by Jenny Lynn
I was starting to pace, trying not to let his words get to me and failing miserably. He did have a point. Corinne only agreed to pretend to date me because our label was launching her career, but it was different now. Something had changed between us.
“Archer, don’t be so naive. They’re all like that, every woman I’ve ever met was like that.”
I clenched my fist. “Mom wasn’t like that.”
He sighed. “No, she was soft. You take after her I suppose. She’s still the only woman I ever got pregnant, I got a vasectomy after you were born. You should be grateful for that.”
“Is that why you called, to warn me about my girlfriend and have me thank you for the gift of life?”
“Fine, don’t listen to me. You never do, why start now, right Archer? Just watch, she’ll get what she wants from you and leave you high and dry. I’m just trying to give you the benefit of my many years experience dealing with women like her.”
“You’re wrong, you’ll see.”
“I’m not. She’s got a nice body though, have fun with her. Just ditch her before it gets too far.”
“I’m hanging up now Blake.”
“One last thing Archer. You never responded to the invitation for the benefit your stepmom and I are throwing this weekend. Since you’re not touring I thought you would make an appearance. We can at least act like a family once or twice a year.”
I groaned. Why could I not just cut him out of my life, like a defective organ? The reality was he was the only family I had left in this world, and for better or worse, I couldn’t ignore him forever.
“I’ll go, on one condition.”
“Name it,” there was a rattle in the background. I guessed he was drinking his afternoon scotch. Like father, like son.
“I’m bringing Corinne.”
Another sigh. “Fine. I’m interested to meet this woman you think has something a dozen women like her don’t. Bring her. I’ll see you this weekend Archer.”
“See you then Blake.”
I hung up and walked in a straight line to the bar and poured myself a stiff drink. I had finally found something worth getting excited about, a woman who was beautiful inside and out. Who awoke something in me I assumed was long dead and buried. I wouldn’t let anyone ruin it for me, and I was not going to ruin this for myself. I didn’t know how to be the kind of man Corinne deserved, but for her, I would figure out how.
Chapter Sixteen
Corinne
Music was playing through the speakers of my laptop on the counter while I did a final pass through the apartment. I had spent the rest of the day after my meeting with Scott Wolf cleaning and making our little space look as good as possible. It was nothing compared to Archer’s penthouse, but it was mine. Well, ours. Nancy was putting away the vacuum and bumped me with her hip as she passed.
“I can’t believe you’re dating Archer Evans and that he’s coming here for dinner,” she squealed.
“He said he wants to see where I live and meet my friends. Thanks for being here.”
“No problem. Just a totally normal, average night in with my roommate and a celebrity.”
I laughed and headed for my bedroom to double check everything was in order. I checked my reflection and was fixing my hair when there was a knock at the door.
“I’ve got it!” Nancy shouted.
I walked down the hall and saw Archer come in holding two bottles of wine, looking just as unnaturally gorgeous as he had when I left him earlier. I couldn’t get over how hot he was. With those features he was born to be a star.
“You must be Nancy,” he said nodding at my roommate. “I hope you like red.”
“Red is perfect, come on in. Corinne has told me so much about you.”
“Nothing bad I hope,” he said with a wink at me.
“Not recently at least,” Nancy teased. “Have a seat, I’ll uncork the wine.”
“It smells incredible in here, what are we having?”
“Corinne spent the afternoon making pizzas from scratch, she must really like you.”
I glared at my roommate and she chuckled then shrugged. She was loving this. I walked over to Archer and reached up on my tiptoes to plant a soft kiss on his lips.
“Thanks for coming,” I told him.
“Why don’t you give me a tour?” he asked.
I bit my lip. “Well, it will be a pretty short tour. That’s the kitchen, and over here is our living room slash dining room. I took a step towards the narrow hallway and he followed me. “Nancy’s bedroom is on the left, that’s the bathroom, and here’s my room.” I opened the door and Archer stepped inside, looking around. I felt so naked and exposed, he was seeing my private space.
Archer read the spines of the books from the library on my dresser. “Music biographies?” he asked.
I nodded. “I find them inspirational.”
He continued to the other side of my bed, there were only about five steps to cross my entire bedroom, but he took his time as he looked over my space. He stopped and looked at a framed photo of my father holding a guitar. It was an autographed poster from one of his last shows.
“That’s my dad,” I explained. “Jake Williams. He was a musician too.”
Archer reached down and touched the engraved letters on my beat up old guitar.
“J.W…” he said as he touched the wood softly. “This was your dad’s guitar.”
I nodded.
“Can I ask what happened to him?”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “There was a robbery, he was at the store late at night picking up milk and cereal for the morning. The woman behind the counter was young and scared, a man had a gun. My dad tried to step in and de-escalate the situation, told the man to take the money and run. When my dad stepped near the counter he panicked and shot him, then grabbed cash and ran off. They figure he stole sixty dollars.”
I felt the tears come to my eyes.
“My dad’s life was worth sixty dollars.”
Archer came around the bed and held me in his arms, kissing my forehead.
“His life was worth much more than that. I bet he would be so proud of you and your voice, your talent.”
When he looked down into my eyes there was a vulnerability there. He hesitated, struggling with whether to say something or not.
“My mother died when I was little too. My dad forgot to pick me up after school, she had been home sick all week with a fever. She could have sent a car, a taxi, anything, but she came for me. She never made it, she got into a car crash and died on the way to the hospital.”
Archer balled his fists in anger.
“The police tried to reach my dad for hours while I sat crying alone in the hospital. They finally tracked him to a hotel. That bastard was having an affair and forgot all about his family. If I had just been old enough to get home by myself, she would still be here.”
“Archer…” I held him close and ran my hands over his back.
We stood there together in my bedroom, holding onto each other, haunted by the tragic incidents from our pasts that marked us both. That influenced the rest of our lives.
“I miss her,” he whispered finally in my ear.
“I miss him too,” I told him back.
When Archer bent his head and kissed me, there was an intimacy and tenderness there. I realized then just how scared he was to open up to me, and how hard this must be for him. His father raised him, and from what he told me just now I doubt he raised him in a house where love and trust were the most important things to be cherished. We were both a bit damaged and broken, but we could help each other through the pain.
“Come on,” I gently took him by the hand. “Let’s have dinner.”
Together we walked out to the living room where Nancy had poured us three glasses of wine. Archer and I each picked one up and we toasted. The wine was delicious, no doubt expensive.
“Mmm, this is so good. Watch me to make sure I don’t disappear with the bottle,” Nancy t
old us as she savored her glass.
“Go ahead, that’ll still leave one bottle for me and Corinne,” Archer chuckled.
“And miss all the fun? No way.”
I opened the oven and took out the two pizzas I had cooking, placing them on the counter and slicing them up. Archer walked over and squeezed my shoulders.
“What have we got here?” he asked.
“One is prosciutto, rosemary and gorgonzola. The second is a white pizza with potato, cream sauce, sage and sausage.”
“I’m impressed,” Archer kissed my cheek. “It smells amazing.”
We each grabbed plates and slices then made our way to the couch while Nancy sat in the armchair. Archer bit into a slice and his eyes widened.
“Holy crap, this is so good,” he groaned. I blushed, glad he enjoyed it. He must eat gourmet food all the time so his praise meant something.
“So, Archer,” Nancy turned to face him. “As Corinne’s best friend I have to ask. What are your intentions?”
I shot her a glare. Archer swallowed, took a sip of wine then smiled at her.
“Honestly, we’re still figuring things out. But I really like her, and I don’t want to hurt her if that’s what you’re asking.”
“It is,” Nancy added. “And I’m glad to hear it. Corinne is a special girl.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Archer said.
“You guys mind not talking about me like I’m not here?” I asked.
“So Nancy, Corinne tells me you’re a student. What are you studying?”
“I’m at NYU studying Psychology. I have a few more years to go, it’s a really exciting field. I hope to have my own practice one day.”
“That’s interesting, you like to get inside people’s minds.”
Nancy nodded. “I like to know what makes people tick. Why we do the things we do. For example, Corinne was influenced by her father to get into music. Why did you?”
Archer took another bite of pizza, contemplating the question.
“My father is in business. Finance, to be exact. I didn’t want to follow in his footsteps - I was always more interested in creative things, like music and photography. My mom encouraged me, I took lessons, I started writing my own stuff when I was young. When I was in high school I started a band with friends. We kept at it, got better, booked gigs. I got an agent and everything took off from there.”
“And now you’re a mega star,” Nancy added. Archer chuckled.
“I do pretty well for myself.”
“How do you deal with all the publicity?” I asked. “I’ve been wondering. It’s like you barely have a private life.”
“I’ll admit, it’s a trade off,” he told me. “But you make boundaries for yourself. Events and public appearances are one thing, but I try not to let people invade my privacy the rest of the time. Most people are pretty respectful of that, and if they ask for a quick photo I say sure. My fans are the reason I can make music for a living. Paparazzi can be bad though, I won’t lie. It’s like they don’t even see me as a person.”
“I think I’ve had more cameras pointed at me since I met you than I ever have,” I said.
“Well I hope being with me is worth the trade off,” he gave me a warm smile that made my heart skip a beat.
“You two are freaking cute,” Nancy laughed. “I have to admit though, this is crazy. Archer Evans is eating pizza in my living room. Unreal.” She shook her head as she finished a slice.
“How did your meeting with Scott go today?” Archer asked.
I leaned towards the edge of my seat, excited to tell him all about it.
“Amazing. They went through all of my songs and picked twelve for an album they want to release and market. I’m going to re-record the tracks in a professional studio, do a photoshoot. Everything!”
“You must be so excited.”
I nodded. Nancy got the bottle and refilled all our wine glasses.
“What are the odds of me getting a private concert?” she asked. “Corinne plays a song, Archer you play a song. Pretty please?”
I looked at Archer and he nodded. “Sure, why not?”
I got up and went into my bedroom to get my guitar. Back on the couch I tuned the strings, thinking about what song to sing before deciding.
“This one is called City Lights,” I explained. “It’s going to be on the new album, and it’s about my first night in New York. Everything I left behind and everything I was looking forward to.”
Archer and Nancy sat back in their seats and watched me as I strummed the first few chords, then I sang. As the lyrics left my lips I remembered writing the song in bed, about missing my family but falling in love with my new home. About taking a chance and hoping the gamble would pay off in the end. It was a challenging song with fluctuating vocals that showed off my range, and even though there were just three of us in the room I gave it everything I had in me because Archer was there and he was hearing it for the first time. As I played the last few notes, the room was suddenly quiet. Then Nancy and Archer started to clap.
“Oh my god, Corinne,” he started to say. “That was incredible. I’m blown away.”
“I never get tired of hearing you play,” Nancy gushed. “Okay, Archer you’re up!”
“Talk about a tough act to follow,” Archer said as he accepted the guitar from my hands. He rubbed his hand over his chin, thinking. He looked me in the eyes, then started to strum the strings. No explanation, just launching into the words.
His voice did things to me, pulled me in, just like it pulled in anyone who listened to him. It was a bit husky when he wanted it to be but crystal clear for every note he hit. He made words sexy as they came out of his mouth, pulling our attention like a snake charmer as he sang about a woman.
When he sang about a beauty standing in an art gallery, then about kissing in front of the skyline my jaw dropped. This was a song about me, about us.
A hint of a smile flashed across Archer’s lips when he read my expression and saw that I knew who it was about. I was frozen in place, slightly dizzy and my body humming. He sang the chorus one last time, played a slow melody, then it was quiet.
“That was amazing,” Nancy clapped. “I’ve never heard that song before, is it new material?”
Archer held my gaze in his. “I wrote it this morning,” he said. “It still needs work. What do you think Corinne?”
I was still stunned, unable to form words. “It was… you’re very talented Archer,” I said finally.
Nancy watched us grinning like a Cheshire cat. She picked up her glass of wine and fake yawned. “Well it is getting late. I better head to my room, where I’ll be in bed. Sleeping. All night.”
I shook my head at her as she disappeared.
“I can’t believe you wrote that this morning,” I told Archer.
“What can I say, I was inspired.”
I sighed, then took a long drink of wine. “I don’t see how I inspired you,” I felt nervous.
“I want you,” he said finally.
I looked him in the eyes, feeling vulnerable. “Why me?”
Archer inched closer to me on the couch until our legs were touching.
“Because you’re my addiction. I wanted you the first time I saw you, and it’s only grown stronger since then.”
He leaned forward and kissed me, I closed my eyes and sank against him. I was lost in him, in the way he made me feel. If I was Archer’s addiction, he was mine. I wanted him, needed him, with everything in me. Whatever it was between us was electric, a current that coursed its way through my body setting me on fire. If I lived a hundred lifetimes I would never get enough of the way he made me feel.
Chapter Seventeen
Archer
Her place was exactly like I imagined it would be. Small and cozy, warm and authentic. Unapologetically unique with a handful of personal touches. It reminded me of my first apartment when I moved out of my dad’s estate, before I started making real money. It made me realize I found Corinn
e when she was standing on the edge of her fame, and made me feel special that I was going to be able to see her growth firsthand. Hell, I could even help her navigate those new challenges that were going to come her way.
Going from private citizen to a public persona wasn’t easy, it chewed people up and spit them out. Corinne was strong, but there was a naive softness to her that people could take advantage of. With me in the picture, let them fucking try.
I played her the song I wrote this morning. It was a snap decision, but I wanted to see her reaction. Was I trying to charm her? Always. But with Corinne I was starting to realize it was more for me now than the chase, more than the conquest. She was another creative soul, another musician. We shared something better than just a physical connection which was more than I could say for any other woman I ever met.
Suddenly I remembered something I needed to ask her. I broke our kiss, reluctantly pulling away from her luscious lips, and looked her in the eyes.
“There’s something I need to ask you,” I said tentatively.
“What is it?”
I sighed. Here goes. “My father and stepmother are throwing a benefit this weekend for the Chicago Arts Council. My dad, Blake Evans, couldn’t give less of a shit about the arts but given the career of his high profile son he plays the part. Anyways, I promised I would go.”
She sat patiently, waiting for me to finish.
“I’d really like it if you would go with me Corinne.”
She smiled and touched my hand.
“I’d be happy to Archer.”
“I just need to warn you, Blake is a raging asshole.”
“I think I can handle it,” she leaned forward and kissed my cheek.
“I’ll book our tickets and hotel tomorrow. Thank you, this will be so much better with you there with me. Family right?”
“I know what you mean,” Corinne shook her head. “I had a tense conversation with my mom earlier. With the publicity, word about us got around and she knows we’re an item. To be fair, I should have given her a heads up, but I knew how she would react.”
“She disapproves?” That was nothing new for me. With my reputation I wasn’t exactly the man your parents would be glad to hear you were dating.
