“I think your name is pretty,” I said.
“Yeah, I guess.”She made a face.“Mom named me after my grandmother.My middle name is for my grandfather.”
“Your name is unique.Just like you,” I said.
Lenni fell quiet, the lighthearted mood shifting into something somber.
“Well.”Archer cleared his throat.“I thought for sure Wyn was short for Wynelope.”
“You did not,” I said with a laugh.
“Wynnefer?Wyndelyn?”
“Stop, I’m begging you.”
“Why don’t you go by Wynslow?”Lenni asked as she set Mildred down and came toward the kitchen counter.
“I don’t know.I guess I didn’t want to stand out any more than I already did.I was the tallest kid in my class from grade school until my junior year of high school.”I looked at Archer.“All the boys finally shot up to at least be on par with me around then.”
“A tall, gorgeous blonde with a unique name?Yeah, there’s no getting around that,” Archer said as he walked to the kitchen table with the salad dressing.
He thinks I’m gorgeous.No, remember the embargo.Do not let his mustache commandeer your ovaries.
“Wyn?”Lenni asked.“You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m good,” I chirped.“Hey, why don’t you feed Mildred, so she doesn’t beg for food during dinner?”
“She’ll beg anyway,” Lenni pronounced.“But that’s a good idea.”
The three of us sat around the table, napkins on our laps, Lenni’s laughter easy and free.
And every now and again, I’d catch Archer’s gaze.
Warmth swirled in my belly, and it had nothing to do with desire.
ChapterFourteen
The House
“I’ve got more homework,” Lenni said, rising from the table.She took her plate to the sink, rinsed it off, and then placed it in the dishwasher.“Thanks for dinner, Wyn.”
She retreated upstairs with Mildred, leaving me and Archer alone.
“You didn’t tell Lenni the entire story,” he said as he began to gather up the empty plates.
“I didn’t?”I asked.
“About why you’re named Wynslow.”He arched a brow.“I’m right, aren’t I?”
“You’re right.”I put the lid on the salad dressing.“But like hell I was going to tell an eleven-year-old that I was conceived in the back of a van in Winslow, Arizona.The road trip story was true, though.”
He let out a laugh.“I think I like your parents.”
“They’re pretty cool,” I said with a smile.“They want to meet Lenni.”
“Yeah?”
“Over the phone, I mean.”
