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“She’s engaged? She wasn’t wearing a ring yesterday.” Fuck, Palmer, do you want lemon to go with the salt in my wound?
The image of fuckface on one knee, makes me wince, it fucking makes my stomach turn. I try to pass it off as the effect of the scotch going down. However, much I hate him, Greg fits the fucking bill. He fits next to her. He is the fucking picture-perfect wedding cake topper. Me? I am all kinds of wrong.
“I have a bone to pick with you.” Someone taps me on the shoulder.
Motherfucker. If it isn’t fucking red silk shirt, Jersey boy. Except tonight, it’s black silk shirt. “Get. Lost.” I don’t even make an effort to look at him. He taps me on the shoulder again.
“Where’s ginger?”
“Ginger?” I’m seething. This time I make a point to look at him. “Listen, Jersey, where she is, is none of your fucking business.” I sit a little taller. I can feel my jaw tensing as I try to keep my anger at bay.
“What the hell is your problem, man? She came and sat next to me, trying to escape her creepy, grabby brother.” He flashes me his veneers. “She couldn’t get away from you fast enough.”
“Bobby, just go, okay?” Andy stands up next to me. He knows my short temper all too well.
“Why should I go? Besides, his tasty treat of a sister might show up and –”
Next thing I know, Bobby is flying in the opposite direction, with a split lip.
“You will stay the fuck away from her, you understand me! She is too goddamn good for you!” I spit at him.
“She didn’t think so, city boy! She would’ve gone home with me too, if you–” I bring back my left arm again, but Palmer is there to stop me.
“That’s enough!” The barman thunders before jumping over the counter. “Andy, get your friend out of here, before I call the cops.”
“Sure thing, Ray.” Palmer jumps in front of me. Bobby crawls away while he can.
“Fuck. I’m sorry, Andy. Look, here, have my keys. I’ll just call a cab. Milly will have my balls if you bail out on her because of me.” Palmer looks conflicted, his wife is already shooting daggers at us from the back.
“Well, she’ll have mine if I send you off like this too.” He smiles sheepishly at her. “Let me just go talk to her. Wait by your car.” He goes over to a nearby table and grabs a coat. “Put this on and wait for me. I will have to grovel first, but I’ll drive you.” The barman hasn’t moved, he is waiting for me to leave.
Fuck. “Sorry for the trouble.” I toss a fifty on the bar and leave.
“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” I yell at the empty parking lot while I take long strides to my car.
“Archer?” Rose’s voice comes from behind me. My blood turns to ice, then the memories of the day roll in like a fucking stampede, taking it back to boiling point.
“What are you doing here, Rose? Aren’t you supposed to be halfway back to your perfect penthouse apartment?” I bark at her, without turning.
“What? No! I’m not going.”
“You are, buttercup. You are. You just don’t know it yet!” I turn around to look at her. Her nose is red from the cold. She looks like she’s been crying. She has my fucking coat in her arms.
“Fuck, James! I am not going.” I walk away from her. I hear her feet shuffling in the snow as she follows me to my car. Fuck, Andy kept my keys.
“You fucking coward! You do not walk away from me again!” The anger in her voice is familiar, the hurt underneath is what makes me face her. She looks like a damn fairy against the snowy backdrop.
“Rose, this weekend was… that was all it was, a weekend.” She lowers her eyes. “You will go back to your fucking perfect little life with the lake views and the beige furniture eventually. That’s your life and fuckface fits right in it.” It physically hurts me to say that. “He completes the damn set.”
“Maybe he does!” She agrees. “But it’s not what I want.” She’s pure fire, her eyes are shining bright with emotion.
“Look at me, Archer.” I do. She disarms me. I can’t help myself, I grab her by the waist and push her against my car. Her lips fall open. My hands fist her hair, tilting her head upwards, our lips mere inches away.
“Don’t play with me, Rose.” I can’t tell if it’s a warning or a plea.
“I don’t want mediocre and boring, Archer.” Rose swallows, before closing the distance between us. I can smell sweet tea in her breath. “All I want, is you.” Her cold lips meet mine in a kiss so intense it feels we will combust. Our heated breaths mix as I whisper her name into her mouth. Fuck. I’m spellbound by whatever magic this damn Rose holds. I want it all, every petal and every thorn.
“Are you sure, Rosy?” I need to hear it again.
