“I don’t have anything to wear to a fancy dinner like that, Archer.” Bringing the subject back around to tonight’s event.
At that, he smiles. “Again, let me worry about that. Now hurry,” he gives my ass cheek a sharp whack and points me towards the bathroom, “get a quick shower and then I’ll drop you at home so that you can change and grab your car.”
At this point, why even argue? If I’m honest, I don’t even really want to. Spending time on Archer’s arm sounds like a great way to spend an evening, if you ask me. If he says not to worry about it, I won’t. It’s not like he’s going to risk it all and lose his company over me. He’ll make sure that I don’t lose my job. He did say that I was the best assistant that he ever had. And frankly, I don’t know who else would put up with his grumpy ass.
He doesn’t join me in the shower, and I’m a little disappointed—shower sex has always intrigued me. But if he got in here with me, we would never make it to the office. Thirty minutes later, he’s leaning over the console of his car in front of my house and giving me a kiss that leaves my head spinning.
I pull away and exit the car a little unsteadily. Bending down to wave goodbye, he shoots me a knowing wink. Fortunately, I make it all the way inside and out of his sight before collapsing against the wall sucking in some much needed oxygen.
Holy shit.I’m pretty sure I’m in love with him. What the hell am I’m going to do? I can’t imagine a man like him would want anything long term with a woman like me. I’m not sophisticated. Hell, I’m barely educated. Sure, he said he wants to take me out, not caring if people see us together, but we never spoke about what that means for us. Are we dating? Am I his girlfriend? How long before he gets tired of messing around with the girl from the wrong side of the tracks and moves on to someone in his league?
One thing is for sure, if I ever want there to be anything between Archer and me more than a fling, I need to tell him the truth I’ve been avoiding.
At first, it didn’t matter. I wasn’t anything more to him than one of a long line of assistants. Nothing about me or my past would have directly affected him. Now, I’m not just his employee and I know it’s going to seem like I’m trying to hide something when he finds out. I tried to tell him that night in Santa Cruz, but he brushed me off and told me he didn’t want to hear it.
I need to tell him. Tonight.
With a plan and strengthened resolve, I head back to my bedroom. The house is unusually quiet for this time of morning. Usually, the place is full of the noise of three women getting ready for work and classes. The shower should be going. I should hear Violet’s hair dryer in the distance while Bianca scrambles for something in the kitchen worth eating on the go. Instead, it’s filled with silence and the house seems empty. I poke my head first into Violet’s room and then Bianca’s. Both of their beds don’t appear to have been slept in.
Guilt washes over me. I’ve been so wrapped up in work and Archer that I’ve barely spent any time with either of them.
That’s it. Tomorrow I’m making dinner and we’re having a girls’ night. I need to catch them up on last night’s date. More importantly, I need to find out what’s going on in their lives. Violet’s been even quieter than usual and I’m worried something is going on with her. I don’t want to pry, but I want her to know that I’m here for her if she wants to talk.
As I’m getting changed, my phone rings and Paige’s picture pops up. My sister has never been a morning person, so her calling me this early is unusual. Oh well, it’s not like the boss is going to say anything about me being a few minutes later than I already am. A huge grin overtakes my face as I accept the call.
“Good morning, sunshine. What can I do for you today?” I ask while rummaging through my closet until I spy a blue blouse that goes with the pants I’ve already set aside.
“Hey, Hollie. I’m sorry for calling so early. I wasn’t sure if I should call you or not—”
“You should always call me, Paige.”
“Well, I don’t know if it’s a big deal or not, but I haven’t seen Mom in almost four days. I keep checking the apartment to make sure she hasn’t come home while I’m at school and left again, but nothing’s been touched. She disappears a lot, but this is a long time even for her.”
“I’m sure she’s fine.” The response comes out of my mouth without me even having to think about it. This is my job, to make sure Paige is taken care of, that she doesn’t worry. That she concentrates on being a kid. Why the hell didn’t I make her come live with me? I collapse onto my bed and let out a sigh. “Hey, why don’t I come drive down there tomorrow and bring you back up here with me for a while? She’ll turn up eventually and then you can go back.”
“You know I can’t do that. I have school and my job. I can’t just take off to Seattle—”
“Fine. Fine. You win. I understand, you can’t come stay with me, but first thing tomorrow I’m driving over there. We’ll check out her usual haunts, and I’ll make sure you have everything you need. Plus, we can have some sister time.”
“You don’t mind?” Paige is a tough girl, but this would be hard for anyone to deal with. She would never ask me to come be with her just because she was upset or scared. She puts on a good front, but she’s worried about Mom. No matter what she’s done, she’s ours. I hope Mom gets it together one day, but I’m honestly not holding my breath. As long as I can eventually get Paige out of her whirlwind relatively unscathed, I’ll be happy.
“Of course not,” I say lightly, like it’s totally normal for someone’s mother to disappear for four days without a word. “I’ve been meaning to come for a visit, anyway.”
“Have I told you today that you’re the best sister, Hollie?”
“Not yet, but there’s still time.” I laugh. We chat for a few more minutes, her trying to get some comfort and reassurance, me trying to smooth things over and pretend like this is no big deal. There go my plans to have dinner with my roommates. Knowing those two, they wouldn’t let me stay here with them even if I asked. They would make sure my butt was headed over to Milford ASAP.
After getting off the phone, I finish dressing and head over to the office. Archer is already on the phone in his office when I make it upstairs. On my desk, front and center, is a bagel with cream cheese and a latte from the artisan coffee place down the street, which makes me break out into a smile. I bet I’m the first assistant that’s gotten coffeefromArcher Clarke.
I spend the rest of the morning trying to concentrate on work while Archer’s voice drifts out of his office, sending chills throughout my entire body. Scenes of last night play repeatedly in my head. My panties are completely soaked through. I should have brought an extra pair with me.
A quickie in his office couldn’t hurt, right?Bad Hollie.
“Miss. Hollie Simmons?”
I look up and spot a currier who has approached my desk without me noticing. “Yes, that’s me.”
“Great, sign here, please.”