Page 135 of Terms Of Un-Endearment
After the boring day I’ve had, I’m ready for a bit of entertainment, and the other prank I pulled on Archie will do the trick.
Except the only thing waiting for me is the odor of dirty dishes which have only been added to since this morning, making two days’ worth of dishes. It’s Nightmare Ashley all over again, and it almost kills me not to drop everything and wash them.
“Archie?”
I don’t get an answer. For a second I’m tempted to search the house for him, but I worry that he’s lying in wait to get me back. So, I stay in the kitchen, which he obviously hasn’t touched and, therefore, is the safest place to be.
I set my bag on the kitchen table and my willpower reaches its limits. I find an apron and go to work. If I’m going to pretend this place is already Mom’s, I might as well treat it as though it is. Plus, if this smell gets any worse, I’m afraid it will never come out.
I’ve loaded all the dishes by the time Archie walks through the back door, his surfboard tucked under his arm, looking exactly like he did this morning when I left. Disappointing.
Except for the shirtless, wrapped in a towel part. Archie’s abs continue tonotdisappoint. Apparently, after I forced him to parade around in a micro-towel, he’s very comfortable walking around in a beach towel that hits him mid-thigh.
He stops short when he sees me at the sink and narrows his eyes. “Good day at work?”
“Fine.” I put the last plate in the dishwasher and slam it shut. “Good day at not-work?”
Archie’s lip quirks, and he bites back his grin. He can’t stop it from traveling to his eyes, though, where it flashes and disappears as quickly as summer lightning. “After your warning, I figured the only place I was safe was on the beach or in the water.”
Ignoring the hitch in my pulse, I cock my head to the side. “You sure about that?”
The corner of his mouth slides upward. He fixes his gaze on me, and there’s no ignoring my skipping pulse with his eyes burning through me.
“I’m going to take a shower.” He tips his head toward the bathroom down the hall.
“First one of the day?” I glance at my watch for effect.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” His eyebrow lifts.
I shrug. “It’s not that hard to tell.”
Archie snorts, then turns down the hall. He pauses in front of the bathroom door and before I can look away, he lets his towel drop.
I gasp at the same time he says, “oops,” before casually walking naked into the bathroom and closing the door behind him.
Did he do that on purpose? Did he know I was watching him?
My shock only lasts as long as it takes him to turn on the water. Then I let out my grin and wait, realizing he walked right into my trap. Literally.
He can’t say I didn’t warn him he might not be safe in the water.
Chapter 14
Archie
Ididn’t see Piper’s expression when I dropped my towel, but I heard it. Picturing her surprise makes me laugh. Baring my backside wasn’t planned, but I couldn’t resist taking an opportunity when I knew she was watching me.
I thought our little war was over after yesterday. She’s the one who broke the truce this morning. If this is how she wants things for the next two weeks, I’ve got much bigger plans in store to make her uncomfortable. But if I can sprinkle in a few more spontaneous jabs on top of the big hits, all the better.
I think I’m going to enjoy having Piper as a roommate. I might even tell her she can stay longer if Dad decides to pay Cynthia instead of turning this house over to her.
Ididtype up my idea for a cash settlement for Cynthia. I sent it to him and Sybil last night. Hopefully, he’ll reconsider if he sees the details in print. I included a very rough outline of my business plan, too. Reckon I’ll cover all my angles to be safe.
He texted this morning that he’d received both and would give the plan a glance. That’s gotta mean something. Usually, he’d send a message through Sybil.
I let a bit of hope settle in and take my time in the shower, allowing myself a laugh at Piper while also giving my hair a goodscrub and rinse. Then a second one after my scalp is still gritty with sand.
My hair still doesn’t feel quite right after the second rinse. I open my eyes enough to notice the water swirling down the drain has a purple tinge to it. I whip around to face the water coming from the shower head, expecting it to be purple, too. But it’s clear.
