Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
They all know that he took me home from the Tavern two weeks ago, and now here we are. They want to know. Palmer has been giving me side-eyes and smirks since then, but I pretend to ignore her every time she does. He took me home. Well, the next day. I probably won’t tell them that he took care of me and held me in his arms all night. No, I won’t ever tell them that. I also won’t tell them that he brings me a sense of security that I’ve been missing for far too long.
I’m not thinking about that.
I’m not talking about that.
Pretend.
Deny.
That’s my grand plan. “Are we doing this?” I ask. I’m pretending to be annoyed when I’m anything but.
Archer smirks as he steps in close. His toes are touching mine as he places his hands on my hips and peers down at me. “We’re doing this,” he says huskily. His tone tells me he’s talking about more than just twirling me in the air.
Swallowing hard, I nod. Archer’s grip tightens, and then I’m being lifted into the air. He lifts me straight up. His arms are fully extended as he holds me high above his head. I look down at him to find that he’s already looking up at me. I grip his forearms, not sure when the twirling is going to start.
“I’ve got you, Firecracker.” His voice is soft, his words only for me, as he slowly turns in a circle, never taking his eyes off mine.
He makes two complete rotations. At least, that’s what it feels like from my vantage point. Maybe there were more? Honestly, I can’t be sure. I know we’re in a room full of his family at his six-year-old niece's birthday party, but at this moment, it feels as if it’s just the two of us.
Lost in our own little world.
He never pulls his eyes from mine as he lowers his arms. My body slides along the length of his as he settles me back on my feet. He slides his arms around my waist, and it’s on pure instinct that I snuggle into his chest.
I’ve forgotten where we are.
I’ve forgotten that we have an audience.
Archer bends his head and presses his lips to the top of mine. “You good, Firecracker?”
It takes great effort, but I manage to lift my head and look up at him. I open my mouth to reply, not sure exactly what I’m going to say, but a loud whistle pulls me out of my trance.
“Damn.” I turn to see Merrick with a paper plate fanning his face. “That was hot.”
“Definite Dirty Dancing vibes,” Maverick agrees. He holds up his own paper plate with a nine scrawled on it in crayon. “I had to deduct a point because we needed the kiss.” He winks, and my face heats.
I Immediately step away from Archer, missing the heat of his body pressed to mine. I chance a quick glance at him, and he’s glaring at his little brother. I need to defuse the situation.
“Meh, I’d give it a seven at best.”
“What?” Archer chokes out a laugh.
I shrug. “I expected the full twirling experience, Popeye. It’s okay. I know you don’t have the strength for that. Apparently, that arm porn of yours is deceiving.”
I don’t have time to run when he leaps toward me and lifts me into the air. This time he spins me around just as Ryder did the girls. I squeal with laughter and, for a fleeting moment, hope that I don’t end up crashing into someone as he spins us in a circle.
By the time we stop spinning, I’m laughing so hard my entire body is shaking from it. Archer places me back on my feet, and I stumble.
“Solid ten!” Maverick and Merrick shout.
“Ten. Ten. Ten,” the girls chant.
I look up at Archer, and he’s not even breathing heavily from the act of spinning a full-grown human in the air. “I guess you ate your spinach this morning,” I tease.
“Yuck,” Blakely says. “I don’t like that. It’s icky.”
Her friends agree with her. “Spinach will make you big and strong like Uncle Archer,” I tell the girls.
Blakely shrugs. “All my uncles are strong, and I don’t need to be. I have them.”
“The birthday girl has spoken.” Archer scoops Blakely into his arms and plants kisses all over her face. She laughs and tries to wiggle out of his hold, but as she said, he’s too strong for that, and she’s, well, not.
“All right, kiddo,” Declan calls out. “It’s time to eat. You girls are over here.” He points to a small round table that’s already set up with a plate filled with pizza, along with cups with straws and lids for the girls.
Turning my back on Archer, I walk to where Kennedy is standing. “What can I do?” I ask her.