“Nice to see you’re still as welcoming as a rattlesnake,” she snaps, shouldering her bag higher. “And don’t call me that. As I said before, it’s condescending and unprofessional.”
“Professional, huh?” I drag my tongue over my lip and scoff. “You’re doin’ a mighty fine job of being professional all by yourself—” I tack on, all slow and dramatic, “Darlin’.”
“You’resoright. I must have lost my manners somewhere back in thebeer can graveyard.” She presses a hand to her chest and rolls her lip in a poisonous pout. “So sorry about your shirt, Mr. Archer. Maybe try vinegar and a prayer.”
My mouth opens to tell herexactlywhat she can do with her vinegar when a voice purrs from behind me, setting my flight-or-fight instincts on high alert.
“And who might this be?”
Oh, fucccck.
My palm slaps against my face, knocking the brim of my cap to the side and I groan, long and low.
I forgot about her.
I forgot about my own mother.
Oh, my God.
Am I seriously sporting a half-wood in front of mymother?!
Better yet, why the fuck am I even hard right now? I can’t stand the red-headed woman. Yeah, she’s hot as hell—and okay, I love the way she’s not afraid to go toe-to-toe with me—but she’s rude and stuck-up.
It’s annoying, not attractive.
“Um,” Georgia says, clearing her throat and bringing me back down to reality. “I’m—”
“She’s no one,” I blurt, way too fast, way too brash. Georgia blinks, cheeks flushed, and looks away.
I could feel bad, but I don’t, because I’m not ready for my mom to know about—everything,anything.
“Don’t be so rude. I raised you better than that, Kade Archer!” Mom smacks my soaked stomach like she’s swatting a mosquito and turns to Georgia. “Are you a friend of my son’s?”
Her delicate throat bobs as she glances at me with questions in her eyes. I shake my head once while silently screaming,no.
No, she doesn’t know.
No, I’m not ready to tell her.
No, you may not ruin her day like you did mine, even though I know it’s your favorite pastime.
Clearly, she can’t read my mind, though, because she steps forward and thrusts her little hand out like she’s running for fucking office. “My name is Georgia. It’s so nice to meet you, Mrs. Archer.”
My mom’s face lights up, bright and beaming. “Well, aren’t you just the cutest little thing?”
I swear to Jesus, if she boops her nose, I’m out of here.
“Thank you!” Georgia beams right back, and the sight of it’s enough to knock me on my ass. She winks at my mom, and I gape in shock. “I certainly try, ma’am.”
“Oh, and so well-spoken too, but call me Bea.” Her smile drops, and she gives me an accusatory look. “Kade, you didn’t say anything about having such a darlingfriend.”
“I didn’t say anything because she’s not a friend, she’s—” I choke, scowl, and stop myself before I saya liability to my life.
“Do you work with Kade?” Mom leans forward and brushes that stray curl from Georgia's face like she’s already planning the wedding menu and what our babies will look like.
“Something like that,” Georgia says softly, her voice honeyed and suspiciously innocent. Her throat bobs again, and I’m stuck on the sight of it.
The sight ofher.
