Page 58 of The Archer and his Rosebud

Weaving my fingers into his silky curls, I draw his head away. “You know if I wait too long to put her in bed, she’ll wake when I move her and be up for hours.”

His blue eyes, dark with passion, read me. Whatever he sees causes him to push up and move to sit on the opposite end of the couch as I swing my feet out of his way. I sit up, combing my fingers through my tangled hair and adjusting my twisted shirt.

My gaze flicks to the expanse between us, and even though he’s not looking my way, Archer grins. “Yes, I am purposefully sticking to this corner. If you want to leave, I need to stay on my side.”

The man can read my mind. I shake my head. “I didn’t say anything.”

His thumb swipes at his bottom lip. “You didn’t have to.”

See? Mind reader. I follow his gaze to Clem fast asleep on Eli’s blue blanket on the floor, rattles and soft blocks strewn about.

Archer releases a heavy sigh, and my attention snaps to him. “What is it?”

“I’m gonna want to move fast, Will.” He pinches the bridge of his nose and swings his head toward me. “That’s the danger of our age difference. I know what I’m looking for, and I know you fit the bill.”

An invisible pull urges me closer. Sitting on the edge of the couch, I angle his way and take his hand. “So, what are you saying?”

Archer pops to his feet and drags me to stand with him, hauling me into an unyielding embrace. He buries his face into my hair. “I’m saying that I don’t want you to go,” he whispers in my ear. “Not to your apartment, Michigan, or anywhere I’m not at your side at the end of the day.”

My breath hitches.

Withdrawing, he flashes a grin. “I know everything I say will be too much, too soon for you, but this is how I feel, and you deserve to know exactly where the man in your life stands.”

“Why are you talking like you’re afraid I will run away?” My nails scratch up and down his spine. “Being with you is an easy decision to make, Archer.”

Something unreadable flashes in his eyes before he gives me a quick kiss. “How about we get you two home before I’m tempted to devour that mouth again?”

“I’ve been meaningto tell you that Ty’s called me. Twice.”

Archer stiffens. “You waited to mention this now as I walk you to your place at midnight with a sleeping Clem in your arms?”

“It wasn’t on purpose,” I explain, lowering my voice. Archer frowns. “I was going to talk about it with you after dinner, butsomeonehad plans with his mouth that didn’t include talking.”

“No regrets.” He brushes his thumb over my stubble-rash chin. “What did he say?”

“He just said we need to talk. He asked me to return his call.” The last time we had a meaningful conversation, I was barely five months pregnant, and he told me I was on my own. “I didn’t expect him to reach out. He showed no interest in Clem. Ever.”

“Maybe he wants to make sure he’s free of responsibility?”

Maybe.

Archer glances out into the darkness through the hallway windows, and I sense he’s fighting to keep his thoughts about Ty to himself. Since I still have no clue what my plan is when it comes to Ty, I don’t add more insight to the conversation.

After an extended silence, Archer turns and unlocks my door. “Okay, I’m saying goodnight here because otherwise…”

Heat tightens my core. If I doubted my body was ready for sex after pregnancy and birth, I’m no longer unsure. This girl is firing on all cylinders, and Archer is waving the green flag with his delectable mouth, strong hands, and perfect body. I fight the urge to rub my thighs together.

“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea.”

Archer cups my face, careful to not bump Clem as he brushes a soft kiss on my mouth. “I’ll see you girls tomorrow?”

“As always.”

ChapterNineteen

WILLA

Another week passes,and another voicemail from Ty lights up my phone before I finally return his call. I may have kept ignoring him if he didn’t say he wanted to see Clementine—not that he used her name, he doesn’t know it. He just said, ‘I want to see her.’ Oh, the audacity. Then he threatened to show up at my door if I didn’t reach out. Terrified at that prospect, I send him a succinct text.

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