“What do you say,darlin’?” I drawl just to piss her off. “Let’s go get you a new coffee since youtrippedand spilled that first one all over me. We can talk about dry cleaning bills while we’re at it.”
“Kade?” my mom cries. “Kade! What on Earth are you doing to that poor girl?”
“She’s fine!” Pausing, I toss her my keys with one hand and a smile that got me out of trouble too many times growing up. “Get your smelly nutjob of a dog out of my truck before he shits again, Ma.”
“Say please, Kade Archer!” she yells at the same moment Georgia peels my hand away and hisses, “Don’t swear at your mother, asshole!”
Christ, these women are killing me.
“Please,” I growl over my shoulder, before lowering my voice in Georgia’s ear. “If you open that pretty mouth and say one more word, sweetheart, I swear I’ll find a way to shut you up.”
I’m pleasantly surprised when she goes still in my arms. Even more shocked at the shiver that wracks her muscles. I do all I can to ignore the way she feels tucked into me, all soft and small, her head barely reaching my shoulder.
And she smells damn fine. Something sweet, floral and wild, all at once.
It’s good—toogood.
The second we’re inside the coffee shop, she elbows me in the gut and stomps on my toe. Neither hurt, but it’s effective, and I drop her like I wasn’t just huffing her shiny curls.
“What the—” Tabby Whitt cries from behind the register. “Georgia, do you need help?”
“She’s fine,” I choke back a growl of irritation and toss her a smirk. “Can you get her another drink, please? There was an incident outside.”
“No, thank you, Tabby,” Georgia says kindly before she whirls on me, her eyes blazing. “What the fuck?” she hisses, straightening her clothes, yanking her sweater back into place. “Why would you—”
“She doesn’t know,” I snap, rubbing the edge of my jaw, trying to keep my voice down. “My mom. My family. I haven’t told them yet.”
She gives me a long, considering look. Bites her bottom lip and keeps my attention right there.
“Why not?” she finally asks. “If you’re going to give up your…” Her eyes flick toward the counter, then back to me. Her voice lowers. “No decisions need to be made yet. But ultimately, they’re yours to make, Mr. Archer.”
Unable to respond to the loaded statement, I deflect with a scoff. “I just had you in my arms, darlin’. You can drop the mister shit.”
“Against my will,” she mutters, shaking her head. “And I’m not your darlin’.” With a sigh, she reaches into her bag and pulls out a business card and pen. “I meant to give this to you the other day. Should you have any questions, you’re welcome to contact me.”
She bends over a small table, scribbles something on the back of the card. My eyes slide to the curve of her ass in those fitted jeans, and my cock pulses to attention once more. Of course, she’d be the one to wake my balls up.
I look away just before she straightens and holds the card out to me.
“The date and time for the…meetingare on the back,” she says, her tone low. “Please don’t be late. It’s important.” Her throat bobs as she swallows. “And even if you decide to…passon the opportunity, you’ll still need to attend. You’ll need to tell the judge in person.”
I nod slowly, eyes locked on the card. The mediation. The courthouse in Wildwood. A day and time where everything could change.
One way or another, it will.
“Do you need to know anything?” I murmur, slipping the card into my back pocket.
She lifts a brow.
“About me,” I clarify. “You said you were inspecting my place.” Her grimace makes my jaw tick. “Do you need to ask me shit? Make sure I’m fit? Whatever it is people like you do?”
Georgia studies me, her face unreadable. Her fingers tighten around the strap of the giant bag slung across her body. A beat passes. Then another. Green eyes search mine, and I’m sure she sees it all. The anger. The guilt. The storm of everything I can’t name.
She finally shakes her head.
“No,” she says quietly. “I’ve got everything I need for now.”
Then she steps around me, careful not to brush my arm. Doesn’t look back. Just heads for the door where she pauses and turns enough to catch my gaze.
