Chapter Three
Sage
The meeting room at the library is crowded when I arrive, surprising me.
Kinsley must’ve been working overtime to recruit people to help with the event.
I find a free spot at the circle of tables and snag a seat.
The spot on my right is filled before I have a chance to set my Diet Coke on the table.
I turn to offer a smile to whomever fills the seat, only to have my eyes widen as I get a glimpse of the mountain of a man dwarfing the chair next to mine.
These chairs are heavy-duty metal, but this guy makes it look child’s size.
His biceps and shoulders are the size of small boulders, stretching his soft gray flannel to its limit.
My hefty figure has been something I’ve struggled with most of my life.
I’ve never been what one could call delicate, having taken after the hulking men in my family, but in his presence for the first time I have an inkling of what being dainty must feel like.
When I finally tear my gaze away from his muscular form, it swings up to meet the deepest blue eyes I’ve ever seen.
They’re so dark they’re navy, like the depths of the ocean.
His lips tip up in one corner before he winks at me as I snap my mouth shut, only just now realizing my jaw has been hanging open. He shoves a behemoth hand toward me. Mine drifts to his of its own accord as if it’s magnetized, and his is the polar opposite, attracting it.
“I’m Archer.”
The deep rumble of his voice combined with his warm, calloused hand engulfing mine sends shivers over me, which converge between my thighs, causing my core to pulse. My nipples tighten as I swallow to ease my suddenly dry throat and provide a response.
“Sage,” I finally manage to squeak, my hand dropping just as Kinsley stands before us, thanking us all for coming. I suck a gulp of my Diet Coke in an effort to wet my throat and cool myself off.
My attention is pulled to the other side of me when a body fills the seat.
The warm tingling feeling evaporates in an instant as if I’ve been doused in ice water—much more effective than my drink.
I glare at my ex, who is now sitting on the other side of me.
He gives me the slimy smile of his, I somehow once thought was charming.
I refuse to acknowledge him further and turn my focus to the front of the room. It doesn’t take long for my thoughts to drift to the two men on either side of me. One completely unwelcome, and the other, while not unpleasant, is a distraction from what I came here for.
It’s only when people murmur amongst themselves I realize I’ve missed something important. I concentrate on what Kinsley’s now saying.
“So everyone participating will need to have a partner of the opposite sex for the Jack and Jill team competition.”
My heart thunders at her announcement. This is not what I signed on for. Surely participation won’t be required.
“Looks like we’ll be partners again. What a way to make a fresh start,” Gary, my ex, exclaims excitedly.
What fresh hell is this? How could he possibly think we’d ever be partners again after what he did?
I panic as I watch everyone around us pair off. There’s no way on God’s green earth I will partner with the cheater. My arm brushes the boulder on the arm next to me, and I can only plead insanity for the words which come out of my mouth.
With a sharp shake of my head, I blurt, “If I’m going to be partners with anyone, it’ll be Archer. My new boyfriend.”
I don’t know what possesses me to tack on the last part.
That’s not true. I know exactly why I said it.
Gary is like a bulldog with a bone. He hasn’t been able to accept that we’re over, and I don’t have the energy to deal with his shit.
I’m beyond ready to be done with him, and the man can’t seem to get a freaking clue we’re never going to happen again.
Gary narrows his eyes at me. “When did you start dating? I’ve never even seen this guy before. We were working things out.”
“No, we weren’t, and whoever I date isn’t any of your business because we’re not together anymore, nor will we ever be again. Don’t know how you can even begin to think that after cheating on me.”
“So this is the ex.” Archer’s deep voice rumbles while his thick arm drops around my shoulders.
His meaty hand rests on my bicep as a thumb sweeps across my skin just below my shirt sleeve. My body lights up from the touch, and I lean into the man, who apparently has been paying attention and is playing along, much to my relief.
“It is,” I confirm.
“Nice to meet cha. I’d say sorry, but I’m really not. Sage is my partner. Thanks for screwing up, so she was available for me.”
Satisfaction runs through me as Gary gapes at us like we’ve both sprouted second heads.
We completely ignore him when Kinsley begins talking again.
I thank the Lord and all the deities there might be for the man sitting next to me, who not only rescued me from untold misery, but still has his arm firmly around me.