Page 98 of Shots Fired

When I focus back on Amanda, her eyes flick between us, and I have to hand it to myself—I’m pretty sure I just made the phlebotomist swoon.

Add it to my list of talents.

“How is it you can have everyone wrapped around your finger so easily?” Darcy asks. Her voice is lighter, and I might even detect a little humor in there.

I take advantage of the moment and hold out our joined hands to Amanda. In a split second, she completes the test. Darcy jolts but quickly smiles against my mouth when I press it against hers.

It’s possible Amanda wasn’t expecting to get a show to go with her two o’clock appointment, but I couldn’t care less. I’ve got my girl right where I want her. Her ragged breathing has calmed and she’s fucking putty in my arms.

“I beg to differ, Doll. It’s impossible for everyone to be at my mercy when I’m too busy on my own knees for you.”

“You just have all the lines, don’t you?” she croons.

I tip my head toward the kitchen. “Okay, well, if that one didn’t work on you, then maybe this one will.”

She narrows her eyes at me suspiciously, and just like that, it’s almost as if the blood test never happened.

“Give it your best shot.”

Briefly, I look at Amanda, who’s busy bagging the sample.

I reach down and spread my palm across her stomach. It’s probably my imagination, though I swear it feels rounder. “What if I told you I have all the ingredients to make cheesy bean burritos, Archer Moore–style?”

Her face lights up. “If you can pull them off like Taco Bell, then I’ll wrap around anything you want.”

Darcy’s eyes flare, darting to look at Amanda, and the phlebotomist waves a hand in front of her, smirking.

Through my tears of laughter and wheezing, I’m pretty sure I hear my girlfriend curse under her breath, explaining it wasn’t supposed to come out like that.

My shoulders are still vibrating when I kiss her. “Mistake or not, I’m all in on this challenge. Taco Bell doesn’t stand a chance.”

She quirks a brow, cheeks still stained with embarrassment. “You can cook? How did I not know this?”

I set one last kiss across her mouth, nodding. “Let’s call this lesson number two in the class of Archer Moore.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

DARCY

A week later, and I can still taste those damn burritos. They were that good. Let’s just say, my stomach wasn’t the only satisfied part of me that night.

Sitting at my desk at work, I squeeze my thighs together at the memories of the way Archer wrapped me around him in every way possible, trying to focus on the fall edit I need to have back to Janine in the next hour. Good job my first pass was excellent. All it needs is a light proofread.

I’m well over halfway through my final pass when I feel my bag buzz against my leg.

Being the queen of procrastination and apparently too damn obsessed with my boyfriend to hold off another half hour before I check it, I reach down and grab it.

Kendra: I’ve made an error in judgment, and I need one of you to bail me out …

Collins: This has got my name written all over it.

Jenna: Whatever you did, I’m pretty sure I can take your “error” and raise you several stupidity notches.

Collins: One at a time, please. Kendra, you go first.

Kendra: I kind of just dropped way too much of my salary on baby clothes, and now I have nowhere to hide the bags.

I snort out loud in the middle of the office.