A TEMPTING ARRANGEMENT

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Archer Reed

POV

Waking up the next morning I’m in a little bit of a daze. Kissing Andrea last night wasn’t a part of the plan. Nothing about my visit was planned. I had a perfectly laid out plan. I didn’t expect to get caught up in the moment and attack her.

I got ready and was out of the house before Andrea woke. I didn’t bother dressing up, I’d be spending the day on a plane anyway. A grey sweat pants and a matching baggie sweat shirt. Tying my hair in a low bun.

Grabbing a pair of black running adidas sneakers…

It was two thirty when I walked out the door.

When I got into my car my phone rings.

Color me surprised when I see who’s calling.

“You’re still alive mate?” I ask.

“Still quite cheery as I remember you, Reed.” Ryan Dawson, a buddy of mine says in dull tone.

Maybe of us assumed he was autistic because he never showed even the slightest bit of emotion.

“How is it going Dawson?” I ask.

“Remember that issue I asked you to look into?” he asks.

I sigh. “Yeah, I did. I sent it to you.” I tell him.

He’s quiet. “I see it. Thanks…” he says before hanging up.

I didn’t expect him to answer me anyway, I knew how Ryan was. From what I know he’s father died before he was born, and his mother died when he was a teen.

He doesn’t speak about his past. Well Ryan doesn’t speak about any part of his life if I’m being completely honest.

Not that I expect him to.

I run my fingers through my hair before starting the car.

Driving to the airport, I couldn’t stop thinking about last night. I knew I rushed things. I didn’t expect things to heat up the way they did.

I’ve loved Andrea for as long as I can remember.

This was my chance for her to love me, for her to finally see me. I didn’t want to rush Andrea, Andrea hated being backed into a corner, and I don’t want to ever put her in a position where she feels like she has to give in to me.

I remember being in the hotel room with her, standing in the bathroom mirror staring at myself in the mirror.

Trying to convince myself not to agree to Andrea’s request. I knew if she looked at me with those pale green eyes I’d agree. I didn’t want to win Andrea over this way.

But here I am. Does this make me selfish?

I had to be selfish to do what I did. The gifts, dinner and kissing her. Making her think of me as a husband and not a best friend.

When Andrea told me she wanted to break up with Tate, my heart did a little dance.

What I hated was how they hurt her.

I was going to make them pay for hurting her.

No one hurt my wife and got away with it.

My phone rings again.

I sigh answering the call.

"Where are you?" Andrea’s sweet voice fills the car.

"I’m driving to the airport. Why don’t you get some sleep?" My heart ached for her.

"Shoot I wanted to get you before you left. It’s three in the morning Arch." She complains.

“It’s okay. I didn’t expect you to wake up for me." I was serious I wasn’t expecting Andrea to wake up early just for me.

"Wait for me, I’ll be at the airport soon. I want to see you off." Andrea says.

Surprised by her request. I agree. It wasn’t long before I arrived at the airport. I parked the car; my secretary would pick it up later. I didn’t want to disturb everyone’s rest because I wanted to be here for Andrea. When I saw what everyone was saying online about her, I was worried about her safety, and I was worried it might have affected her badly. My heart wouldn’t rest until I saw her with my own eyes.

Getting out of the car, I grabbed my duffle and phone. Making sure to take my chargers and laptop bag as well. This trip was unexpected to I just grabbed a few things and rushed to the States.

My work phone rings. I answer. “Reed…”

“Sir Miss Davidson wants to know when she can meet with you. She wants to know when she can meet with you. It’s about her designs…” Joey asks.

I sigh staring off into the distance. I wish I didn’t know what I know…

Ryan put me in an awkward position. Natasha Davidson was one of the first models I signed when I started my entertainment company. Starlight at the time was just a small company with three models, two actresses and one EA sport players. Now we’ve branched out. I can’t even tell you how much talent we have under us right now.

“I’ll get back to her in three weeks when I’m back…” I tell him. I needed to know what Ryan had in mind before I did anything Miss Davidson.

I hand my luggage to the crew and wait for Andrea. I didn’t wait long before I saw the red car heading towards me.

What surprised me most is the fact that she was driving herself. Andrea didn’t like driving; she found it tedious.

Andrea gets out of her car with a huge brown box.

I frown as I watch her walk over to me. "What is this?" I ask in a low voice...

“Open it when you’re on the plane…" she hands it to me.

I nod taking it from her with one hand and hugging her with the other.

“Thank you for waiting for me…” she mumbles into my chest.

I smile. Kissing the top of her head. I clear my throat. “I wanted to apologize for last night. I shouldn’t have…” Andrea stops me placing her hand over my mouth.

"Come on, we’re bound to kiss at some point. We’re a married couple now. We’re going to do a lot more than kiss at some point." Andrea reminds me.

I swallow. I didn’t want to think about Andrea, and I haven’t s*x right now.

“You’re thinking about me naked, aren’t you?” Andrea teases.

I shake my head. "No-no…" I stutter.

Andrea laughs. “You totally were…” she kisses my chin.

“I’m going to let you get your flight. But don’t forget to open your package…” Andrea smiles.

I nod. “I won’t thank you. I’m sure I’ll love whatever it is…” I’ve always treasured anything Andrea’s bought me. She always picks out the most thoughtful gifts. She once got me a snow globe with my favorite hockey player. I still have it at my house. The years after my parents died for my mother’s birthday, she had a portrait of my mother made for me. It meant so much to me. More than she’d ever known.

“Oh, and I loved my gift. Thank you…”

I smile. Since we’ve gotten married, we didn’t have any wedding rings, so I got my mom’s wedding ring out of the safety deposit box and delivered to Andrea. It had sentimental value to our family. I knew how much Andrea loved my mother’s ring. It was a white gold ring with a princess cut diamond in the center and smaller diamonds on the sides that wrapped right around the ring. It’s a custom-made ring my father designed himself for my mother.

I have a simple white gold band on my ring finger, I bought it the day I dropped Andrea off at the airport.

I hand off the box to one of the crew members walking by.

I pull Andrea into my arms hugging her properly. “I won’t see you again for another three weeks.” I remind her.

“Yeah… Three weeks will go by like a blur I’m sure of it. And I’m sure we’ll talk every single day…” Andrea sounds as if she’s trying to comfort me.

I smile kissing the top of her head. “You’re being cute it’s weird…” I tell her.

“I’m the weird one?” she asks.

I nod.

Andrea scoffs. “Things are just about to get interesting. Oh, my dad said I should look into just how much money the two have stashed away.” Andrea says.

I nod. “I’ll look into it. I’ll send you the details as soon as I have it…” I promise.

She nods. “Thank you…” she thanks me.

"I really have to get going now Andy…" I tell her.

"I know…" she mumbles into my chest.

Andrea kisses the side of my mouth and pulls away. But I pull her back and kiss her properly.

When I pull away, I give her another peck before pulling holding her hands in mine. “Is it crazy to say I’ll miss you?” I ask her.

She smiles shyly. “No, I’ll miss you too Husband…”

We say our goodbyes before I get on my jet. I take a seat and the first thing I do is open the gift from Andrea.

I let out a sigh when I see what’s in it. She gave a photo album, a custom-made blanket with our wedding date and our initials on it. a photo of the two of us at the award ceremony last year, with our wedding date under it. Last but not least a watch box, I open the box and it’s a Rolex. I take it out the box and see it’s engraved with our wedding date.

She did all of this for me? Where did she get the time.

I swallow back the emotions working through me.

I lean back in my seat and close my eyes. For as long as I can remember I wanted Andrea to be mine. I wanted to be her husband.

Now here I am her husband, and I’m overcome with emotion. I could feel tears pooling in my eyes, I don’t feel like I deserve Andrea. I don’t know what I’ve ever done to deserve her. But now that I have her, I wasn’t going to let her go.

I was going to treasure her.

I send Andrea a quick text thanking her for the gifts. I place the blanket over my knees, and I place the Rolex on my wrist.

I turn my phone off for takeoff. I close my eyes and lean back in my seat. I was hoping to get some sleep before getting back to work.