I scoff. “Not that generous. He still takes a salary, but I do all the work.”
She laughs. “Okay, that’s a little less generous.”
I nod and finish scrubbing the pan before rinsing and placing it in the dish drying rack. “I’ve enjoyed it. He was a terrible boss, so I’ve spent the last year fixing all the mistakes he made. The best part is seeing how happy all the staff are.”
“Oh, yeah? People like working there?”
“They do now,” I say with a smile.
Transforming Fade Toys from just another factory job to one of the best places to work in Westborough is something I’m damn proud of. It’s more than I ever hoped I’d be able to do when I thought I’d be workingformy dad for the rest of my life. That’s part of the reason I’m so worried about my dad being in my office the other day. I still haven’t figured out what he thinks he’s doing threatening to take the company back. I suppose I’ll need to figure that out soon.
“You’re not at all like I expected you’d be after that first message.” Phoebe shakes her head. “You’re alright, Archer.”
I shake my head. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to apologize enough for that.”
“It’s fine,” she says with a shrug. “I’m over it. You turned out to be pretty great, anyway.”
My body immediately reacts to her declaration, the blood rushing south as one thought goes through my brain: kiss her. I take a calming breath, pull the plug from the sink and watch the water swirl down the drain before rinsing the washcloth, squeezing the water out of it and placing it over the faucet to dry. I dry my hands on another towel and turn to face Phoebe.
Her face takes on a red tinge, and she looks down at the floor instead of at me. Like she’s embarrassed she told me I’m great. But I’m not. I’m glad she said it. I take a step closer, take her chin in my fingers, and tilt her face toward me. She tucks the strand of hair she was playing with behind her ear and licks her lips.Fuck.Ineedto kiss her. Now. I don’t know how I’ve been able to hold off this long, to tell the truth. Phoebe is temptation incarnate.
I cup her cheek in one hand, slide the other to her waist, lean in…
Only to hear Phoebe’s sharp intake of breath as she pushes me away when the oven timer goes off a moment before my lips meet hers.
Damn it.I step back and look away, taking a moment to calm myself. I can’t believe I almost kissed her. The heat from her lips warmed mine, I was that close.
“Phoebe, I’m sorr—”
Charlie comes jogging into the kitchen, interrupting my apology, and grabs the oven mitts from the counter. She peeks in the oven door before turning the timer off. “Huh. Would you look at that? The smoke detector didn’t even go off once. I wonder if that’s because I followed the directions?”
I choke on a laugh, thankful for the distraction. Is that why she sets off the smoke alarm all the time? Because she doesn’t follow the instructions? That would make sense.
She takes the pies out one at a time and places them on cooling racks to rest before going back to the living room.
“I’m sorry, Archer,” Phoebe says, cutting off the apology that was on the tip of my tongue.
She’s sorry? What?
“I got caught up in the moment. Trying to kiss you was inappropriate. I won’t let it happen again.”
I swivel my head. Are we in the same room? She tried to kiss me? No, no. I don’t think that’s what happened. And even if it did, I wanted to kiss. Istillwant to.
“No, I’m sorry, Phoebe. I know that’s not what you’re looking for.”
She blinks at me several times in a row. “What are you talking about?”
I huff out a breath. “I shouldn’t be complicating your life this way. You’ve had a hard enough year with the pregnancy and having Lincoln on your own. The last thing you need from me is unwanted advances.”
She throws her arms up. “Well, yeah,” she says, her exasperation clear. “Of course I don’t want that. I don’t want your advances at all.”
Ouch.
“Yeah, I get it. I’m sorry. I’m the one who got carried away. It’s like the second I get close to you, I want to wrap you up in my arms and kiss you silly. You’re damn near irresistible, Phoebe.”
“Well…fuck. Try harder to resist. I’m not that kind of woman.”
I rear back like she slapped me. Not that kind of woman?Whatkind of woman? The kind of woman who felt a connection with a strange man the night she was supposed to be married? The kind of woman who could be attracted to the father of her baby? The kind of woman who could see herself with a man who’s doing everything he can to be a proper dad to the kid he recently found out about? Because she is that kind of woman. I know she is. I feel it.
