Archer.Of course. The tattoo on his right upper arm of a bow and arrow captured my interest, and I mused that he could be the real-life version of Cupid. Only instead of arrows, he was spearing women with his big…
“Are you going to tell me your name?” he purred, his voice warm and inviting.
“Cis-Cecilia.”
He tilted his head to the side, a grin playing on his lips. “Nice to meet you, Cici.”
I bit my bottom lip, thinking how clumsy I sounded stuttering my own name.
Lovely. Now he thinks I’m an inarticulate woman who sleeps around.
But I couldn’t think straight with the smell of coconut wafting toward me. It triggered memories as I recalled his delicious scent, sweet taste, and warm body.
Suddenly I was breathing a lot faster.
He raked his teeth over his bottom lip. When he reached for me, I froze. Archer lifted my hand to his lips and pressed a soft kiss to my knuckles, melting my core. “Nice to finally meet you.”
He abruptly let go and disappeared into the bedroom. Before my hand dropped to my side, Noah tromped in.
Noticing me immediately, he grabbed my arm and walked me to the sofa. “Stay out of the way until we finish. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Once seated, I watched the men zip back and forth like busy ants. Because the house was uncomfortably small with so many people moving through it, I picked up a book and pretended to read so it wouldn’t appear as if I was gawking at them.
Which I was.
It felt strange to have people in the house, especially men. Most especially Archer, who kept stealing glances at me the second he entered the room. I curled my legs beneath me and positioned the book below my eyes, which allowed me to discreetly spy on everyone passing through.
Noah’s voice boomed from outside. There was an issue with the boxes fitting in the trucks.
“Motherfucker,” the long-haired man growled as he walked inside. “I told him not to put the big ones on top in the small truck. Does he listen to me? Fucking no.”
Archer carried another box across the room and dumped it on the porch. “What’s up?”
“We have to take all that shit out and redo it,” the man muttered. “Are you sure he’s paying us?” His eyes flicked around appraisingly.
Archer glanced over his shoulder at me, and I continued reading the same line over and over again. “That’s what he said. You don’t think he’s good for it? Quit your bitching, Krys. Even if he doesn’t, he’ll owe us a favor.” Archer gave him a pat on the shoulder. “It’s the neighborly thing to do.”
“What is? Dropping dead on his lawn?”
“Just cool it.”
Krys turned toward the fridge. “That ship has sailed.” He opened the fridge door and stared at the contents, then mumbled something to Archer, who joined his side.
I peered over my book, perplexed why the two men were staring so intently in our fridge. All we had was a package of hot dogs and beer. Perhaps they wanted the alcohol.
“That’s Noah’s beer,” I called out. “You’ll have to ask him first.”
Krys frowned at Archer and said something else before Archer slammed the fridge door.
“Water’s fine,” Archer said while searching the cabinets.
Krys entered the laundry room and glanced around before searching our kitchen cabinets. When they found the glasses, they filled them with water and drank. It was uncomfortably silent, each gulp and gasp audible.
After setting down his glass, Krys made a hasty exit out the door.
I lowered my book when Archer swaggered my way. He knelt by the wall on my right, set the jar of suckers on the floor, and lifted the tablecloth, revealing the three boxes hidden beneath.Stealing a glance at the door, he then turned his attention to me. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I replied, uncertain what he meant. “Just a little bored.”
