Page 22 of His to Claim

“Yeah, whatever. He didn’t deserve you. And he had a stupid name”

I can’t help but grin. It is a stupid name.

He swallows and takes a drink of water. “It’s okay to wait, you know.”

I arch a brow and make an unladylike snort. “I’m twenty-five! At this point, I’m beginning to wonder what’s wrong with me.”

“Absolutely nothing,” he states firmly. “You’re beautiful, sassy, smart…when the time is right, it’ll happen.”

“Easy for you to say. How many women have you slept with?”

He chokes on his food. “I’m not you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I’m not looking for a relationship or a future with someone,” he explains, carefully choosing his words. “My encounters are more or less relegated to one night only.”

“Maybe that’s all I want, too,” I say stubbornly.

I can tell he doesn’t believe me. And maybe it’s not exactly the truth. When I see how happy my brothers are with their women, how they glow, it makes me want the same thing. Plus there’s nothing sweeter than my nieces and nephews. Maybe I’m not ready for a baby tomorrow, but perhaps one day I will be. And it would be nice to have the father stick around.

“You deserve someone who will love you forever, marry you and give you babies. Not someone like me.”

“FYI, Archer, I don’t plan to get knocked up the first time I have sex. I want it to be a hot, unforgettable encounter with a man who knows exactly what he’s doing. Someone who can teach me things and give me pleasure. Not make me an instant mom.”

He swallows hard and I take a bite of food, watching him closely. A flush is creeping up his neck and he clears his throat. “It’s hot in here.”

He abruptly gets up and goes over to the fireplace, squats and starts fiddling around with a log. Smothering a smile, I finish my dinner and hope I made it clear I’m not looking for forever at the moment. Just a really scorching- hot right now.

A moment later he returns, finishes his dinner, and then I gather the dishes. We fall into a quiet routine where I wash them and he wipes them and puts them away.

After turning off the water, I dry my hands and say, “I’m craving something sweet. Is there anything for dessert?”

“Let me check.”

Archer goes over to the pantry and takes quick inventory. “How about s’mores?” he suggests.

“Ooh, I’ve never had s’mores,” I exclaim.

He turns back around, holding a bag of marshmallows. “Are you serious?”

“Never been camping either. I’m more of a city girl, I guess.”

“Do you want to try some?”

I nod my head eagerly. “I’d love to.”

He tosses me the bag of marshmallows then grabs a box of graham crackers and some chocolate. “We can do it in here since the fire is already going.”

“Sounds good to me.”

He grabs a couple of long sticks from a drawer and I follow him over to the fireplace where we sit down on the floor. He lays everything out on the hearth and explains how to make the perfect s’mores. He’s so adorably serious and I can’t help but chuckle.

“You sound like a pro,” I tease. “It isn’t rocket science.”

“Oh, you have no idea, Ms. Rossi. If you don’t get it just right then you’re going to end up with a mess or have it all fall in the fire. So pay close attention and do what I do.”

I can’t help but smile at his boyish charm. He doesn’t show it too often, but I love seeing it. After guiding me through how to assemble the perfect s’more, we hold them over the fire.

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