Page 49

Archer
Serena’s hand squeezes mine tightly as we walk into the ballroom of the silent auction, but there’s no hint on her face that something’s amiss. If anything, she appears almost bored.
At least things seem to be normal between us. I was half afraid I’d fucked everything up last night.
“Are you okay?”
She seems to startle, looking over at me questioningly. “Yes.”
I nod, recalling our lunch with Harlan and Courtney last week and how she’d retreated into herself then too. “You see anyone you know?”
She takes a cursory glance of the room. “No.”
“I’ll be with you the whole time.”
Her thumb brushes against my palm, a gentle acknowledgment of my offer. “Thank you.”
We head toward the draped tables in the center, grabbing champagne glasses along the way, and study the offerings. A trip to Paris, season tickets to the Yankees, a New York Harbor sunset cruise. It’s all the standard fare, nothing I haven’t seen before. And nothing I couldn’t buy already.
I put in a bid on a few random things, not caring if I win or not. It’s more the gesture than anything else.
“Did you want to take a weekend getaway to Vermont?”
“What?”
She motions to the sheet I wrote on. “You bid on it. Two nights at the-” She bends down to inspect the paper. “Woodstock Inn.”
“Oh. It’s just so people see my name.”
“Would you even take off work if you won this?” she asks, her lips tilted up, amused.
For a weekend alone with her in a hotel room? Nothing to do but lie in some giant king-sized bed together, a fireplace crackling in the corner, maybe with one of those buckets of strawberries and champagne? This time not so cramped in an office chair, plenty of room to lay her out and show her what a man can really do to-
What? No. What am I thinking? That’s not happening.
Last night was a fluke. Like I said, just releasing some steam. It happened so quick, I was barely even cognizant of what I was doing, reacting on pure instinct. Not considering the ramifications, the consequences. I have to live with her, get along, play a part. And introducing a sexual side to the tentative partnership we’ve already formed? That could get messy fast.
“I haven’t taken a vacation in a long time.”
“That’s why your shoulders are always so tight.” She smiles, letting go of my hand to briefly caress the back of my neck. I sway toward her, unable to help myself as the pads of her fingers dig in the slightest bit, releasing the tension there. “You need to take more breaks.”
“I’m here tonight, aren’t I?”
She rolls her eyes. “This isn’t a break. This is more work.”
I grin to myself. Gabriel never understood that when I complained the same thing to him about these events. “Well, how about we find something we actually want then?”
“Challenge accepted.” She studies the next few stations, triumphantly pointing to one a couple of feet down. “A professional masseuse to come in your home for a private massage. You need it.”
“But I have you.”
The words slip out, but she doesn’t seem to take them seriously, laughing instead. “I’m not a professional.”
“I… I don’t want a stranger touching me.” Sure, I considered hiring one last week, but the idea of it now doesn’t hold the same appeal.
She takes a step closer, a sultry look entering her eye. “But it’s okay when I touch you?”
I stare at her, unsure for the first time if what she’s doing is an act or real. We’re in public, but no one’s outright paying attention to us. And no one was watching last night either…