Page 196 of Terms Of Un-Endearment
“Yeah, nah.”
“Butthisis your house.”
I shake my head. “I signed the deed.”
She blinks at me, and her mouth opens, but she doesn’t say anything.
“It’s your mum’s house as soon as the divorce is final. Which should be soon.” I hope. Not for Cynthia’s sake alone, but for mine. I’m keen to kiss her daughter once she’s not my stepsister.
“What?” Piper blinks again. “Did Malcolm change his mind about your trust fund?”
“No.” I’m not ready to talk about Dad cutting me off. I want to focus on the good stuff.
“How are you going to fund Bombora without the house?”
I shrug. “I reckon we’ll figure that out together, won’t we?”
Piper purses her perfect lips. “Does this mean we’re officially partners?”
“If you’ll still have me.”
Piper smiles. “You look like a keeper. This shirt, though…” She points at my chest. “Should go.”
“It’ll go, but not yet. I want to get to know you first.”
I take her finger and kiss the tip of it but leave a gap between us. Energy pulses in that space, traveling from our fingertips through our bodies. A delicious longing that’s as adrenaline-pumping as spotting a perfect set rolling in.
“Archie, you know me.” She lifts her chin and licks her lips, tempting me.
“Uh-uh.” Still holding her finger, I step back and sit on the stacked boxes behind me—my knees are a bit weak right now. I pull Piper closer. “I know you as the girl I didn’t want for a sister. I still don’t want you for a sister, but I want to get to know the woman you are now.”
I turn her hand over and draw my thumb around her palm in slow circles. “I already know you’re smart and talented, but I want to know your deepest thoughts, your deepest hurts, and your biggest dreams. I want to know you not just as a business partner, but as someone my gut tells me could be my life partner.”
I raise my eyes to hers and laugh when I see how wide hers have gone.
“Too much?” I ask.
“I’m only twenty-two,” she answers with a nervous laugh.
“Exactly.” Unable to resist the temptation, I tug her into my lap. “No need to rush. I want to take my time getting to knowyou, Piper Quinn, dating you…kissing you.” I nuzzle her neck, brushing my lips against her ear. She sucks in her breath and sinks into my chest.
“But I can’t do that if we’re living together, because when I’m with you, all I want to do is hold you in my arms and not let you go,” I rasp. “But holding you so tight wouldn’t leave you any room to grow. And I really want us to grow together.”
She shifts in my lap and faces me, her eyes on my mouth. Her hand comes up, and she traces her finger over my lips. “So, you’re going to make me wait to kiss you?”
I swallow hard and nod.
“This may be your most diabolical prank yet, Archie Forsythe.”
I chuckle and hold her tighter. “Trust me, once Dad and Cynthia’s divorce is final, I’ll be making up for lost time.”
“How long is that?” With a sigh, she lays her head on my shoulder.
“Ah, that’s the good news. The one thing our parents did right was eloping in Australia before having the official ceremony in California. As soon as I got the signed deed notarized today, Dad’s lawyers moved to schedule the divorce hearing. Should be later this week, and if the divorce is granted, it will be final in one month and a day.”
Piper sits up. “How is that good news?”
“It would have been six months if they’d married in California first.”
