Page 54 of Shots Fired

“What do you think, Darce?” Jack turns to me, assuming I’ve heard everything he’s been saying these past few minutes.

“Hmm?”

Jack rolls his eyes mockingly, pulling me into his side. “We’re talking about heading to a few bars at the end of the function. The team leaves for Boston the day after tomorrow, and we’ll be gone for five days while we wrap up preseason.”

I look around at Jenna, Kendra, and Collins.

“I was actually going to have an early night.” I take a deep breath. “That chest infection took me right out, and I’m exhausted.”

It’s the truth; I am way more tired than I normally am after an infection. It’s hardly surprising with the insane hours I’ve been working to catch up on the time off I took.

The corner of Jenna’s lips tips up, and I feel my cheeks heat. She’s worked out my real reason for wanting to leave.

“Girl, I’ve had one respiratory infection in my life, and it took me out for, like, a month straight. I say get yourself home.”

“Do you need a lift home?” Jack asks, releasing me from his side.

I shake my head and plant a kiss on each of my friend’s cheeks, blowing another kiss across the room to Mum and Jon, who are both deep in conversation with the new GM.

I turn back to Jack, “No, I’m good. I’ll be just fine.”

Without looking back, I’m heading for the exit, nerves and excitement now swirling in my gut. It’s been over a week since I spent time with Archer, and despite me wanting to play it cool, I can’t deny I’ve missed him.

But as I step into the plush lobby, other than the concierge and a couple of people I don’t recognize, there’s no sign of Archer.

I move to one side and reach into my bag for my phone.

“I’m right here, Doll.”

Tingles settle in my toes as I look up at Archer.

He takes a step toward me, and my back finds the wall. His eyes are molten, a cocky smirk playing on his lips.Thisis the Archer I expected to find when I first agreed to sleep with him.

He towers over me, breath fanning my face.

“Where do you want to go?” I say under my breath, so incredibly turned on.

Like he’s enjoying holding me here—locked in his penetrative gaze—Archer doesn’t immediately answer, one hand finding my waist and sending a searing heat through the thin fabric of my dress.

“You told me you wanted to have fun, right?” When he finally breaks the silence, his voice is gravelly.

“That’s precisely what I want.”

“All right then.” His other hand intertwines with mine as he turns and leads me toward a door just off the hallway.

Checking that the few people in our vicinity aren’t watching, Archer opens the door and guides me into a dark room, closing us inside and flicking the lock behind us. Only a crack of light from the bright lobby creeps underneath the door.

In a flash, my back is against the door, his huge hand flat above my head. I’ve got nowhere to go in this small room, not that I’d want to escape his clutches.

Archer’s ragged breathing slows as he gazes down at me. The urgency we had when we entered the room has all but disappeared as he brings his other hand up to cup my cheek.

“I know I already told you tonight, but I think it warrants me saying again that you look fucking incredible.”

My eyes drop to his perfectly finished bow tie, and I reach up and pull it apart until it hangs open around his neck. “And you’re giving me James Bond vibes.”

Archer studies my face, as he does so often when I see him, only his observations seem more deliberate tonight, and I hold my breath in response. Just like in Jack and Kendra’s spare bedroom, it feels like I’m fighting for oxygen.

“Tell me something, Darcy.” Keeping his hand against my cheek, he rubs his thumb along my bottom lip, and instinctively, my tongue darts out to track the movement. “Do you plan on making me wait a week between each time I see you?”