The Best Mistake - Cookie O'Gorman Page 0,76

got all up in his face.

Archer laughed. “She looks pissed.”

“Can you blame her? We just came here to dance and have fun.”

“You want to go dance, Honor?” he asked.

I shook my head. “We’ve been here over an hour. I danced a lot already.”

Archer tilted his head. “Something else you’d rather be doing?”

By the way he was looking at me, I got the feeling he knew exactly what I was thinking. That was further proven when Chase came back to the booth. As he sat, Archer stood and I slid out to stand next to him.

“Honor and I are going head out,” he said, looking to me for confirmation. At my nod, he turned back to Chase. “Look after them. Call me if anyone needs anything.”

“Will do,” Chase said.

And just like that we left the bar. I texted Charlie to let her know I’d gone with Archer. It wasn’t like I didn’t trust Chase to tell her, but just in case, I didn’t want her to worry. Her answering text was immediate and to the point.

Charlie: Have fun you little minx! Condoms are in my desk if you need them ;)

My cheeks burned as I put the phone away.

“Everything okay?” Archer asked, holding the passenger door of his car open for me. His eyes shined in the moonlight.

“Yeah,” I said, “everything’s good.”

We didn’t talk on the drive over. Maybe that was odd, but it didn’t feel that way. I was comfortable, relaxed even. The tension, though, was thick inside that little space. Despite our flirting at the bar, it seemed like Archer was in his head, and I was definitely in mine.

He broke the silence once we were inside Magnolia House.

“Listen, Honor,” he said. “If you want to watch a movie again or talk, I’m good with that. I don’t have any expectations here. Just wanted to put that out there.”

I walked him to my bedroom.

“Really,” he said, “we don’t have to—”

At the threshold, I turned and placed my fingers to his lips.

“Archer,” I said, “do you remember the night we met?”

His eyes darkened as he nodded. I reached past him with my other hand to close and lock the door.

“Do you remember how much I wanted you? Even when I didn’t know who you really were?”

I felt his breath exhale as I pulled my fingers away.

“I thought I was ready then. But I know I am now.”

“Honor—” he said, but I spoke over him.

“Would you be willing to sleep with me?” His face showed recognition as I kept going. “I was hoping to have a one-night stand.”

Archer shook his head, taking a step forward for each one that I took back, but his eyes stayed on me as he came closer. The look in them was the one I’d come to associate with him, that intense, unwavering focus.

Placing a hand on my cheek, his forehead softly meeting mine, he lowered his voice. “I would love to, Honor, but…” he trailed off.

“But what?” I asked.

After a deep breath, he said, “I don’t think one night would be enough. I know it won’t be. There’s so much more, so much more, I want to experience with you.”

I smiled and spoke softly, my hands brushing the sides of his waist. “You feel that way now, but that could change.”

I felt his skin brush mine as he shook his head. “Never enough.”

“As long as you don’t disappear after, I think I’ll be okay.”

“I won’t,” he said. It sounded like a promise.

Closing the distance between us, I kissed him. Archer O’Brien. The guy who had somehow worked his way into my heart, inch by inch, taking me completely by surprise and making his way past every one of my walls. It felt right. It felt like more than our lips meeting as his mouth moved in perfect harmony with mine. More than skin touching when his fingertips ran over my ribs as he lifted my shirt above my head and tossed it away. More than bodies pressing together as he laid atop me once we were both naked.

He stared down for a moment just taking me in beneath him.

Though his body was a thing of beauty, I couldn’t take my eyes off his face. Didn’t want to. Archer’s eyes trailed slowly over my exposed skin, one hand following his progress. The feel of his rough hands awakened every cell inside me. But the look on his face was what made me feel cherished. His frown softened to something that looked like awe as I shivered.

“You’re