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Carter twisted to the side and winked at me. Archer growled a warning at him, and they disappeared inside the pool house.
“Thea, can you help me put the net up?” Sofie called.
I pulled myself away from staring at the closed door Archer had disappeared behind. “Of course, pumpkin. Where do you want it?”
Even though I spent another hour in the pool with Sofie, Archer and Carter didn’t come back out. I was worried that this was it. And I wasn’t ready for him to leave yet.
13
ARCHER
Carter tooka seat at the small table in the kitchen, placing his sunglasses in front of him. “You’re either incredibly stupid or stupidly brave. I haven’t decided which one yet.”
I wound the towel I’d grabbed on the way back to the pool house around my waist, then pulled on a T-shirt that I found on the back of the couch. Once I was satisfied I wouldn’t drip all over the floor, I sat down in the other chair.
“I’m neither. There are things I can’t talk about, but William knows about what’s going on, and he doesn’t mind.”
“Which is what sets off all my warning bells. Gunner spoke to William who for some reason didn’t sound upset. And there was no cursing, no threats of firing us.” Leaning back in his chair, he studied me. “You know we’ll figure out eventually what’s going on, right? You might as well save us the time and tell us what the fuck happened.”
Holding up my hands, I shook my head. “I can’t talk about it. I signed a nondisclosure, remember?”
Studying me a moment longer, Carter narrowed his eyes at me. “You’re on the next flight out of here. But first we’re talking to William.” He got up and started the coffee machine. “Get dressed. You have five minutes.”
Saluting him, I took a quick shower and pulled on fresh clothes.
Carter handed me a mug filled with coffee when I came back out, and I took it gratefully. “Can I ask for one thing?”
Carter took a sip from his own cup, then tilted his head slightly.
“I need one more night. Send me on the first flight tomorrow morning, but give me time to say goodbye,” I said.
“You’re in so much shit, yet you’re still digging yourself deeper.”
“Look, I know I did the wrong thing by sleeping with a client. But Thea is so much more than just a hookup. If keeping my job means not having her in my life anymore, then consider this my resignation.”
I held my breath, hating that it had come to this. But no matter how much I loved what I did, I’d realized that a life without Thea wasn’t a life at all.
“I don’t understand why you’d give up your future just to get your dick wet, but whatever.” He finished the last of his coffee and set the empty mug in the sink. “I’ll put you on an early flight tomorrow morning.” He shook his head, the puzzlement over the situation clear on his face. “Since William has no problem with you sleeping with his wife, the only thing that will happen is that you’re off the job. No need to get dramatic and quit.”
Taking a deep breath in, I clenched my fists. “Don’t ever say that about Thea again. I’ve loved her for a long time. And while it might have been a silly crush when I was a teenager, it’s so much more now.”
“You could have made your life so much easier by just staying away. There are millions of women out there you could have chosen instead.”
“There was never anyone else for me. It just took me a while to realize it.”
“It seems that finally getting laid fried your brain.”
Giving him the finger, I turned for the door. “Ready whenever you are.”
We made our way to William’s study. Carter had talked to him when he first arrived, and he was expecting us.
His door was open, and William was sitting behind his desk, squinting at a screen, reading glasses perched on his nose. He turned his attention to us as soon as we stepped inside. “Gentlemen.” After pointing to the chairs in front of his desk, he closed his laptop. “Please, have a seat.”
Once we were all settled around his enormous desk, William leaned back. Carter sat relaxed in his chair, looking like he was here to have tea instead of an uncomfortable conversation.
“Mr. Barlowe,” Carter said. “As mentioned before, I’ll be replacing Archer. I just wanted to make sure that you have no concerns. Archer is leaving tomorrow, so if there’s anything we should address before he leaves, this is your chance.”
William pushed a pile of papers to the side. “Look, I know this must look odd to you that I don’t mind my wife sleeping with someone else, but our relationship has always been different from a traditional marriage. All I ask is that this doesn’t leave my house. My staff is discreet, and I hope yours is too.”
