One True Thing by Piper Vaughn Read Free Book Online Page A

I
    could admit to being somewhat—okay, maybe it
    was more like majorly —bummed by Archer’s no-
    show, I wasn’t about to let that disappointment
    spur me into doing something I knew I’d regret the
    instant it was over.
    I laid a couple of bills on the counter, just as
    a tip since I’d been paying for my drinks as they
    came, slid off my stool, and turned to go home,
    ready to drown myself in mango sorbet and spend
    another lonely night with nothing to cuddle but my
    pillow.
    Of course, that was the moment Archer
    walked in. Something stalled and then surged
    through me as he approached—excitement, relief, I
    wasn’t sure which. All I knew was my eyes
    weren’t the only ones that followed him as he
    crossed the room, but he came directly to me and
    grabbed my left hand, lifting it to his mouth to
    brush a kiss across the knuckles.
    “Hope you weren’t waiting too long,” he
    said, nothing but charm and a rueful smile. “I was
    in LA and had trouble getting a cab, and then
    traffic was a bitch. I know I probably should’ve
    called. What can I do to make it up to you?”
    If we’d been in a 1940s film, something
    black-and-white and melodramatic, I might have
    flung my arms around his neck and said, “Take me
    to bed.” As it was, I playfully shoved him back
    and hoped he couldn’t tell just how relieved I was
    to have him there. The tight ball of icy tension that
    had built in my stomach while I’d waited for him
    had already started to melt. “You can buy me a
    drink, and maybe if you’re nice enough, when we
    leave, I’ll let you kiss me.”
    Archer’s apologetic smile transformed into a
    naughty grin. “I can be very nice.”
    My heart skipped at the expression on his
    face. God, he really was stunning. I hadn’t been
    able to think of a word that would be a better fit.
    “Let’s go grab that booth in the corner.”
    Archer took hold of my hand again and pulled me
    along behind him. Once we’d settled at our table,
    he flagged down a waiter, and we ordered our
    drinks. As soon as the guy left, Archer sat back and
    looked at me with his full lips turned up in a little
    half smile. I wasn’t sure what it meant, but it made
    my belly heat. “You are gorgeous,” he said,
    enunciating every word, his eyes focused on my
    mouth. “I love lip piercings.” He made a regretful
    sound. “The nose, on the other hand….”
    I blinked at him, startled. My nose? Did he
    mean he didn’t like it , or was he talking about the
    horseshoe ring in my septum? I managed to stop
    myself from self-consciously lifting a hand to
    cover it, but I was hyperaware of his gaze
    lingering there for a second before moving up to
    mine.
    He shrugged lightly. “No offense. I’ve just
    never been a fan. I think you’d be hotter if you took
    it out.”
    “Oh,” I said. I wasn’t sure what else to say.
    I’d had my septum pierced since high school, and
    no one had ever complained, not even my ex, Gary,
    who’d criticized me for just about everything else.
    I was so used to it being there, I hardly noticed it
    most of the time.
    “I’m just saying—” Archer reached out and
    drew a long finger along the back of my hand. “—
    it takes away from how hot you are. You’re sexy
    now. You’d be even sexier without it.”
    I nodded and smiled a little. So he wasn’t a
    fan of the piercing, but he thought I was hot. Sexy,
    he’d said. It’d be simple enough to take the ring out
    before we went on our next date, and it was
    nowhere near as bad as some of the things Gary
    had demanded from me. If there was another date,
    that is. I wasn’t going to let myself assume
    anything.
    “You hungry?” he asked. “I’m starved. Let’s
    get an appetizer.”
    IN SPITE of the food, I was feeling decidedly tipsy
    after another two appletinis. For a second I’d
    hesitated to mention the fact that I didn’t like meat,
    but Archer hadn’t seemed to mind. We’d split
    some bruschetta and a tray of pita chips with
    hummus,