“Caley? What are you doing?”
The shock of hearing Archer’s voice made her wobble on the stool. She let out a gasp as she realized she was about to fall. Two big hands wrapped around her waist, steadying her, then lifting her to the floor.
Her breath caught, her heart racing as she felt his chest pressed against her back. Goosebumps covered her skin and gulped nervously. Then suddenly, he stepped back away from her. Her legs shook slightly.
Archer cleared his throat. “Caley? What were you doing?”
She turned then leaned back against the counter behind her, trying to give them both some space.
There was no denying how gorgeous he was. How potent.
“I, umm, I thought you were working,” she said brightly. He’d commandeered one of her old laptops and had been working in the spare bedroom. Issy was outside, doing some work on her gutters now that the weather had calmed.
“I was. Then I came out to get some coffee and saw a naughty sub standing on a wobbly stool. Why didn’t you come get me if you wanted something from a high cupboard? Is that how you always access things that are up high?”
“I don’t usually store much up there.”
He raised an eyebrow. He was so debonair. So put-together.
Unlike you.
“So what were you after?”
“Umm, well, see…”
“Okay, now I’m really curious.” He moved closer and she stepped back hastily, almost stumbling.
He stilled, frowned. “Caley?”
“Oh. Sorry.” Calm down. You’re acting like a dork. She glanced up at the cupboard. “You really don’t need to see what’s up there.”
“I definitely need to see what’s up there.”
He reached up and pulled out a box. He placed it on the table. His eyes almost bugged out of his face as he looked inside.
She found herself blushing as he drew out bags of cookies, boxes of chocolates and candy. Then more candy.
“It’s my, umm, stash,” she confessed. “I put it up there so it’s not so easy to get to then I won’t eat it all at once.”
He gave her a firm look. “I should hope not. This is enough sugar to last you a year.”
Well, maybe a month or two.
“And just what were you after?”
“Oh, ahh, maybe some cookies.” She pointed to a bag of chocolate chip cookies. Her favorite.
He turned and grabbed a small plate. “Milk?”
She’d been planning on taking the bag back to her office. But it would be nice to share some with him. “Oh, yes. I’ll grab the milk.”
“You’ll sit. I’ll get everything.”
So bossy.
So like his brother.
She sat and watched him move around her kitchen. He poured them both a glass of milk and she frowned as he placed just four cookies on the plate.