Page 69 of As The Shifter World Turns

“Nope. The house comes with a chef. He lives in the guest house out back, along with his mate, the housekeeper.

Archer’s mouth formed a huge O.

Ryder and Ivor emerged with wet hair, with Ryder grumbling about being interrupted and Ivor saying they needed to eat. They rubbed shoulders as they walked downstairs. “They’re cute,” I whispered to Archer.

“Let’s hope Kellan can’t scale walls.”

Micah joined us and we wandered to the pool area. “Wow. This is quite a spread,” Archer noted.

“There’s even a vegetarian section,” I pointed out.

“Who wants champagne?” Daire shouted.

I draped an arm over his shoulders. “We’re all here. No need to yell.”

“Sorry. The last few weeks have been… yeah… a lot.”

I kissed his cheek. “I’ll have a glass.”

“Me too,” everyone chorused.

We toasted to the weekend. “Cheers, family.” Daire stood and raised his glass. “If anyone wants to shift this evening, we can do it behind the house. There’s nothing there for miles.”

“What about you, Neil?” Archer was a dear friend, always looking out for me.

“I’ve got work and then I’m happy to stay in with a book.”

26

HONESTY ISN’T ALWAYS THE BEST POLICY

Micah

“Where are we going? Someplace naughty?” Archer held up two pairs of shoes. “Sneakers or hiking boots?”

I hadn’t told him where we were going. At first, it was because I didn’t know. I just wanted us to have a special night together. But then he got curious. Super curious and it became a little game, and that spurred me on. Gave me an idea I’d been thinking of for a while.

Chances were he was going to feel let down once we got there. My creativity and finances thwarted my plans to take him someplace amazing.

“Which are easier to take off?”

He groaned and tossed his boots in the closet. “You aren’t helping.”

“Wasn’t trying to.” I stuck out my tongue playfully. “And because I’m feeling generous, the first place we’re going to is that new salad place on Marsh. The one with forty-two bazillion things to choose from.” Finding great vegetarian food wasn’t always easy.

“That does make me feel better.” He put on his shoes and off we went.

The salad place was packed. Beyond packed and we ended up getting it to go to save an hour wait time for a table. Who knew salads could be so popular?

“Want to drive us home to eat? Or maybe a park?” he asked.

“We can eat it when we get there. Give me your phone.” I held out my hand. “I’m going to put it in the GPS.” Mostly to keep the anticipation going.

Archer handed it to me and I typed away. “It says we’ll be there in thirty minutes,” I told him.

“Be where?” Archer stuck the phone in the dash holder.

“Our special date.” Please don’t let him be disappointed when we get there.

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