“I can’t help it. You never do anything I expect.”
“Ha. In a few weeks you’ll be wishing I’d stayed. I have no job now, and I haven’t been without a job since I was fifteen. I’ll probably drive you nuts until I find something else.”
“Baby, you can drive me nuts anytime, anywhere.” And suddenly, he could think of a hundred different ways.
“We’re going to have to start over on a lot of things, you know. I mean, I don’t even know where you live.”
“In Colorado. I’ve got a house there.”
She looked up in surprise. “You do?”
He smiled. “Remember all that money I inherited? I had to do something with it. It’s a great place in the mountains outside Aspen, but it could definitely use a woman’s touch.”
Unease flashed in her eyes, but it quickly faded and was followed by a slow, warm smile. “I think I might be able to help you out there. As long as you do the cooking.”
“Deal.”
Sighing, she sank into him, and he smiled into her hair, holding her close, treasuring every single second. All those long, lonely nights after she’d left him, he’d never once thought it could possibly end like this. But it wasn’t the end. It was the beginning. And he vowed here and now not to screw up their second chance.
“You know,” he said after several seconds, “if you’re serious about a job, I might be able to help you out there.”
Her head lifted, and she eased back to look into his eyes. “What kind of job?”
He shrugged. “I know this security company that’s always looking for the best of the best.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I thought you and Ryder were on the outs.”
“Nah. Ryder loves me too much.”
She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m glad someone does, because I hate you. I really do. I always have.”
“No, you don’t.” He smiled as he leaned down and brushed his lips across hers. “You love me.”
She sighed against his mouth and tightened her arms around his neck. “I’m pretty sure that love will be the death of me.”
“No way. Those sexual favors you owe me, though? Yeah, those might be.”
She barked a laugh and rose up on her toes to kiss him. “Then you better hold on, Archer. Because I’m unpredictable in a variety of ways.”
His lips curled against hers. “I can’t wait to see what you do next.”