and my hair tied in a messy bun, ready for bed. It’s almost automatic where I’m going.
Same for where I finally come to a stop.
Really, I shouldn’t be here, standing in front of Archer’s bedroom door for the second time today.
The sensible thing to do would be to walk away.
Just go back to bed in the softest robe ever and sleep.
He loaned me one he had left over from a spare box in storage, surplus robes for men and women from their properties, all embroidered with the Higher Ends logo.
I wish it made me saner than I feel.
I wish it stopped me.
But the heavenly robe can’t control my hand when it moves.
I knock.
Gently at first. Then with more force when he doesn’t respond.
I wait, heart beating in my throat, but there’s nothing. No response to suggest he isn’t asleep.
Honestly, that’s fine.
I’m the clueless idiot disturbing him.
I should know better, considering the disaster of the past kisses, yet here I am, rocking up to his bedroom door like I want something to happen tonight.
My toes are probably white from being scrunched inward by now.
I count ten seconds before I turn, ready to race back to my room like the startled mouse I am and lick my metaphorical wounds. But just as I turn my back, I hear the door click.
“Winnie?”
I swivel around. My jaw drops when I see him.
Effing magnificent.
That’s the only way to describe Archer Rory in his tight green army tee and athletic shorts that leave little—yet still too much—to the imagination. My eyes flick to the bulge underneath the valley of his abs for the slightest second.
It’s like staring at the sun, but it also takes crazy effort to push my gaze back to his face.
“Um. Hi.”
“Everything okay?”
“Yes! Yes, everything’s fine, Archer. I just—” I want to fall through the floor and erase your memory of you ever finding me like this. “I was just up and feeling a little restless. That’s all.”
He holds the door open for me.
“There’s a view from my balcony,” he says, and when I step past him, he leans over me to shut the door.
Holy hell, the smell of him alone ignites my senses.
If I wasn’t already climbing half out of my mind with lust, his woody, manly, dangerous scent would leave me stranded in crazy town.
For a second, his head turns toward me, and he stares down at me, close enough to kiss.
The air froths with energy.
Oh, this is bad.
My body floods with wicked heat. But just as I think he might close the distance, he pulls away.
I don’t know if I’m relieved or disappointed.
At least his butt looks great as he leads me through his large master bedroom to the balcony. Just as he promised, the view is incredible, even if it only takes my mind off Hercules incarnate for a few seconds.
The neon lights of downtown Kansas City glow like another world in the distance. The air is still balmy, sticky even, and I can see a few faint lights from ships snaking along the Missouri River.