Page 37

“I’m gonna wash up. You can pick the show or movie,” he says, walking toward the bathroom.

“What’re you in the mood for?”

“I’m afraid to even answer that,” he calls out over his shoulder, causing me to laugh.

“Oh come on. Am I that predictable already?” I shout from the living room.

“Everleigh, the only predictable thing about you is how unpredictable you are.”

Those words fill my chest with warmth. Archer’s an onion whose layers are slowly peeling away, and I like that he’s letting me in.

“Alright, what did you pick?” he asks when he returns and takes a seat next to me on the couch. I can smell his cologne, dark and sensual, mixed with whatever body wash he uses.

“Only Murders in the Building,” I finally reply when he catches me gawking. “It’s a new show.”

“Everything’s new to me.” He chuckles. “But let’s do it.”

“Martin Short and Steven Martin? Love them.” He crosses his leg over the other.

“And Selena Gomez. She’s a doll,” I say, giving him a full rundown of Selena Gomez for the next five minutes. “An epic cast,” I reiterate.

“Damn, okay.” He laughs, and I click play.

“I’ve thought ’bout hosting a podcast,” I say halfway through the show when the characters discuss starting one.

“Oh yeah? I could see that. You’d be good at that, always talking and having an opinion.”

I pop a brow, unamused. “Really?”

“In a good way!” he exclaims quickly. “People love hearing others’ thoughts and rants. Plus, you’re one of those social types.”

“You should do it with me then. I bet people would love to hear ’bout your experiences.”

He shrugs uncomfortably, and I mentally slap myself. Of course he wouldn’t want to talk about prison.

“You could discuss being a boxing coach,” I suggest. “Maybe find some new clients?”

“Maybe. But I’m booked up as it is now.”

“Really? That’s amazing! I didn’t realize that many guys around here would be into that. The ones I meet are either rednecks who live in hunting gear or twentysomethings whose mothers still wash their dirty sheets.”

Archer snort-coughs as if he’s trying to hold back laughter.

“Yeah, it’s a real good time trying to date in small-town Alabama.” I groan.

“Well, I do have a few male clients in their twenties, but I actually have more women over the age of forty who wanna learn self-defense. They like the morning sessions after they’ve freshly showered and caked their face with makeup.” He smirks.

“Oh, so you’ve met the cougars of Lawton Ridge,” I taunt. “Surprised Tyler allowed that.”

“Why? Their money’s just as good as anyone else’s.”

I glare. “I bet.”

He snickers, and we bring our attention back to the TV. It’s not until it ends that we both gasp.

“Ohh, I did not see that little twist comin’. What a way to keep you wantin’ more.”

“No kidding,” he agrees. “Wanna start the next one?”