Page 59 of The Backdraft
His mouth pitched downward slightly, his eyebrows creasing together. “Yeah, I mean, I guess, but—”
There was a but.
“But?” I hedged. I swear to god, if this man tried to pull some romance movie crap with a “it’s nothing, nevermind,” I’d lose my shit.
“But I actuallywantedto be there with you. The whole fake-dating thing hadn’t crossed my mind once.” The sincerity in his voice had the torrent of butterflies in my stomach taking flight. “Was it the only reason you came?”
I shook my head. “No. I came because I was promised two flavors of ice cream and a movie-induced cry sesh.”
Archer narrowed his eyes playfully. “Well, lucky for you I got three, but now that you mention it . . . I can’t remember if I put them in the freezer before we left or not. Might want to hurry up.”
The car was in reverse before he finished the sentence.
TWENTY FIVE
DARCY
I dabbed a very damp tissue at my eye. This movie always made me cry, but it was hitting embarrassingly hard tonight. Not even the occasional brush of Archer’s body against mine could rein the waterworks in. A glance over at him revealed completely dry eyes, but his bottom lip was held captive by his teeth. When the credits began rolling, and I had my emotions in check, I turned to face him, careful of the empty ice cream bowls between us.
“So? What’d you think?”
“It was a very touching film,” he answered, repositioning himself so he was facing me. The odds that he was merely saying that to placate me were high, but I’d take it.
“Right? You’re welcome for providing you with some culture.” I smiled, grabbing the bowls and walking them to the kitchen sink. The sight of the microwave and the tiny numbers itdisplayed snagged my attention on the way. “Damn. When did it get late?”
Archer stretched over the back of the couch, and my eyes followed the movement, watching how the muscles in his arms flexed and shifted. “Pretty much when we started the movie.”
“You should’ve kicked me out.” Padding back over to the couch, I searched for where I’d dropped my car keys.
“Never.” He was sitting upright again, watching me in my hunt. “You can stay here, you know.”
I stilled, my heart picking up a pounding rhythm as I turned to look at him, trying to figure out what he was getting at. Stay here as in on the couch, or stay over like in his bed? Stay because he was being a considerate but otherwise unaffected man? Or stay over because he wanted me like I’d been wanting him ever since he opened the front door in his suit? The fact that he was still in his suit, minus the jacket, did nothing to stop my mind from sprinting in the direction of indecent. He’d proven to be overly attentive when it came to me, so there was a good chance he was trying to spare me from having to drive home in the dark this late at night, but there was also a heat in his eyes, that I was almost positive I wasn’t imagining.
We stared at each other for a long time, neither of us speaking as we tried to read the other person. At least, that’s what I was doing.
“Are you just trying to be nice?” I pressed.
He rose from the couch and took a step in my direction. “Nice was the last thing on my mind.”
My pulse ratcheted up a notch. “What was on your mind?”
He stalked closer, and I swore I could feel every step like electricity in my veins. “That it’s late on a Saturday night. That it’s freezing outside.” He was in front of me now, his hands bracketing my hips. “And that this dress has been driving mecrazy all night. If it didn’t look so damn good on you, I’d set it on fire for the torment it’s put me through.”
Well, then.I guess I definitely wasn’t imagining the heat in his eyes.
“That’s a bit of an overreaction, don’t you think? It’s only a dress,” I teased, glancing down at the shiny material.
“I, and too many of my coworkers, would have to respectfully disagree.” His voice had taken on an edge, and I had to admit, jealousy, possessiveness, or whatever it was darkening his tone, was sexy on Archer.
“Don’t like other people ogling your pregnant fake girlfriend?”
“No.” He didn’t hesitate.
Pulling my lower lip between my teeth, I let my eyes skate down his body. There was no reason to keep toying with him, my body had already made up my mind as to what I’d be doing tonight, but I couldn’t resist.
“So if I stay . . . will one of us be on the couch?”
He glowered. “No.”
