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With this girl, every experience, every interaction, touch, kiss and stroke I qualify as the good stuff. When she touches me, my entire body lights up as if she hit a damn switch and turned me on.
“Yes,” she says, standing up straighter and looking all prissy and hot. Odd combo but it’s working for me. “Can you grab the boxes and carry them to the office for me?”
“Whatever the birthday girl wants,” I drawl, teasing her.
She rolls her eyes, laughing, and as I grab the boxes and start to head for the door, I realize something.
I like making her laugh. Seeing her smile.
I like it—her—a lot.
We go back to the office and deliver the boxes to Vivian, who examines the contents with a pleased smile on her face. “You two did great.”
“I need to wash my hands. Do you mind if I go to the restroom?” Daisy asks Vivian, who dismisses her with a wave of her hand.
The moment Daisy is out of the office, Viv is turning on me with a frown. “What are you doing, young man?”
I rear back a little at her tone. “What do you mean?”
“I sincerely hope you’re not toying with Daisy’s heart.” I open my mouth to protest but she talks right over me. “I see the way you look at her. How you grabbed her hand yesterday and brought her a birthday gift today. If this is some sort of game to see how far you can take things with Daisy, may I strongly suggest you stop now before you do real, permanent damage?”
I’m actually fucking offended. And more than a little hurt. “I’m not playing a game with Daisy. I-I like her.”
The skeptical look on Viv’s face is telling me she’s not falling for my schemes.
But for once, it’s not a scheme. I do like this girl. A whole fucking lot.
“Really, Arch?”
“Really, Viv.” I let the nickname drop and irritation flares in her eyes. “And I don’t need you telling me what to do or how to treat her. I know how to respect someone and their boundaries. And that’s what I’m doing with our girl Daze.”
Viv snorts. “Our girl. She’s never been your girl before, Arch. You’ve never even looked twice at her before and now all of a sudden, you’ve got moon eyes and you follow her around as if she’s got you on a leash.”
“I do?” Shit, I didn’t think I was that obvious.
“Yes, you do, and if what you’re feeling is real, then more power to you. Daisy is a delightful, giving girl and she deserves the world. While most of the time you’ve spent here at Lancaster Prep, you’ve proven to be a spoiled brat and nothing else. Learn a thing from her.”
“Like what?” I ask, annoyed.
“Like how to be a decent, thoughtful person.”
* * *
“The house is kind of messy,”Daisy warns as we approach the front door. She glances over her shoulder, an unsure look on her face. “No judgment. We don’t have a team of maids like you do.”
I roll my eyes, hating how she always feels like she’s gotta remind me of our differences. “I’m sure it’s not that bad.”
“I never cleaned up our breakfast dishes.” She opens the door and steps inside, me right on her heels, following her into the house, closing the door behind me.
She’s got the miniature roses I gave her tucked in her arm and she sets it on a shelf that’s beneath the front window, arranging it carefully so it’s facing the light. I glance around the living room, taking in the shabby couch, the scratched-up coffee table. I didn’t even notice the furniture the last time I came in here, when Daisy just about fainted.
The house isn’t a mess like she said. More like it appears lived in. Like a home versus a museum, which is how my mother keeps our house. Not that she ever lifts a finger to clean.
We have a staff of housekeepers, just like Daisy said.
The scent of maple syrup lingers in the air, making my stomach growl even though the last thing on my mind is actual food. I’m hungry all right, but not for a meal.
I’m hungry to get my hands and mouth and whatever else I can get on Daisy.
