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It didn’t matter how many times I put that on repeat; my brain wasn’t getting the message, and hell if I knew why.
“Sorry I’m late.” Archer Carrington pulled out the chair across from me, unbuttoned his suit jacket, and took a seat. As he sipped his water, he took one look at my empty glass and thenmy face, then got the waitress’s attention. “He’ll have another one of those, and I’ll take a Manhattan, thanks.”
“Busy day?” I asked as she left.
“Oh no, my friend. We’re not starting with me—we’re starting with whatever’s going on here.” He gestured toward my face. I couldn’t imagine what he saw there, considering I never let anything slip, so perhaps he’d gotten wind of the new recruits.
“Are you trying to tell me I have something on my face?” I said, setting my glass aside.
“I am. And it looks a lot like you have some crazy things on your mind.”
“Maybe you’re projecting. You’re the one with the new business and live-in boyfriend?—”
“And somehow even less responsibility now that I’ve let all the unnecessary shit go.” He settled back in his chair, a smile on his lips. “Trust me when I say I’ve never been happier.”
“I can see that. It looks good on you.”
Archer’s grin grew as our waitress returned and handed us both our drinks. “If you would’ve told me life could be like this a year ago, I wouldn’t have believed you.” He slid the cherry garnish off the swizzle stick with his teeth and gestured to me. “All right, your turn, and don’t make me beg.”
The thought of Archer begging anyone was as ridiculous asmebegging, and it had me taking a long swallow of my Old Fashioned and looking around to make sure this conversation would stay as private as our corner table in the back. “Are you aware of the recruitment that began on Friday?”
Archer’s brows rose. “Already? It’s only March.”
“Let’s just say my hand was forced.”
“Forced? How? And by whom?”
“James Easton.” I lifted my glass and watched over the rim as Archer’s jaw fell into his lap.
“I know I’m getting older, but I didn’t think my hearing was going yet. Did you just say JamesEaston? As in East? The same pompous ass that runs with Preston’s crowd?”
“I did, yes.”
“For God’s sake, man, why?”
“Because that nosy, pompousasstracked us down, that’s why.” I shrugged, trying to tell myself there was no point in stressing over this latest development, but judging by the look on Archer’s face, the knot in my stomach these past few days was justified—and he only knew half of it. “He was already on the list to be recruited?—”
“In a couple of years, when he matured.”
“We’d agreed on graduation.”
“No, a handful of you did.Ialways cautioned on the side of waiting.” He brought his drink to his mouth and drained it. It seemed talk of East made everyone need to throw back several glasses of the hard stuff.
“Need another?”
Archer flagged down a passing waiter. “How about we just get a bottle of something? I have a feeling we’re going to need it.”
“Whiskey work?”
“You know it.”
We put in a quick order of food as well but told them to hurry on the liquor.
“So, you’re going to have to lay this out for me.” Archer leaned back in his seat and steepled his hands over his stomach. “Why would East be tracking us down? What had him sniffing around?”
I knew the question would come. Archer was no one’s fool, and it was the logical one to ask in the face of such an impulsive decision on my behalf. But the answer would open up another whole line of questions I wasn’t quite ready to get into yet.
So I deflected.
