“Goodbye, Lori.”
A disappointed sigh preceded a pouty sounding, “Fine. I love you, too.”
“See you later.”
“Later.”
Cassie ended the call and got back to work. Putting aside her own personal troubles—and the most amazing lover she’d ever had—out of her head, she focused solely on the task at hand. Because that was what her clients deserved.
Nearly an hour later, Archer popped his head in to check on her. After reassuring him she was good, he left her alone again so she could do her thing.
He was back ten minutes later.
“Sorry to interrupt, but the app says our food was delivered five minutes ago.” His bearded face looked annoyed. “No one’s come to the door and I looked out front, but didn’t see anything. I called the place, and they said their system is showing it as being delivered, too. They tried calling the driver, but he didn’t pick up, so I’m going to do a quick perimeter check to make sure the dumbass didn’t just leave it out on the sidewalk somewhere.”
It was a well-known problem in the city. She’d even experienced the frustration herself. Lately it seemed as if the world had become filled with shoddy delivery drivers who were too lazy to walk the remaining few feet to the front door.
Food or other items, it didn’t seem to matter. Even Cassie had come out of her home on more than one occasion to discover packages had been left haphazardly in the middle of her driveway…or even her front lawn.
What ever happened to taking pride in your work?
“It’s probably sitting in front of the building next door.” She rolled her eyes. “We’ve had that happen a few times, as well. No worries, though. I’ll just be here…working and waiting.”
“I know you will, because you’re going to keep that sweet ass of yours right here, in this office.”
He thought her ass was sweet?
“And if I don’t?” Cassie smirked.
Archer’s expression grew serious. “Not playing, sweetheart. I know it’s only a few minutes, but I need to know you’re in here, where it’s safe.”
Her gut tightened, remembering he was on the clock, and not in her bed. “I’ll stay in here.” She raised her right hand. “Promise. In fact…” Cassie pushed herself to her feet and crossed the room. “I’ll even lock my door behind you after you leave for good measure.”
The relief in his dark gaze made her realize he’d truly been worried about leaving her in the building alone.
“Thank you.” He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll be right here…waiting.”
A low growl bubbled up from the base of his throat, and before she even realized he was moving, Archer had her wrapped up in his arms, and his lips pressed against hers. After kissing her slowly, deeply, the insatiable man turned and walked away.
As promised, Cassie locked the door behind him, letting her back fall against the smooth wood a second later. Yep, she was definitely in trouble. Big,bigtrouble. But as she walked back over to her desk with that same smile permanently etched across her face, she told herself Archer Nash was the best kind of trouble a girl could find.
Cassie was still smiling a few minutes later when a sound pulled her from her work. Looking up, she noticed the locked doorknob jostling as if someone were trying to get in. Havinggiven Archer the key to the office earlier—so he could clear the space prior to her entering—she was certain he’d returned with the food.
“Hang on, I’m coming!” She hopped up and hurried to the door. With a playful, “Who is it?” she refrained from unlocking it until she’d confirmed his identity.
A muffled, “It’s Archer” reached her ears from the hallway. It sounded like Archer, only the words had been a bit jumbled as if there was something in the man’s mouth.
Figuring it was the bag of napkins and red pepper flakes every pizza place in town seemed to automatically give, Cassie began talking before she’d even pulled the door open all the way.
“So where’d they leave it?” she asked. “By the back door or at the building next?—”
She cried out in surprise as the door flew inward with a hard shove from the other side. The force was enough to send Cassie stumbling backward.
By the time she’d steadied her footing, the man in the black ski mask had shut the door and locked himself inside the office with her. Like the person they’d captured on her doorbell security footage, he was dressed in black, including the ski mask.
Her frightened gaze dropped to his hands, her heart nearly stopping when she saw the long, thick rope fisted tightly in his gloved fists.