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“Finally.”

He barked out a laugh, then uncorked the bottle and handed it to her. “Two ounces, so two pours in the smaller part of the jigger.”

She did as instructed, pouring in her measurements as Archer scooped ice from the freezer. He tossed it in. Then he sealed the shaker with the top and handed it to her. “Now shake really hard until the outside is so cold you can’t stand it.”

Tea went to shake, then hesitated and slid it over to him. “Why don’t you show me?”

He smirked. “Getting lazy?”

She leaned her elbows against the counter. “I want to see you in action.”

He shrugged then lifted his arm and shook, his biceps flexing with each shake. He was mesmerizing to watch, moving from two hands to one as he grabbed more ice for her glass, then reached for the strainer. He popped it open and strained her drink, topping it with a lime wheel.

The entire moment was less than a minute, but it was enough for Tea to surmise that she could not be the reason Archer walked away from all of his connections in Minneapolis, or even his work at Wild Pines. He was naturally good at all of it, and it was clear by the pleased expression on his face as he slid his glass to her that he loved it with his whole heart.

I don’t want to leave her side.

Her heart sank as she took a sip of the drink and watched him make another for himself, knowing deep down that while everything about their summer felt perfect, at some point she would have to say goodbye.

Chapter 24

Archer

Word spread fast about the two of them. Archer couldn’t go a day working at the resort without someone stopping to congratulate him—or to tell him it took him long enough. Sandy was particularly vocal about Archer’s inability to lock her down long ago. Joel remained confused, stating that he was certain they had been together all this time. Their comments didn’t matter to him though. Archer Vincent was the happiest he had ever been.

He walked back from the storage unit, putting on his work gloves. It was four o’clock and he still had a few more things to do. The docks needed another power wash, and weeds were starting to build up along the beach.

He scanned the lawn, hoping to find Tea sitting in her usual chair, reading another book about loons. He teased her about them constantly, but mostly because he wanted to hear her talk about it. He liked listening to the things she was learning, experiencing that smart, incredible brain of hers working in real time.

He stepped in a circle looking for her, then found a flash of red hair in his cabin window. She sat on his couch, her hair loose around her shoulders, book perched on her knees. She twirled a scrunchie with her finger before placing it on her wrist, then leaned back on the couch.

He removed his work gloves and dropped them on the deck of his cabin, then swung the door open.

Piercing blue eyes peeked at him over her book. “Done for the day?”

He shrugged. “Sure.”

She frowned. “How much more do you have to do?”

Archer removed his dirty Silver Falls T-shirt and tossed it to the ground before climbing onto the couch. Tea shimmied over to make room for him, like it was the most natural thing in the world for him to come home to her. To lie on the couch and wrap his arms around her.

He squeezed her waist and nuzzled her neck. “Doesn’t matter.”

She sighed. “I probably should say it does matter, but…” She closed the book and placed it down on the floor. “At this moment, I don’t think it matters either.”

He grinned. “Good.”

They remained there for a long while. He rested his head on her chest and listened to her heartbeat, steady and strong. Golden light streamed in from the window as the day grew later. Small particles of dust danced in the air, moving in their own little orbit. Tea lifted her hand, her fingers playing through the stream of light, the particles of dust swirling around in a tempo of her command.

Archer traced his fingers up her arm, then twined them with hers. He liked the look of their hands together. His, covered in the tattoos that he was fond of. Hers, unblemished freckled skin, bronzed from hours out in the summer sun.

She stretched her fingers wide and played with his hand, rubbing her thumb across the sword tattoo on his pinky finger. “What are you thinking right now?” she breathed.

“That I like the way our hands fit together,” he answered honestly.

She pressed her lips to the top of his head. He could feel her smile. “Okay, Casanova.”

“I’m not joking.”