Chapter Five
Sage
What the fresh hell have I gotten myself into?
Two days later and my lips are still tingling from the kiss Archer laid on me.
Now I’m on my way to meet him so we can solicit donations from businesses around town for the silent auction.
My stomach somersaults just thinking about being close to the insanely good-looking giant again.
It’s completely absurd, is what it is. Haven’t I learned my lesson by now?
The men in my life have made it their mission to teach me over and over again that I’ll never be good enough.
From never being able to please my father to my brothers treating me like an obligation to Gary cheating on me. Why would Archer be any different?
Letting myself get carried away with this whole charade is asking for nothing but hurt.
I need to have more respect for myself. I do not need nor do I want a man.
They are certainly more trouble than they’re worth.
We’ll keep up pretenses to keep Gary off my case and then go our separate ways once the show is over.
Resolve set, I park near Darcie’s on Main Street where Archer is meeting me. Climbing out of my SUV, I sling my burgundy backpack over my shoulder and pull my ponytail tight.
Darcie smiles when I step through the front door. “Sage, how are you doing on this gorgeous spring day?”
“I’m great, thank you. And yourself?”
“Can’t complain with weather like this. Your usual?” she asks as she heads to the refrigerator to grab a bottle of Diet Coke—something that’s not on the menu, but she keeps it in stock just for me.
I nod. “Yes please. I’m also here to ask for a donation for the silent auction that’ll be held at the lumberjack show.”
“Starting without me?”
Shivers race down my arms at Archer’s deep rumble from behind me. He’s standing so close I can feel the heat of his body through our clothes.
“Well now, who’s this tall drink of water?” Darcie’s gaze sweeps over the man who holds his hand out to her.
“Archer Fenton, Sage’s new man, at your service, ma’am.”
The red-headed older woman actually blushes like a schoolgirl as she shakes his hand.
“Well, I’ll just keep that in mind. I’m sure I can find something for you to service.
Didn’t know Sage was seeing someone new.
Gotta say you’re quite the upgrade. Can I get you anything to drink, maybe a treat from the case? ”
“I’ll have a black coffee.” He looks at me, tipping his chin toward the glass case filled with the delicious baked goods, which put Darcie’s on the map. “What’s your favorite sweetheart?”
“Oh, everything’s amazing, but if I had to pick, I’d go with the lemon huckleberry bars.”
“Sounds good to me. We’ll take four of those and an assortment of items of your choosing for an even dozen. A donation for the auction would be great as well. The money raised will go toward helping fund the new search and rescue team.”
Darcie shakes her head with a smile. “Well, how can I say no to a plea like that? Alright, order coming right up, and of course, I’ll donate to the auction.
In fact, I’ll do two items. An assortment of baked goods and a gift basket with a gift card, and I’ll make a cash donation as well.
Can’t have lost tourists, that's certainly not good for business.”
My eyes widen at her generosity.
Archer gives her a face-splitting grin as if she’s just offered us a million dollars. “Well now, that’s mighty generous of you. We’ll be sure to make sure your name is right at the top of the donor thank you board.”
The rest of the morning and afternoon goes this way, with Archer charming everyone into donating double what I’d probably have gotten from them.
He also announces to everyone that we’re together.
It causes a thrill to run through me each time, which is irrational because this is one hundred percent fake.
What’s worse is how he touches me at every available opportunity.
I eagerly await each and every moment of it, instead of putting a stop to this whole thing.
I keep telling myself it’s only for appearances and to keep Gary away from me.
Archer is only graciously playing the part I pulled him into without his consent, but in reality it's unnecessary.
It’s certainly not necessary for him to make such a production out of the farce, but he does. So I enjoy the attention from him. What’s the harm in basking in his annoyingly charismatic, stupidly attractive existence while I can?
I find out exactly what the harm is as we wrap up canvassing the town. The attention from him has scrambled my good sense, and the desire to climb him like the tree he is can be the only explanation for what happens next.