Page 30 of How to Get Lucky
“All amazing lines,” Sam says, suddenly on my side again.
“None of which I’ve crossed,” I hiss as I turn the corner, the sound of Archer’s laughter drifting into the hall and gutting me.
“Good luck. I’ll say I knew you when,” Sam says, cringing. “I can’t watch horror movies, so I’ve got to jet.”
I’ve never been a fan of scary films either, but seems I bought this ticket, and now I’ll have to face what’s on the big screen.
15
I walk the plank into Archer’s office and then stop, my eyes all but springing out of my head like a cartoon character’s.
London is here.
She’s standing next to Archer, checking out a picture on his phone. She jerks her gaze over to meet mine and tries to say something with her eyes.
Like maybe she’s pointing to my pocket. My phone?
Did she send me a message?
I didn’t check my phone.
I’ll have to improvise.
“Teddy, I have a bone to pick with you,” Archer says, a serious glint in his eyes.
And that’s the end of my job.
The end of paying my bills.
The end of my condo.
I’ll be out on the street with Bowie tomorrow.
I gulp but say nothing.
“Isn’t it time for you to fess up?” he asks, still staunchly serious.
London rolls her eyes. “Archer, dramatic much?”
He gives her a look. “I could say the same to you, missy.”
“Oh my God, you’re not Dad. Don’t call me missy.”
I can’t tell if she’s laughing at him, me, or whatever was on his phone. God, I hope it was a cat GIF. May she please have been laughing at a cat GIF.
I don’t move. I stand there, waiting for the guillotine.
It’s coming.
Three, two, one.
Archer gestures to the gorgeous woman I’ve already kissed. More than once. “This is my sister, London.”
“Yes, we’ve met,” I blurt out.
Why did I just serve that up?
Because that’s what almost dead men do.
“Don’t you have something to tell me?” Archer asks pointedly.
I kissed your sister, and it was fucking awesome. Then I kissed her again, and it was more awesome.
Instead, I shrug. It’s all I got.
London points at Archer. “You need to stop.” She looks at me. “He’s being an annoying big brother.”
Archer laughs, drapes an arm around London, then jams his knuckles into her hair, rubbing affectionately hard.
And yeah.
I can’t kiss her again.
Ever.
Because he’s such a big brother.
And she’s such a little sister.
And this is such a big mess.
“She told me she enlisted you to help her develop the routine to show the partners. That’s an awesome idea.” Archer grins, looking from her to me. “Such a great idea, I wish I’d thought of it myself.”
What?
He’s not canning me for kissing his sister?
He’s not raking me over the coals for grazing his sister’s rack?
I can breathe again.
“She’s brilliant. I’m telling you, she is brilliant,” Archer says with obvious pride.
“She is. She’s completely brilliant,” I say, grateful to be able to tell the truth.
This is why I hate mixing business with pleasure. I don’t want to lie. Juggling multiple stories is not my jam. I don’t even like jam. I’m more of a peanut butter guy.
And I don’t want to risk my job.
I keep talking so I don’t do other things with my mouth, like seal it to hers. “The whole idea is brilliant. What you have planned for the club. Adding more dancing. Some new numbers. I bet it’ll draw even more crowds,” I say, leaning into the vision. “It’s important to broaden our reach and explore new markets. Great time to be expanding too.”
“Exactly. It’s like you can read my mind,” Archer says.
I only hope he can’t read my mind, because if he could, it would look like a spilled bag of Scrabble tiles that spell I really like your sister and I need to get the fuck out of here.
Because my brain is at war with my body, twin desires tugging me in opposite directions.
I want to tell Archer I have feelings for his sister and get everything out in the open. I want to run away and pretend this meeting never happened.
But before I can do any of those things, Archer chimes in again. “Have you two ironed out a set list for her new material? You should get together ASAP to discuss what might work best. If this goes well, the owners will want to get this up and running stat.”
Yes.
This is brilliant.
At least he knows I’m hanging out with her.
Oh, wait. Hanging out with her is what tempts me TO TOUCH HER ALL THE FUCK OVER.
What the hell have I gotten myself into?
Except Archer got me into it. So now I need to get myself through this.
I need to meet her someplace safe.
Someplace that won’t tempt me.
And I know exactly where that is.
“What if we meet here during the day?” I suggest. There is zero that is tempting about this joint.
