Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 104820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
But no, she knew the truth: He was doing it to torture her because he could see through her carefully composed exterior and knew that she wanted more. Way more.
She wanted to feel the heat of his skin next to hers in the worst way. So much that it made it hard to concentrate on the amazing things he’d lined up for them to experience together today.
If only he realized she would have been just as happy with him at home. Naked, preferably.
Day by day, moment by moment, she had felt her resolve to stay professional turn to mush. But today? Well, today the walls she’d barely managed to keep up were coming down. Fast.
On top of that, it was fascinating to see how well Arch dealt with the fans who came up to him all day long. First, there’d been the giggling freshmen at the aquarium and then countless requests at the escape room venue. Through it all, he remained friendly, especially to the teens and little kids. Actually, he was just plain great with everyone. And so normal. So easy to be with.
And, most of all, so ridiculously sexy!
Arch took another mouthful of perfectly battered fish and dipped a fry in ketchup. She was already full, but couldn’t resist another deliciously crunchy fry.
He had given her the most memorable and wonderful day of her life. Every element had been so carefully planned, put together with such thought, that she couldn’t believe someone had it in them to be that romantic—let alone for her.
She caught his gaze across the table. There was so much warmth and affection in his eyes—as though she were the only woman in the entire world. It really had been the perfect day, and now there was no denying it: She was falling hard for Arch.
The thought scared her, for all the reasons that she’d been telling herself while she’d been working with him. But today, falling for Arch finally felt so right.
She had never felt like this with anyone else. Which meant that now she had no choice but to make a decision about her feelings—and her actions.
Would she risk everything to be with him for as long as it lasted? Or would she keep trying with all her might to keep her walls up until her assignment with him was over?
She lifted her glass of water to her lips, all the while holding Arch’s penetrating gaze. And that’s when she knew.
She wasn’t going to play it safe anymore.
After today, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to keep up the charade of being nothing but a professional with him.
Arch was well and truly under her skin.
And she wanted him to stay there.
Chapter Nineteen
Tessa realized that Arch was far more romantic than she could have dared to dream. Maybe Margaret had been right and Arch was more like his chivalrous father than she’d first thought.
When they’d eaten their fill, Arch suggested they take a slow stroll down Fisherman’s Wharf… maybe get some ice cream… watch the sunset. Again, she checked in with him to make sure he wasn’t overdoing it and feeling pain. But when he assured her again that he was feeling perfectly okay, she found herself nodding eagerly. Accepting his outstretched hand, she allowed her fingers to link with his.
After such a romantic day with him, it felt totally natural for them to hold hands. The electricity that sparked as their skin touched felt just right too.
Their romantic vibe intensified as they stepped outside and she saw the last of the sun’s glorious reds, pinks, and oranges streaking the darkening sky. She gazed at it dreamily, wishing she had her paints and could capture the scene. Immortalize the moment. Create a physical memory.
He guided her along the promenade, where families and couples weaved in and out of the shops and stalls, kids begging their parents for saltwater taffy and churros.
The water lapped gently on the shoreline as the last of the sun disappeared, and the fairy lights that flickered on in front of every restaurant and store made everything seem like a scene from a movie.
And here she was—with the actual leading man. She could hardly believe this was her life.
“I thought we could head up there.” Arch gestured to the end of the wharf, where a few slightly secluded benches looked out to sea. Even as he did, he didn’t let go of her hand. And she was glad, because it really did feel so right to be this intimate with him.
“Looks like the perfect spot,” she said, relishing the opportunity to sit with him alone for the first time today.
She shook her head at the offer of ice cream, explaining that she was too full from dinner… although the real reason was that her stomach had been turning somersaults since she’d admitted to herself that she was falling for Arch.