Page 2 of Sinful Seduction
“It’s a mansion,” I snicker, staring up into Archer’s eyes. “She’s just insecure about it.”
“It’s alargehouse,” he nods. “One with more rooms than they’ll ever need and more space than they’ll ever use.”
“But it doesn’t have a pool!” Aubree yells. “And definitely no golf course.”
“Her hearing is scarily good.” I tilt my head forward and press my face to Archer’s chest. His heart pounds a heavy, steady rhythm. Strong. Constant. My favorite sound in the world, because without it, I’m not sure the world would continue to exist for me. “We should sneak out to that other house and go for a swim.”
“That other house?” He slips his hands beneath my shirt and drags his palms over my bare back. “You meanourhouse? The one we’ll live in someday, once you’re finally sick of the apartment?”
“Joke’s on you, because I’m never gonna get sick of my apartment. It’s the perfect size. It’s small enough, no one will want to stay for more than an hour?—”
“Except Cato.”
I sigh and allow him to hold most of my weight. I’m too damn hot andtired to do it on my own. “Except Cato, despite my daily efforts to scare him away. So far, he’s sticking.”
“Sticking, ‘cos I love you.” Cato strides through the living room with Mia on his back and two icy cold cans of soda tucked into his pockets. “I’ll move when you move. Until then, I’m staying in your living room.”
“I don’t even know why,” I groan. “He’s three feet too long for the couch. His arms and legs dangle off every single night. His neck must hurt.”
“Something about love.” Archer pinches my chin between his thumb and finger and angles my head back. He waits for my eyes and rewards me with a charming grin. “If we move to the house, he can have his own floor, and we won’t even have to see him. Staying at the apartment means bathroom schedules and crappy heating and cooling. It means a four-floor walkup and living with the sound of traffic outside.”
“It also means being able to walk to work. And living near the bar?—”
“That Aubree will no longer be staying at after today.”
I grunt at his cold, harsh reminder.
It’s not like Ineedmy best friend to live next door. I’m not one of those people who requires—or even enjoys—constant contact with the outside world. And God knows, I hate waking up to my kitchen overflowing with people and a line forming at my coffee machine.
But also… I guess I’ve become accustomed to a certain way of living…
“I like having restaurants nearby. And the hospital. I like knowing that, when you text and say you’re heading home, I can walk outside and see you walking my way about a minute later.”
He slides his palms over my back, impossibly warm, and yet, not at all overwhelming.
“I like Steve.”
“YoulikeSteve?”
“I love having Steve at the apartment. He was the first nice person I met when I moved to Copeland?—”
“Beg to differ.Iwas the first nice person you met when you moved to Copeland.”
“You were the first person I met.” I firm my lips and wait for my barb to land. “I don’t recall you being nice. Besides, Steve made sure I had somewhere to stay when my ceiling was falling in. He’s the perfect security detail, and he tells us what everyone is up to when we get home from work.”
“He’s a gossip.”
“He’s sweet. He’s soft and kind and the only person alive, besides you, that doesn’t make me want to punch them in the face when they hug me.”
He drags his fingertips along my back, massaging my tense muscles and sending goosebumps sprinting to my toes. “He’s your Steve.”
“He’s my Steve. I don’t want to leave him.”
“So…” He exhales a soft breath, the breeze hitting my chin and providing a single second of cooling air. “I guess we won’t leave him.”
“But we can sneak out and swim.” I push to the tips of my toes and lay a gentle kiss on his stubbled jaw. “I have no moral issue with trespassing on Malone property,withoutletting the mayor see us, and taking a swim under the waterfalls that technically belong to you, anyway.”
“Us.” He pulls his hands out from under my shirt and pats the fabric down, ensuring I’m covered. Just in the nick of time. Because Fletch’s grumbling tone and shuffling footsteps echo through the hall and head this way. “The waterfalls belong tous, Minnnka. Seeing as howwehave that wedding certificate. Two of them, actually.”
