Fortunately, I didn’t have to wait longer. Archer entered behind an older couple, scanning the room for me. Not a photo, not a memory, but six-foot-plus of gorgeous reality. His suit fit like sin until he removed his coat and tossed it over his shoulder. For one second, it was like I was watching an advertisement for an expensive cologne shot in slow motion. Then his gaze found mine, and his whole expression warmed.
“Penelope Fair.” His voice—deeper and richer than I remembered—melted me right into the seat.
I stood too quickly, almost knocking my mug over. “Archer Bellamy,” I croaked. Smooth, Penny.
I did not expect my physical reaction to him to be so… so intense.
I stuck out my hand. He leaned in for a hug. Awkward. He landed a cheek kiss instead, drawing me in with a whiff of his aftershave.
“You smell nice,” I murmured. “Unlike me. I was covering up Eau de Doggie Daycare. I aimed for ‘womanly’ and probably landed somewhere around ‘car deodorizer.’”
His eyes crinkled. “Aggressive, but pleasant.” He noticed my mug. “You should’ve waited for me. I always pay on a date.”
Date? My pulse stuttered. “I was early.”
He winked. “Be right back.”
He hung his jacket on the back of a chair, leaving me standing there, mouth agape, staring after him as he strode to the counter.
Me, a date? I almost looked around, sure he meant someone else. No. Not possible. I wasn’t that lucky.
When he returned, he set down a container of scones and a to-go coffee cup in front of me. “Be sure to share the scones with Aunt Brier and tell her hi for me.”
“Thank you. This is really sweet of you. She said to tell you hello, too.” I almost confessed she’d wanted to stay up all night and knit him a scarf, but I had talked her out of it.
We settled in, knees brushing under the small table. Neither of us pulled back.
“Good to see you, Penny. It’s been a long time.” His gaze lingered, taking me in.
“It has.”
“I’ll admit,” he said, eyes curious, “I would never have expected to see you on a millionaire dating app.”
“Brier and I dared each other; otherwise, I wouldn’t have bothered.” I laughed.
“How’s that working for you?” He took a sip of espresso. I couldn’t miss the way his big hands and full lips formed around the small cup, like a man who knew how to claim and protect what he loves.
“Oh, um… I’m pretty sure my profile scares men off given the triple threat of kids, dogs, and marriage. Instant swipe-left material. But I decided I was done with guys my age who think romance is splitting a check and texting ‘wanna hookup?’ at midnight.”
His mouth tilted. “Can’t argue with that logic. I joined because my buddy, Dax, built the app. I invested with him and figured I should test the product.”
“So you’re a case study?”
“Exactly.”
“And how’s that working for you?” I turned the tables on him.
Instead, he leaned in and sighed, both forearms taking up space between us. His Rolex watch and monogrammed ivorycufflinks stood out like the luxuries they were. “Look. I just want to get something out in the open before we go any further. Please don’t be offended, but I have to ask. Do you still talk to your stepsister?”
The bluntness made me laugh. “No. I don’t talk to Brianne at all anymore since Mom divorced her dad. We were never really sisters, just forced together because of our parents. The age difference made it hard for us to be friends.”
Relief loosened his shoulders. “I’m glad to hear it. That was… a difficult time for me.”
“There was always drama with her. If it makes you feel better, the last I heard from Mom, she’s raising four kids and seems miserable in her marriage to the professor. But look at you. You practically built the skyline of New York, and claim the title of the best uncle.”
“A third of the skyline, at most.” A cocky grin preceded his pulling up photos on his phone. “And here, what kind of uncle would I be if I didn’t show off the photos?” He swiped through several of a baby boy, a toddler and their parents.
“Beautiful children, but no wonder. Look at Brooks and his wife. How happy they seem.”
