Page 98 of Pretty Rings and Broken Things

“Something could still happen.” He tries to keep his voice firm, but it doesn’t work. I know he wants the press of our bodies like this just as much as I do.

Our driver clears his throat, flicking on his blinker. “We’re pulling up to the curb now.”

I laugh, raising my eyebrows with a look that must scream, “I told you so.”

Archer sighs, opening the door the moment the car stops. He doesn’t even allow time for our driver to help.

“Inside we go,” he commands, gently pulling on my arm. I let him guide me out of the car, throwing a smile back at our driver before following him up the stairs.

I smile at all of the decorations running up the stairs. Instead of the pumpkins that were here when I first moved in, there’s a lush green garland with twinkling lights twisted around the railing. Battery-operated candles sit on the stairs in the middle of pine wreaths. At first, I thought I’d want more color on the porch instead of going with the white lights, but I fell in love with the way the yellow, flickering lights look against the red brick of our home.

Archer doesn’t waste any time opening the front door—and then slamming it shut. The moment it’s closed, his body is pressing mine into the wood.

“All I’ve thought about today is finally getting you alone,” he says as he trails kisses along my neck.

“Really?” I tease, arching my neck to give him more room to explore. “You could’ve fooled me. You were all business throughout that very long meeting.”

His fingers tighten around the fabric of my skirt. He slowlylifts it up, bunching it at my hips. “I’m good at pretending. But don’t worry, underneath the professional facade, all I could think about was burying my face in your pussy because I was so damn turned on with how you controlled every single person in that room.”

I suck in a labored breath as he kisses along my collarbone. “It wasn’t anything special.”

Quickly, he pulls away and lines his eyes up with mine. I thought I’d see lust in them, but instead, he stares back at me angrily. “Every single thought in your mind, every word out of your mouth, every single thing you do is special. I know that. Everyone there today knows that.” He presses a kiss to my forehead, keeping his lips there even through his next words. “And you should know that, too, baby.”

My eyelids flutter shut, and I don’t know how long the two of us stay there, his lips pressed to my forehead and my back pressed to our front door. It could be a minute we stay there, it could be ten, I truly don’t know. It doesn’t matter.

For the first time in my life, I know what it feels like to be in love and to be supported. And it’s the best feeling in the world.

CHAPTER 53

WINNIE

The soundof my phone vibrating wakes me up. I bolt up off the bed, wondering if I’d somehow overslept.

Looking at the alarm clock on the nightstand, I find that I still have ten minutes before my alarm is set to go off. I look over to Archer’s side of the bed, finding it empty.

Before I can wonder where he is, I swipe to answer the FaceTime between my best friends. I try to stifle a yawn while Margo’s, Emma’s, and Pippa’s faces pop up on the screen.

“Happy first day!” they all cheer at the same time, their faces eager even though it’s early in the morning.

I smile, shaking my head at the three of them. “I’ve technically been working for weeks. This is just my first day in the office.”

“It’s still something to celebrate!” Margo responds, her skin glowing even through the phone screen.

“Now, get up and show us what you’re going to wear,” Emma demands. She sits at her counter, propping her phone on something as she shovels colorful cereal into her mouth.

“Emma, you could ask her nicely,” Pippa scolds, a wide smile on her face. Pippa effortlessly joined our friend group like she’s always been a part of it.

“Pleaseshow us what you’re wearing to your first day ofbeing a bad bitch boss,” Emma corrects through a mouthful of the cereal.

I roll my eyes, stretching my legs for a moment before moving. For a second, I look over at the empty spot in the bed. Archer must have gone for an early morning run or something. It isn’t like him to leave without waking me up to say goodbye, but maybe he wanted me to get some extra sleep before the big day.

“Emma, technically, I’m not the boss. I’m just running the design team.”

“So basically…you’re the boss?” Pippa laughs, whispering something to someone out of view on the screen. It’s clear she’s at the bakery she owns by her background. It’s pink everything, the name of her coffee shop and bakery glowing from a neon sign behind her.

“You’re a boss-ass bitch,” Emma quips. “Own it, Winnie Boo Boo.”

I slide on the pair of slippers I keep by the bed and head toward the closet Archer and I share. “I can’t with you guys. It’s really not a big deal, but I’ll show you my outfit anyway.”

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