Page 54 of Whisper Sweet Nothings
“Because I like him as a friend. I don’t have romantic feelings toward him.”
He nodded. “Did I make you uncomfortable the other night?”
“No. I wanted you to kiss me.”
He narrowed his gaze as he studied me. “Yet you weren’t jealous last night when I was out with someone else?”
“I didn’t say that,” I snorted. “I just wasn’t lame enough to spy on you.”
“Oh, I’m lame, am I?”
“You’re confusing, Archie.”
“How so?”
“You’re very hot and cold with me, and I can’t read you,” I admitted.
“You’re my daughter’s nanny. And the best damn thing to happen to both of us in a very long time,” he said. His eyes softened, and I saw all that vulnerability there. “I don’t want to fuck that up.”
“And kissing me would fuck that up?”
“I don’t know, Winnie. I don’t really date, and kissing a woman who lives in your home and works for you seems like a bad decision.” He stepped closer. “Even if I really want to.”
I blew out a breath and put my hands on his chest, pushing him back the slightest bit before jumping off the counter. I set my spoon in the sink and replaced the lid on the ice cream before setting it back in the freezer.
And then I turned to face him. “Listen, you need not worry. I wanted to kiss you the other night, too, but I don’t want to kiss you tonight, Archie.”
He looked surprised by my words, and I moved past him, heading for the door to my bedroom.
“You’ve lost interest that quickly, huh?” His voice was laced with humor, but I could hear the vulnerability.
I turned around and shrugged. “It’s not about losing interest; it’s about knowing my worth. And I don’t want to kiss a man who isn’t sure about me. Even if it’s the first man in a very long time that I’ve wanted to kiss.”
He nodded. “I’m sorry for being hot and cold with you. I don’t want to mess this up.”
“Neither do I.” I forced a smile.
“All right. So, we’re friends?” he asked.
“Of course we are.”
He chuckled. “And not the kind of friends who kiss.”
“Nope. The next man I agree to kiss is going to have zero doubts when he looks at me. When I left my miserable marriage, I made a promise to myself not to settle for anything less than that.”
“Nor should you.” There was a tortured look in his eyes.
But it wasn’t my job to convince Archer Chadwick that I was worth the risk.
It had taken me a long time to find my worth again.
And I meant it when I said I wouldn’t settle for anything less.
Even if I was desperate to kiss my sexy-as-sin boss.
“Merry Christmas, Winnie girl.” My father was wearing the same Santa hat that he’d been wearing every year for as long as I could remember.
“Thanks, Dad.” I chuckled as I unwrapped my gift and gasped. “What did you do?”
