Where did we go so wrong?
We used to laugh together. Events where he was assigned as my security used to be fun. Then something changed.
What, I don’t know.
I swallow the last mouthful of pasta and stand. ‘Thank you. That was delicious.’
‘Was that a compliment?’ His head whips up, a small smile tugging up his lips.
There he is! A flash of the old Archie! I knew he was in there somewhere.
Startling azure eyes land on me for a fraction of a second before he catches himself. The smile evaporates. His expression instantly switches to stony.
Yep, I definitely repulse him.
Maybe he preferred the nerdy teenage me? The girl with the thick-rimmed glasses?
I stack my plate in the dishwasher and thank him again. He doesn’t look up this time.
‘I’m ready when you are.’ It’s a given that he’ll drive. It’s part of the job description. I’ve only driven my own black, sleek SUV about twice in my life and that’s because Jared twisted his ankle and couldn’t push the pedals.
‘I’ll get changed.’ Still, he refuses to look up.
It’s killing me that he can’t seem to tolerate the sight of me. If we’re going to be living together for the foreseeable future, we should at least try to get on.
I will make Archie Mason look at me, if it’s the last thing he does.
Libby livesin the penthouse apartment in a new block near the Meadows, a gift from her parents who are super successful dentists. They founded the largest chain of smile clinics in the UK, offering lip fillers and Botox along with every dental procedure under the sun. According to Libby, they’re coining it in.
Libby is their only child, their pride and joy. To say they’re proud of her is an understatement. She lives a life almost as privileged as mine, but without the restrictions.
Her gorgeous long blonde locks and stunning figure may not incite envy in me, but her freedom certainly does.
Archie parks in Libby’s underground car park. It’s tight, but he negotiates the vehicle into the only space available with minimal effort.
That damned aftershave wafts through the confined space. It should come with a health warning. Back in his black body-sculpting suit again, he looks every bit the hot bodyguard. It’s just a shame he’s so unequivocally cold towards me.
Clutching a bottle of Dom Perignon pilfered from my secret supply, I turn to Archie as he unclips his seatbelt. ‘There’s no need for you to come up. Seriously, this is my best friend’s apartment. It’s very safe.’
His scoff bounces off the dashboard. ‘In your wildest dreams, sweetheart.’
I can safely say Archie Mason knows absolutely zero about my wildest dreams or that he’s been the star of them for years. ‘It’ll be full of student doctors making doctor jokes and complaining about their placements. It’ll be dull. You’ll be bored senseless.’
A flicker of a frown crosses his face before he catches himself. ‘I’m not paid to be entertained.’ He slips out of the car.
Before I can protest any further, the passenger door opens and he offers me a helping hand.
A hand which I take without thinking. My palm lands in his. Electricity sears my skin, igniting every nerve ending in my body. My vagina feels like it’s been shocked by a defibrillator.
Holy fuck.
In my stunned state, I forget to put my foot on the ground, my three-inch rockstud-embellished Valentino Garvani sandals swing in limbo.
My body is vibrating with lust. Does he feel it?
He has to.
It’s powerful enough to blow fuses in every country from here to Antarctica. Not that his poker face ever gives much away.
