“Early finish today,” he offers in explanation as he passes her and heads to the large fridge.
“Introduce me to your friend, then?” she insists as she looks at me with a curious but friendly smile.
He ignores her and pulls a carton of juice from the fridge and grabs two glasses.
“Hi, I’m Eliza Holton,” I say, doing a little finger wave. I suddenly wonder if my hair is a mess in that telltale just been ravaged in the garage way and stroke my hair to ensure it’s okay.
“Ah, Wilbur’s granddaughter. I’ve heard all about you from Edith. She is pleased as punch to have young ones in the house again. I’m Jenny, the Savage’s housekeeper.”
“Nice to meet you, Jenny,” I tell her. She has the same warmth in her that Edith does. Maybe it is a housekeeper thing, not that I had ever come across any before I moved here.
Archer walks towards me and holds out a glass of orange juice, which I take and cup with my hands. “We’ll be in my room.”
“Dinner will be at six sharp tonight,” she shouts after us as I scuttle to catch up with him. I have my foot on the first step of the marble staircase when a door to the left opens and an elderly man of similar age to my grandfather comes into the hallway. He blinks when he spots me and then glances at Archer.
“Jesus, you’re the image of her,” he exclaims, studying my face.
“Grandfather,” Archer says flatly as he pauses on the stairs.
“I’m Eliza,” I announce, and he nods his head, smiling at me.
“Oh, I know who you are, my lovely. You are the image of your grandmother. Same eyes and her cheekbones.”
I nod my head and blush. “Yeah, I noticed there’s a family resemblance from her picture in my grandfather’s house.”
He places his hands in his pockets and smiles, staring at me like he is seeing a ghost. “The video is down,” he informs Archer and I flush when I realise he’s talking about the sex tape. Has everyone seen it? “Wilbur’s lawyers have dealt with it swiftly.”
Archer nods his head. “Good to know. I hope he’s having the house cleared for anymore hidden surprises?”
“I believe that is all in hand. Today’s events might need us to bring forward certain plans,” he tells Archer, and I see his jaw tense in response.
“I don’t see why.”
His grandfather arches a brow at him. “Oh, I think we both know that’s not true. Where are you two off to?” he asks, turning his question to me.
“Oh, we’re studying,” I offer in explanation. In truth, I’m not sure what I am doing here.
He smirks, and it reminds me so much of Archer. “Studying? Is that what we’re calling it?” he replies. “It is good to see the two of you getting close,” he says to Archer before he turns on his heels and retreats into the room he came from, closing the door behind him.
“Come on,” Archer growls, continuing up the stairs and leaving me standing there puzzled by the interaction. I hurriedly follow behind him until we reach his room.
“What did he mean about bringing plans forward?” I ask as I leave my shoes at the door and take a seat on the end of his bed.
Archer ignores my question as he unbuttons his shirt and then undoes his trousers and pulls them down, along with his boxers. My train of thought disappears as I ogle a very naked Archer. I mean, he has a glorious body,
He smirks at me as my eyes meet his. “I need a shower. Remotes there.” He gestures with his head to where the remote sits on a chest of drawers before disappearing into his ensuite. I groan and throw myself back on his bed. Why did such an arrogant arsehole have to look like an Adonis? I breathe in his scent which is all around me on his bed. What am I doing here? I mean seriously I am lying here smelling his sheets. Unease settles in my stomach. Am I getting used to having him around? I jump up off the bed and spot a pad and a pen over by his desk. I quickly scribble on it that I needed to head home and I hightail out of there like my arse is on fire. There is no way on earth am I catching feelings for Archer Savage.