“I’m scared,” I admit, the words raw and painful, but I need to say them. “I’m scared I’m not cut out for this. That I’m going to screw it all up.”
Archer’s expression softens just a little, but the tension is still there. “You’re not going to screw it up,” he says, his voice quieter now, but no less intense. “But you need to make a choice, Bella. Because I can’t be in this if you’re not all in.”
The silence between us is thick, heavy with everything we’re not saying. My eyes drift back to the necklace on the counter, and for a moment, it feels like everything. My past, my doubts, my fear. The life I left behind but haven’t fully let go of.
I take a deep breath and reach for the necklace, my fingers curling around it. It’s cold, hard, and as heavy as it looks. For a second, I just hold it, feeling the weight of it, the weight of everything. Then, without another thought, I toss it in the trash.
Archer watches me, his expression unreadable, but I can see the tension start to ease from his shoulders. “You sure about that?”
I meet his gaze, and for the first time in a long time, I feel certain. “Yeah. I’m sure. Fuck him.” I blink away painful memories of my time managing the luxury hotel in the city–the sexual advances from David that I had to dodge nearly every day. Evading his gaze, avoiding being in the same room alone with him…it was all above and beyond my comfort level but I did it because the money was good and the benefits better. It’s the not first time David has given me jewelry, he claimed to do it for all the people he worked closely with, he was always generous with holiday bonuses and work trips–and I always took the expensive jewelry immediately to the pawn shop and exchanged it for cash. At first I thought David was a great boss, but with time I realized accepting the jewelry came with a price. A price that I wasn’t willing to pay.
Archer steps forward, his hand sliding around my waist, pulling me closer. “I’m glad you threw it away, sweetheart,” he says, his voice low and rough, but there’s something soft in it too. “Because I’m not letting you go that easily.”
I lean into him, letting his warmth chase away the lingering doubts. But even as I rest my head against his chest, I know this isn’t over. The pull of my past isn’t going to disappear overnight. But for now, in this moment, I’m choosing him.
And maybe, just maybe, that’s enough.
Chapter Eight
Archer
The low hum of the inn at night has a way of settling into your bones, making everything feel heavier. But working beside Bella? That’s an entirely different weight. Every time I look up, she’s there—close enough that I can feel the warmth rolling off her, close enough that the tension between us is a live wire ready to snap.
She’s standing next to me, looking at the exposed wires like she’s actually interested in electrical work, but I know better. “You keep staring like that, and I’m gonna start charging you by the hour for how much of my time you’re taking up.”
Bella crosses her arms, the faintest smirk playing at the corner of her lips. “You already charge by the hour, remember?”
I lean back on my heels, the pliers in my hand falling to my side as I give her a slow once-over. “Yeah, but this”—I motion between us—“this feels like overtime.”
She rolls her eyes but doesn’t move, doesn’t step away. That’s the thing about Bella—she pretends she’s unaffected, but the way she lingers near me says everything she’s not ready to admit yet.
I stand, brushing my hands on my jeans, my eyes locking with hers. “You sure you’re here to check the wiring, or are you just trying to get closer to me?”
Her cheeks flush, and she looks away, but not before I catch the flicker of desire she’s trying to hide. “Maybe I’m just trying to make sure you’re not going to burn the place down.”
I chuckle, stepping into her space, close enough that I can feel the tension crackling between us like static. “You worried about the inn or about us?”
Her breath catches for just a second—long enough for me to know I’ve hit a nerve. Good. I’ve been waiting for her to admit it.
“Archer, you don’t need to push,” she says, her voice quieter now, like she’s trying to convince herself more than me.
I reach out, my hand brushing lightly against her waist, feeling the way her body reacts to even the smallest touch. “Who says I’m pushing? Maybe I’m just showing you what’s already there.”
She tenses, her lips parting slightly, and I can see the internal war playing out in her eyes. It’s the same one she’s been fighting since the day we met—this thing between us that she can’t seem to control, no matter how much she tries.
I lean in, my lips hovering just above hers, daring her to make the first move. “You feel it, don’t you? This pull between us?”
She swallows, her gaze flicking down to my mouth for just a second before meeting my eyes again. “I… I don’t know.”
“Yeah, you do.” I brush a thumb along her jawline, my voice dropping lower. “You’ve been trying to fight it, but it’s not going away. You know that as well as I do.”
Her breath is shaky, and she’s close, so damn close to letting go, but I can still feel her holding back, her hesitations wrapping around her like armor. She’s terrified of what this could be, and I get it. But I’m not letting her run. Not this time.
I press my forehead against hers, the heat between us almost unbearable now. “Let me in, Bella.”
She closes her eyes, her breath coming faster now, and for a moment, I think she’s going to step away. But then her hands are on me, gripping my shirt, pulling me closer, and her lips are on mine, hot and desperate.
The kiss is like fire, burning through every bit of tension, every doubt. I wrap my arms around her, pulling her against me, feeling the way her body melts into mine, how she responds to every touch, every kiss. She’s not holding back anymore, and damn, it feels good.
