Page 98 of Touch in the Dark

“I’d totally marry you if I was that way inclined.”

“Fuck off,” he laughs. “Although we’d make a fantastic couple, I agree. That said,” he eyes me. “You and Elsa were getting cosy the other night. Don’t think I missed those fuck me eyes and the touches under the table. At one point, I thought you were doing something you shouldn’t have in polite company.”

“Polite company?” I turn my head to him. “Do you realise how many times we’ve seen or heard Jordan fucking.”

“I’ve seen and heard all of you fucking,” Archer points out. “But it’s different with Elsa, there is history there and things are heating up. Not just with the sex, but you’re getting close. And she’s letting you.”

“We talked,” I admit. I’d already given him shit about his part in the mass walkout the other day, although I did thank him in the end.

“And you convinced her.”

“Looks like,” I tell him. “I mean, I was brutally honest, not just trying to convince her. I told her the truth about that night. Man, she was pissed.”

“She had a right to be, you allowed her to believe something that didn’t happen, so you didn’t have to deal with breaking up with her. That shit was messed up.”

“Yeah,” I look down at my coffee cup. “I was a dick.”

“But she got over that. Obviously.”

I grin at him. He doesn’t need a blow by blow, but everyone knew or guessed what we got up to when we disappeared overnight and given we were close at the restaurant, although we weren’t doing anything under the table. Not that I wouldn’t have but I respect Elsa. She did get off on the idea of getting caught when we were in the car though. That is still in the forefront of my mind. How far would she go? Not that I intended on fucking her in front of anybody, but we could do something. A little dangerous, risky.

“You’re thinking sex thoughts, knock it off.”

“Jealous?”

“Er, no. I hooked up with Madison Mackenzie last night,” he says, his brows raised like he hadn’t expected it himself, let alone telling me about it.

“Shit, for real?” I glance at him. Madison Mackenzie is a music exec at the label. And supposed to be off limits. She’s hot though, we’d all lusted after her at one point or another.

“Yeah, messed up but fuck me, she is a twelve, man. Freaky in bed.”

“I don’t need to know that shit. I have to work with her.”

Archer grins smugly. “It won’t happen again. She’s so fucking bossy, telling me while she got dressed and I lay there watching her, that it was a one off and I have to keep my mouth shut. It’s always the buttoned-up ones that are crazy in bed.”

I fist bump him and he laughs. We sit in silence for a few minutes until Arch blows out a huge sigh. At least the car we’re in has darkened windows but I’m sure we’re starting to look suspicious, just sitting here.

“You’re right, this is stupid. Let’s go. I’ll call the PI and ask for what she’s got so far.” I reach to turn on the ignition.

A black Lincoln town car pulls up then and I look passed Archer as it pulls to a stop, and the driver gets out. Arch sees me looking and turns too. We watch the driver open the door and a man appears. He has a head of thick black hair, so I know it’s not Atwater. At least, not the Atwater I’m interested in.

“Fuck, he looks like you,” Archer says, then turns and gives me an apologetic look.

He quickly looks back as another man and a woman get out of the car behind Rhett Atwater, the man who was born a few months before me. The people with him aren’t the other two Atwater kids. Roisin, the daughter works for the company, but she is based in Chicago. Royce, the youngest, is the Chef and he’s in Paris. I already know more than I should about these people. My family. Potentially.

I watch Rhett as the car drives away, leaving an unobstructed view of him. He is talking to the woman, looks like he’s barking orders at her, and I frown. I don’t need to be close to him to see he’s being an asshole. Elsa did tell me the Atwater kids weren’t that nice from what she remembers of them. Spoiled and entitled. The only one she did think was semi-normal is Royce. He got as far away from his family as possible, I wonder if Rhett’s assholery had anything to do with it. He’s openly berating the woman now, her head is down.

I reach for the door handle, my innate need to protect people, especially women, kicking in. Arch grabs my arm.

“Are you nuts?”

“He’s being a prick.”

“And you going over, looking like his fucking twin and yelling at him will be the best way to meet your half-brother?”

He’s right, I sit back. “Shit, I’m not even sure I want to get to know these people.”

“It’s your call, Nick. We came here to find out what we could. What you do with it is up to you. No one is saying you need a relationship with any of them.”

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