Page 70 of The Archer and his Rosebud

Easing forward, Willa rests her palm on my cheek and turns my face toward hers. “He’s not completely wrong.”Kiss.“I am sleeping with my neighbor, though not in the way he assumes.” Her thumb strokes my jaw, and I lean in, stealing her next sentence with my mouth.

“Don’t even try to convince me you’ve been a bad mother. You had your moments initially, but they were at your detriment and never at hers. You’ve never done wrong by Clem, and I won’t accept you saying otherwise.”

Pressing an open mouth kiss to my jaw, Willa grabs my collar, tugging and pulling until we’re maneuvering around on the couch, and I’m stretched out, my body half-covering hers. I move to kiss her, and she holds her finger to my lips.

“For what it’s worth, he wasn’t like this when we were dating. He might have been more self-centered than I ever noticed, but he never treated me poorly. Until the end, obviously.” I have no desire to give Ty the benefit of anything. Instead, I suck her finger into my mouth. Passion warms her golden-brown eyes, and she continues with a shaky breath, “When he insulted me, I told him to leave.”

“What does he want, Willa?” I begin unbuttoning her oversized dress shirt.Mydress shirt that she stole from my closet as a tease when I wouldn’t let her leave earlier this morning. I wonder if Ty noticed that little nugget. “Why is he showing up out of the blue?”

“I’m hoping he just wanted to see her. Maybe it was a form of closure, but I really don’t know.” Her gaze flicks to my fingers making quick work at exposing her chest. “Are you undressing me in broad daylight?”

“Yup.” I kiss the hollow of her neck. “Clem is napping, I’m on lunch break, and it’s past time I examine second base.”

Two more buttons and Willa’s chuckles turn into a gasp.

ChapterTwenty-Two

WILLA

Life with Archer is effortless.

Has being a single mother gotten easier? No, but having Archer in our corner makes everything more manageable, like finding the missing piece of a jigsaw puzzle.

We’ve spent a few nights together but are keeping the physical stuff PG-13. We haven’t discussed not having sex. We’re just taking it slow, taking our time getting to know each other’s bodies. Slow is good. Being reckless is what turned me into a single mother. And while I wouldn’t change having Clementine for the world, I’m good with not jumping right into bed with Archer. It also keeps my heart from becoming too attached with the future so uncertain.

Between work and school we’re always together. Though he has his apartment through the end of the month, Archer closes on his house on the ninth, so I’m soaking up all the convenience living next door serves. I started helping him pack this week, and it makes his moving all too real. We even went furniture shopping, so his new house isn’t bare. I’m equal parts excited for him and dreading each passing day. No matter how much he promises nothing’s going to change, things will be different when he’s not twenty feet away. As busy as we are, we also spend plenty of time on the couch just being together. My head on his lap, his hands in my hair. Just being. There are times I can’t decide if I like the sexy night or the silent evening best.

I’ve been so spoiled. Not everyone gets the streak of luck I’ve had. I moved into the right place at the right time and knocked on a noisy neighbor’s door when I was at my wit’s end. Like fate intercepted me when life knew I needed it most.

Being officially on my own is a new normal I’m going to have to get used to. And I can do it.

I can.

* * *

The semester is ending,and I’m swamped with finals. Archer—the godsend he is—has been taking Clem to his place the last couple of days, so I can study in peace. Once she goes to bed, I’m in for another long night.

The front door creaks open, and I raise my head from my textbook. Archer quietly walks in with Clementine on one hip and the diaper bag slung over his shoulder. If I haven’t mentioned how irresistible he is with my baby comfortably in his arms, it’s worth mentioning now.

“She’s been fed and changed, but I think it’s time for someone to go to bed.” Clem whimpers in Archer’s arm. “Do you want me to get her down for you?”

“No, that’s okay. I want to have a little time with her while she falls asleep. I just need to finish going over this section real quick.”

“We’ll be okay for another few minutes. Won’t we, sweet girl?” He holds her in the air, tossing her for a little giggle, and is rewarded.

A knock resounds throughout the apartment. The last time someone knocked on my door without warning, it was my dad. Since I made it clear I wasn’t ready to mend bridges, I’m not expecting another surprise visit from him.

“I’ll get it,” Archer says, bouncing a sleepy Clem, and I resume my skimming. With the scrape of the front door comes, “What do you want?”

“Someone feels threatened.” The sperm donor’s arrogant voice filters inside, and I stiffen. “Ahellowould’ve sufficed. Or come on in, father of my girlfriend’s baby.”

“No.” Archer steps into the doorway. “You’re not coming in.”

“Excuse me?”

“I said you’re not coming in, man. Did I stutter?”

I sidle up beside Archer as he cradles Clem closer to his chest, angling her away from my ex. Placing a hand on his lower back, I focus on Ty standing with his hands shoved in his coat pockets and a backward baseball hat.

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