Page 35 of Terms Of Un-Endearment
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.
My palms, however, have the same purple hue as the water that’s drained away. I scan the shower, searching for the source of the color, then grab my shampoo and dump it into my palm. It comes out so dark purple, it’s almost black.
I run from the shower to the mirror and wipe away the steam. As my face appears, so does my worst nightmare. I’m not a ginger anymore. I’m Barney the Dinosaur.
“Piper!”
I scrub my hand through my hair and a rivulet of lavender water runs down my cheek.
“Piper!” I grab a towel and start squeezing water out of my hair while also rubbing it so hard I leave behind a beach ball-size purple stain on the gray towel.
“Piper!” I scream this time.
A few seconds later, I hear her on the other side of the door. “Everything okay in there, Archie?”
I wrap the towel around my waist and throw open the door. “You know it’s not! How do I get this color out of my hair?”
Piper’s eyes dart from my chest to my head, and she bites her lip. Then she laughs.
