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“What makes you say that?”

“Isn’t that what most men wanna marry?”

“No idea. I’ve never been close to getting married.”

“Me either. Farthest I’ve gotten is a third date, and that was years ago. Julien,” she tells me in a French accent. “We met when I was twenty-five, and he was thirty-five. Flew me to Paris for our last date. I was so smitten and thought he was too. But then he asked me to move there for him.”

“On the third date?” I nearly shout. Damn good thing I wasn’t around then.

“Right! What kinda psycho maniac does that? That’s how I knew he was not the one. Which was a bummer because he was loaded. Had a big package too.”

I nearly choke on my tongue.

“You okay there?” she muses with a laugh.

“I’m starting to believe you enjoy catching me off guard.”

“What you see is what you get with me. No bullshit, no fake personality, no pretending. It’s a gift and a curse. Some people can’t handle me.”

I don’t doubt that for a second. Hell, I hope I can survive her.

After a while, the room grows silent, and Everleigh’s soft snores tell me she’s fallen asleep. She remains glued to my side, and I can’t bear to pull away. I haven’t had the comfort of sleeping next to someone like this in ages, and I want to soak it up.

It’s just for tonight.

It means nothing.

We’re just two friends—roommates—sharing a bed because hers broke.

No big deal.

My heart steadies, and as I’m finally drifting off, I hear Everleigh whisper. She must be a sleep talker. Then moments later, she nuzzles closer and moans my name.

“Archer.”

I look at her, checking that she’s asleep, and when she repeats herself a second later, my chest thuds harder.

Why the hell is she whimpering my name? More like moaning.

And why do I enjoy that thought so much?

She’s dreaming of me. Or maybe she’s fantasizing.

Either way, I cling to the thought. Against my better judgment, I snuggle into her and allow myself to touch her soft skin.

Then I drift off to sleep with the stupidest grin on my face.

“Archer.”

My eyes flutter open and realize Everleigh is still pressed against me, except now her leg is hitched over my waist, and my cock has definitely noticed.

“Archer.” I hear again and look over to Everleigh staring at me.

“Uh, hi. Good morning.” I clear my throat.

“You’re so warm and snuggly, like a big teddy bear. Hope you didn’t mind me clinging to you,” she says, gliding her fingers across my stomach.

“Nope. Barely noticed.”