His mouth softened, eyes flicking to the rearview mirror as he checked on his sister. “Did you think I was lying?”
“Yes.”
His smile faded, a troubled pinch appearing in his brow. “That’s not good either.”
“I assumed you didn’t want the attention. Or for me to assume there were strings attached.” I leaned my head back and watched the trees pass through the windshield. Fewer buildings now, more woods, and I prayed that his house wasn’t an ugly rich person’s house like his dad’s. “But you did lie by omission,” I pointed out. “You knew who ordered it.”
“I did.” Archer kept his gaze forward, like he felt too raw to look at me for an extended period of time. “But you didn’t ask me that.”
“That’s true.”
“She just felt so bad, you know? It was eating her up that I was the one there doing all the work.” He shifted in his seat, or as much as he could in the small space. “I might have mentioned something about a wish list for the shelter.”
Something warm unfolded under my skin, skimming my veins as it raced from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. “‘Mentioned it’?” I said lightly.
His jaw clenched. “Okay, fine, I sent her the link.”
I hid my smile behind my hand, turning to stare out the passenger window. “I see.”
“I didn’t think she’d use the credit card he gave her, though.” He sighed. “She’s got one from me for emergencies, and I guess I thought ... I don’t know what I thought. I don’t always think things through,” he admitted with a wry grin.
“So I’ve heard.”
The car slowed near an opening in the trees. The single-lane road disappeared into the woods, and I found myself holding my breath as he followed the slight curve in the path that led to his house.
The road widened. So did the opening in the trees, and the warm skimmy thing turned into a full-fledged wave ofHoly shit, I might be in trouble.
It wasn’t ugly. It wasn’t huge or ostentatious.
It was warm and welcoming, buttery-yellow light coming from fixtures on the deep-green siding that covered the porch area. The three garage stalls took up the majority of the front of the house, and I recognized the stacked-rock facade from the picture he’d sent me as he was weeding. It was only one story, and the raised porch was held up with beautiful stained-wood columns that arched off into the spaces between each one.
“It’s gorgeous,” I breathed.
He pulled the car into the driveway, parking it in front of the entrance. “You sound surprised.”
“I am, I suppose.” I scrunched my nose. “I expected something big and obnoxious.”
His eyes were warm, and I was glad to see the haunted look disappear, even for a moment. “Like me, huh?”
“I haven’t found you obnoxious for at least a week.”
Archer laughed quietly. “Do you want to come in?”
“Yes.” I sucked in a breath. “I fear my curiosity is overriding my better judgment.”
“Won’t get any arguments from me.” He reached back and gently touched his sister’s leg. “Wake up, sleepyhead.”
Analise groaned, blinking sleepily as she sat up and then yawned. “Can I go to bed now?”
Archer and I traded a quick look.
“You sure you don’t want to talk?” he asked.
She shook her head, eyes closing again. “We can talk tomorrow,” she murmured. “Is that okay?”
“Of course.”
Archer carried her bag, and I followed the two of them up the front steps that led into the house. There were planters in front of his door, too, but unlike mine, his weren’t empty. They held white geraniums with some sweet potato vine draping over the side in a bright spring green.