“I’m feeling myself getting a little past tipsy, andIfigure one of us should be responsible tonight.”
I didn’t want to be responsible, though.
Adults behaved responsibly because we were told it would make things right—fair, even—but it didn’t work that way.Itwasn’t fair how the trial verdict went, even thoughIalways behaved responsibly at my job.Italso wasn’t fair thatIfinally met a beautiful woman, and she was about to leave me and go to another state.
Nope.Iwas done being responsible—at least for one night.
“Being responsible is overrated,”Itold her, pulling her in close and kissing her lips. “Let’sbe fun instead.”
She giggled in response asIstared at the building in front of me.Yeah, this might be the most fun planIcould come up with.
“I have an idea.”
* * *
Several hours later,Iwoke up in my bed, not quite sure howIgot there, and dealing with a massive headache.Itwas still dark outside, from whatIcould tell, thoughIwasn’t sure exactly what time it was.Ireached over to grab my phone from the nightstand, whenIbumped into something and realizedIwasn’t alone.
A glance to my left revealedAce’sbeautiful body next to mine.Ismiled at the fact that she was here.WhenIreached to pick up my phone,Isaw it was nearly four in the morning.Ialso noticed something unfamiliar on my left hand—a ring.Shockand surprise filled my groggy mind.Iturned my body to glance once again at the sleeping woman next to me.Specifically, the left hand of the sleeping woman—which now had a silver band with small diamonds around a very important finger.
What the hell had happened?
9
ARCHER
PRESENT
She was incredible—a true professional.Shewas also cutthroat.
I was shadowingAceat work today, andIhad just watched her conduct an interview like a true boss.Watchingher interview some asshole politician who stole funds from a police officer’s memorial fund to pay for her own wedding and two of her plastic surgeries was incredible.Shegave back as good as she took in that interview, while remaining calm and authoritative the entire time.Ihad a newfound respect for her thatIhadn’t had before.
I was amazed at how truly great she was at this job.I’dnever had a doubt she’d be good, but seeing her in person—she was so much more than that.Itwasn’t just how she conducted an interview, but also how easy her banter was with her co-anchors and friends and what a hard worker she was.Shewas a boss’s dream.
Her show was set to start in about thirty minutes, but the politician would be on a plane at that time, so the interview was done before the show and was being “cut and turned,”Acetold me, to run during the evening newscast.
I was in the studio with her, seated off-camera about twenty feet away.Shewas just hopping up from her chair behind the anchor desk when a man came into the studio, throwing his hands up animatedly.
“Bollocks!” the man yelled with aBritishaccent. “Anna, you did a phenomenal job interviewing that gobshite politician.Iimagine thePRteam is in a tizzy before this airs next hour.Goodjob.Wait.Whothe hell are you?” he asked, turning to me, as if he just now realizedIwas in the room.
“Adam, this isArcher, the bodyguardItold you about,”Acesaid and then turned to me. “Archer, this isAdamBrink, my executive producer.”
Ahh, so this was the one she was cursing for making her wear the dinosaur costume.
“Nice to meet you.”Iheld out my hand to him. “What’sa gobshite?”
“Ignore some of the weirdBritishwords he says.Youget used to it,”Taliasaid as she walked into the studio.
“Just because you do not have the same refined vocabulary as usBritsdoes not make the words weird,”Adamchirped back. “You’rejust being a grumpy pisstrumpet, and you know it.”
Talia laughed andAcerolled her eyes but smiled, which told me they enjoyed this teasing back and forth.
“My personal favorite is when he says shitgibbon,”Taliacontributed, eliciting a small chuckle fromAce.
“I’m gonna go take a smoke break real quick before the show starts,”Dansaid, walking into the newsroom to set his drink down on the desk.
“I thought you just took a smoke break,”Taliasaid as he walked toward the door.
“Semantics,” he yelled back, throwing one hand up in dismissal.
