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“Yes.” Tabitha argued.
“Don’t think I’m capable?” He smirked.
Tabitha couldn’t direct her eyes away from his. She knew he started working for some security business, his parents told her. This wouldn’t work. He shouldn’t be here. He shouldn’t know about all of this.
She took in a breath before responding. “This is going to be a live-in situation and I have to travel for work sometimes. I don’t think your wife would appreciate you living with another woman, even for work.”
“I’m not married.” He made a face, then ran his hand across the back of his neck. “I didn’t even know you knew.”
“I read it in the paper years ago.” She crossed her arms. “I had to find out in the paper.”
“Well, it didn’t even last a year. So, no worries there.”
“I’m sorry.” She wanted him to be happy. She honestly did. What happened?
“It’s in the past.”
Tabitha knew she didn’t have a choice then. Not really. It’s not like she could come out and say she just didn’t want him to know her business. That ship had clearly sailed.
He knew.
“Fine.” She crossed her arms.
He nodded with a smile. “How about a tour? Show me what the security system is looking like now and where my room is.”
Tabitha honestly just wanted to go and lie down, not that she could rest knowing he was in her house. Her oldest friend that she’d recently attempted to catch up with knew some of her dirty secrets.
She hated it.
For the next hour, she followed Archie around her home as he inspected everything from the security system and cameras to the windows. He was quick to judge that none of it was good enough. She argued that it was top of the line, but he only said he could get better.
CHAPTER10
ARCHIE
The first few days were an adjustment. They weren’t used to being around each other all the time, not like when they were kids. Thankfully, he was able to keep busy as he installed the new security system and converted a spare bedroom into the security office. She didn’t mind, considering he didn’t bother asking. She just stopped by when she noticed the change and nodded before continuing about her day.
Tabitha had been in and out of her office all day. It was the first day he’d even seen her enter it. Part of the reason he chose to have the security office on this side of the house was because it was across the hall from her office, which looked like a Halloween store had exploded if he were being honest. When he first peaked in to check on her, costumes and wigs were scattered about.
She’d been dancing in front of a ring light and ignored him, or she just didn’t notice him watching. He couldn’t help but shake his head and laugh. She’d always been a bit of a nerd, but this was next level. It suited her, and she looked happy.
He leaned back in the chair as his eyes flickered between the monitors. Everything appeared fine. He also requested access to the front gate of the neighborhood, and they were quick to comply. If they didn’t like it, he would’ve just put up his own cameras anyway. He did around other parts of the neighborhood.
Whoever was in charge of the neighborhood security clearly hadn’t realized how dangerous the forest behind them could be. As if wild animals were the only thing they had to worry about. The tall iron fence would help some, but there were weak points.
If Tabitha’s ex broke in before, he would surely attempt to again. Archie was determined to make sure he’d never lay a finger on her again. He knew she should talk to someone about what happened, but she’d always preferred to keep things bottled up.
Archie glanced at the monitor that showed her office. It was mostly to have eyes on the window. Her office seemed to have the most windows. She said it was because of the natural light she needed for content. He still wasn’t sure how it all worked, her job. All he knew was that to be able to see every window, he had to show the entire office.
It wasn’t too bad. Most of the time she was sitting down doing makeup or switching wigs. Every now and then she’d get up in front of one of the cameras, he didn’t know what she said, he kept the monitor muted. He must have been watching her for a solid twenty minutes before she moved to the other side of the room to change.
He quickly glanced away when she went over there. The temptation to look was there, but he didn’t want to watch. Not yet. He should probably tell her he could see everywhere in the room.
But he wouldn’t.
Archie stood from his seat and left the office. Thoughts of her undressing in the next room had heat coursing through him like a lava river, bubbling closer and closer to the surface. He moved to the kitchen and grabbed one of the cups from the draining rack before pouring water from the filtered pitcher in the fridge. As if its coolness could calm him.
“Hey, you read my mind.” Tabitha spoke as she passed him to the fridge and refilled her reusable water bottle.
