Page 123 of Delilah In Discretion

I groaned as I pushed him away, and he smiled as I walked away from him to go into the closet.

Soon enough, I would have to call Kimiko to find out what thissecretwas, but I let it go as I continued packing.

“I’m so excited!” I squealed as Nathan grabbed my bags, loaded them off of the plane. After a moment, he came back to the plane, and I watched as he and Archer both shared a look ofdisgust for each other. I rolled my eyes at their childish behavior as I grabbed Archer and pulled him away.

“Why does he have to be here again?” he asked me, and I sighed.

“Because this is the compromise between my mom and dad: he comes on all my trips,like the one Dad believes I’m on with Kimi right now.So either Nathan comes and watches over us, or my father pops up in the next few days, finds out where I really am and who I’ve really gone on vacation with, and strangles you,” I explained, and he gave Nathan another side glance.

“I’m beginning to think I would enjoy the latter...”

I ignored him once again as I walked over to the car and got inside.

Eventually, we reached the shore and got onto the boat that was waiting.

I watched the animals in the ocean as we passed them by and basked in the scent of the fresh air as Archer came beside me. I looked over at him, and he placed his hands on the side of my face as he caressed my cheeks with his thumbs.

“You seem happy.” I smiled, and he shrugged.

“I’m going on a trip with my dream girl… Do you know how much my ten-year-old self would literally beg for this? He’d be punching the air if I went back in time and told him to give it ten more years.”

I laughed at his joke.

Eventually, we reached our bungalow over the water. Upon entering the beautiful room with an open ocean view, I plopped down on the bed and sighed happily.

I heard a few footsteps, and Archer lay down beside me.

Gazing around the room, I sighed. “I’m guessing the sofa over there doesn’t have a pullout bed?” I asked.

He smirked, his hand finding my hip as he rubbed it softly. “No, Princess… just one bed.”

“And you did that on purpose, didn’t you?” I asked him, already knowing the truth.

He shrugged. “I may or may not have.”

Turning my head away from him, I jumped as he brought me over to him with one hand.

“What did I say about manhandling?” I said, narrowing my eyes at him, to which he replied with just a kiss on my temple.

“We’re going to dinner. Be ready by seven,” he ordered, and I grinned.

“Fine. You better have something fun planned.”

He smiled, and I did my best to etch in my mind the sight of how happy he looked and how much his eyes lit up as he watched me.

“Don’t you worry, Princess… this is going to be one of the best nights of your life.”

Chapter forty-three

Archer

Leaning against the door to the balcony, I waited for Delilah to finish getting dressed. Pushing the hair out of my face, I tried to compose myself as my hands began feeling clammy.

Even though we spent almost every day together, this was only our second date, and I was fucking nervous. Each time I saw her, I had to hold myself back from saying how much I was in love with her. We weren’t ready for that part of our relationship, or to better rephrase,shewasn’t ready for that part.

She was just getting used to the term “girlfriend,” and for me to push myself on her constantly may seem a bit inconsiderate, but little did she know how much I was actually holding back my feelings. If it were up to me, we would have gotten engaged the week we were in Paris and gotten married a few weeks later, but that would be too soon for her…too soon for everyone but myself.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when I heard a throat clear, and I gazed over to see Delilah standing very proud of the way she looked tonight. I had to give her props. She was stunning—the absolute definition of perfection—and it took a lot of self-restraint not to lose complete control of myself.