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When William walked into my life, I’d been close to giving up and joining my mom at the strip club. There weren’t many options for a high school dropout. Ever had moved to San Diego for work, and Archer had left to study. I felt like I’d been left behind.
The day William walked into the diner I’d been working in changed my life.
I’d gone into my marriage with William with my eyes wide open. And it wasn’t fair of me to resent him now. He’d always been honest about what we were and weren’t. I’d accepted long ago that some things weren’t mine to have. And Archer was now on top of that list.
* * *
Holding up my phone,I grinned at Sofie. “Do it again.”
She jumped into the water, splashing me, and I laughed. When she resurfaced, I waved her over. “Come have a look. I think I got it this time.”
We’d been at the pool for hours, playing, lazing in the sun, and now trying to get a photo of her mid flight. We’d both fallen asleep in the theater room last night and dragged ourselves to bed around midnight. Now we were busy splashing in the pool.
Joining me on the warm tiles, Sofie looked at my screen, dripping water everywhere. “That one’s perfect. Now come in with me. You promised we’d play volleyball.”
Putting down my phone, I took my sundress off. The flowy material was loose and perfect to wear over my bikini. Dropping my dress on a lounge chair, I joined Sofie at the edge of the pool. She took my hand, brushing the wet hair out of her face with the other one. “Jump in together?”
“Last one in is a rotten egg,” I yelled and jumped.
The cold water felt great against my heated skin, and I resurfaced with a laugh. A laugh that died a strangled death when my gaze collided with Archer’s, his total attention focused on me.
I stilled, held hostage by his scorching gaze. Even though I shouldn’t have any reaction at all, his attention directed at me sent butterflies off in a flurry. He looked like he was about to charge. I shivered at the thought of being caught by him.
A small body latching onto my neck ripped me out of my fantasies. “Come on, Thea. Let’s play.”
Turning my attention to the weight currently hanging off me, I tickled her. “We can’t play if you’re attached to me.”
Giggling, she released me, swimming over to the other side of the net we’d put up. I’d bought it after she’d mentioned playing a game in the water last time.
We spent the next hour knocking the ball around. We ignored the rules pretty quickly once we realized we had no talent for ball games.
The only rule that stood was to get the ball to the other side of the net. How that happened or where it landed was irrelevant. And that was how an eight-year-old kicked my butt. One who was a very graceless winner, whooping and hollering after I admitted defeat.
I dragged myself out of the side of the pool and flopped onto my back with an exhausted huff. “Let’s eat lunch. I’m starving.”
I was fairly certain I’d pulled my hamstring, and my little finger throbbed from hitting the ball wrong. I hoped it was only strained.
“Can I have pizza?”
Lifting my hand, I waved it around, unable to get up yet. “Sure. Just let Jacques know what you want, and he’ll make it. I’ll be in soon.” In about three hours when I could feel my legs again.
Holding my hand up in front of my face, I examined my finger. It wasn’t bent, and the pain had dulled to a throbbing.
Any visit to the doctor would only cause William to go into overprotective mode again, and I’d be stuck in my room.
A body blocked the sun, and I looked at Archer’s frowning face. “Do you need me to take you to the emergency room?”
Waving him off, I huffed out a breath. “God, no. And don’t tell William I hurt myself. He’ll never let Sofie come over again. No matter that this was my fault.”
When he held out his hand, I lifted my unhurt one without a second thought and put it in his. He pulled me up, and I stumbled into him when the sudden movement caused dark spots to dance in my vision. My hand landed on his chest, and I flinched at the pain in my finger.
He was wearing a dark shirt, the soft fabric nice against my bare skin. Neither of us moved, Archer still holding one of my hands, his other one on my hip. I wasn’t sure if it was to push me away or hold me steady.
Studying his black shirt, I cleared my throat. “I need to make sure Sofie made it to the kitchen.”
Yet we still didn’t move.
Instead, his hand on my hip tightened. “That’s probably a good idea.”
