Page 105 of The Serendipity

And now that Archer and I got married last month, we are making the most of it. It might have taken us weeks to leave for our honeymoon because of some kind of big deal Archer had to be in New York for, but now we’ve got a full three weeks away. Bellamy is taking a break and staying at our place, and we are going … somewhere. Archer refused to tell me our destination. He even asked to pack for me, which was an ultimate test of trust on my part.

I waver between excitement for the surprise and feeling like I’m going to lose it if I don’t know detailsnow. I leaned heavily toward the latter as this trip approached. I tried to make Bellamy tell me by threatening to cut off his cookie supply, but not even that could get him to tell me. Archer, unsurprisingly, never wavered with all my begging and bargaining and threatening. The man doesn’t crack.

“Wouldn’t you like to know where I am?” I tell Archer now, ducking behind a potted tree. “You’ll have to find me. If you can.”

We aren’t just in the regular airport part of La Guardia. We’re in some kind of fancy lounge. It’s two full stories with a big, curved staircase and balcony overlooking everything. The décor is slick and modern but comfortable with plush couches and tables around a circular bar. The alcove where we were just sitting had a marble-topped coffee table with actual hardbacks on it. Real books! In an airport!

It’s what my mom would call hoity toity, a.k.a., meant for wealthy people. Which, technically, now that I’ve married Archer, Iam.

We mostly don’t live like it, still inhabiting Archer’s apartment in The Serendipity since our wedding. It suits us just fine until we decide what we want to do long term. Now that I’m not trapped in Serendipity Springs, we could go to New York or somewhere else altogether. I suspect, however, we’ll stay. Especially now that Archer and my dad meet several times a week in the basement to do train stuff.

That was definitely not on my bingo card, but it’s really adorable. And it’s been so good for both my dad and Archer. Bellamy even joins them occasionally, and the three of them have a whole bromance thing going on.

“Iwillfind you,” Archer says, and I catch sight of his back as he walks around a corner. He’s looking out toward the bar, and I see several women checking him out.

I almost give up the game, ready to go claim my man, but his gaze skates right over the women. Disappointed, they turn back to their drinks. Triumphant, I grin. Then quickly duck behind a wall and scurry toward the stairs as he nearly spots me.

“You can try,” I whisper ducking and walking behind a small group of people to give me cover. I catch sight of a blur of black suit headed away from me that Ithinkis Archer. Hard to tell since the people I’m using as cover also block my view.

I get a few strange looks but ignore them and manage to duck into a private suite bathroom. Which is probably cheating somehow in this game we’re making the rules for as we go along.

In all honesty? Iwantto be found.

No, I’m not usually a make out in public bathrooms kind of woman. But I’m on my honeymoon. And if you can’t make out in a fancy airport lounge’s fancy bathroom, then what even is the point of paying for access to this place?

“Give me a hint,” Archer practically growls into the phone. The sound makes my toes curl.

“What will you offer me in exchange for a hint?” I ask, opening the door a crack to peek out.

“I’ll tell you one of the stops on our trip.”

Oooh, the man knows how to get me. “Oneof the stops? How many are there?”

“Give me a hint,” he repeats.

I’m dying to know. As much as I love surprises, the not knowing makes me feel like I’m about to explode. Are we headed somewhere warm or somewhere cold? Somewhere in the United States or somewhere outside of it? Archer insisted I get a passport once I was able to leave town, and it’s feasible he packed it for me. He did all the work to check us in for our flight ahead of time, so there have been no clues at all once we got through security and came to the lounge.

“Fine. Think about where we had our first kiss,” I tell him.

Almost immediately, I catch sight of him striding this way. Before he can see me, I slam the door and press my back up against the wall next to it. The cool marble sends a pleasant shiver down my spine. Or maybe that’s just anticipation.

The door flies open a moment later and then Archer towers over me. He ends the call and slides the phone into his pocket. Then he slowly and deliberately reaches out a hand and locks the door.

Me? I’m still standing here with a phone pressed to my ear.

“You found me,” I whisper, dropping my phone into the crossbody bag I bought for this trip.

“I did.”

I expect him to move toward me, to touch me or kiss me, but he just keeps … standing there. Looking tall and impossibly handsome and very kissable in his suit.

“So, where are we going? You promised to tell me one of our stops.”

Archer’s blue-gray eyes burn into me. “A promise is a promise. Do you want to know the first, last, or one of the middle stops?”

My mouth drops open a little. “How many stops are there?”

Archer shrugs in such a casual way that I feel sure there are far too many stops for a reasonable vacation. While it’s true that we don’t live like most people who have his net worth, he does find unique and absolutely outlandish ways to spoil me.

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