Comeback (The Holland Brothers Book 3)

On Wednesday, Archer surprises me at the studio in the late afternoon.

“Wow. I still can’t believe this is the same space,” he says, turning in a circle to admire it.

Pride spreads through me at his words. I can’t believe it either. I spent all day working on the website and creating a couple of social media pages for outreach.

“Me either. It’s really happening.”

“I’m so proud of you.” He leans over and kisses me, circling my waist in the middle of it to drag me closer.

I could very easily lose hours of my day kissing Archer. When he pulls back, I actually whimper.

“Give me two seconds to lock the front door and we can keep doing that,” I say. I’m a total goner.

“I’d like nothing more, but I have a surprise.”

“What?” I ask, feeling a little thrill shoot through me.

“It’s a surprise.” He kisses my forehead. “Are you done here?”

“Yeah. I can be. Can I kiss you during this surprise?”

“Absolutely. In fact, I think this surprise demands it.”

“Well now I’m really curious.”

He winks and I hurry to close down my laptop and pack up. I follow him in my car back to the apartment. Brogan and London are waiting for us outside. London is in black jeans and a cute crop top and Brogan has on a button-down short-sleeved shirt. They aren’t super dressy but they look good, and I’m in leggings and a baggy T-shirt.

“I don’t think I’m dressed for whatever we’re doing.”

“You look hot,” Archer says.

Brogan glares playfully at him.

“What? She does. Get over it.” Archer wraps his arms around me from behind.

“I got this.” London steps forward and takes my hand, pulling me away from Archer. “Give us fifteen minutes.”

“But—” Brogan starts to protest.

“Fifteen,” she says in a voice that leaves no room for arguing. Then kisses the air in his direction. “Love you.”

“Love you too,” he grumbles. “But we’re going to be late.”

Despite his rumblings, when we pull up to the event parking lot thirty minutes later, there are tons of people still arriving and walking up to the stadium.

I crane my neck toward the entrance for any hint of what we’re doing. I’m the only one who doesn’t know, and my curiosity is making me antsy.

“Where are we going?” I ask.

“The Lake City arena.” Brogan waves an arm toward the big building with a straight face. “It’s right there, little sister.”

“You know what I mean.”

He breaks into a soft chuckle. “You wanna tell her, Arch?” he asks, looking to the man at my side.

He nods, and when I give him my full attention, he stalls. I’m close to stomping my foot.

“It’s cute how frustrated you are but the only thing I can see is how fucking hot you look in that miniskirt.” He glances over my shoulder. “Thank you, London.”

“Any time.”

“I’m right fucking here,” Brogan says too quietly for Archer to hear him.

Because most of my clothes were dirty, London handed me a black leather miniskirt and a white tank top from her closet. I paired it with boots since I wasn’t sure if heels would be appropriate for wherever we were going. Looking around at the other people, I think I made the right call. I don’t see a pair of heels anywhere.

If you don’t tell me right now, you won’t touch what’s under this miniskirt for a week, I sign.

His head falls back and he laughs loudly toward the sky.

“What’d she say?” Brogan asks.

Archer ignores him and signs back, You don’t mean that.

Fuck around and find out, Holland.

Humor still dances across his face, but I can tell my threat is about to get me what I want. Also, there’s no way I could hold out for an entire week.

“It’s a concert.”

For whatever reason that option hadn’t occurred to me.

“Who’s playing?”

“Five different bands.”

“Five different hard rock bands,” London clarifies. “No one you’ve heard of.”

“She’s heard them. She just doesn’t know it,” Archer says. He looks to me. “Disappointed?”

“Are you kidding? I haven’t been to a concert in forever.”

“Let’s go. First band should be starting any second.” Brogan tips his head toward the entrance.

Archer takes my hand and threads our fingers together. A giddy sensation works through me.

“I could never hold out a week,” I tell him in case he didn’t realize I was joking earlier.

He leans in. The tip of his nose grazes the shell of my ear as he whispers, “I know.”

By the time we grab drinks and find our seats on the floor, the first band has started. A huge smile spreads across my face at the loud, angry music. I turn to Archer realizing in here he’s definitely not going to be able to hear me.

It’s almost like being in your room, I sign to him.

His stare roams down over my body, coming up slowly to land on my mouth. In that case, you’re wearing too many clothes.

I stand in front of him, leaning into him ever so slightly, so my back rests against his chest. I can’t understand half the lyrics, but the beat is good and it reminds me so much of all those early nights with Archer’s music vibrating through my wall.

He moves with the music, occasionally singing along. The first band finishes and another one starts up. Archer likes this one more, judging by the number of songs he knows the lyrics to. He has a nice voice, and the deep rumble vibrations has me turned on and pushing my ass into his crotch. His fingers brush against the hem of my skirt, teasing me but doing nothing to quench the ache building in my core.

London and Brogan stand next to us in a similar stance. Except Brogan has his arms wrapped around her chest, leaning his head against hers. They’re cute. I’m really happy he’s found someone that’s so good for him.

London catches my eye and smiles. She pulls away from Brogan who gives her a quizzical look. She takes my hand and pulls me with her.

“Where are you going?” Brogan shouts.

“We’ll be right back.”

She doesn’t drop my hand until we get out to the concession area. “You looked like you could use a break from the music.”

“No, it’s great.”

She eyes me skeptically.

“Okay, it’s loud and they’re basically just screaming, right?”

Her laughter echoes down the empty hallway. She walks toward a beer vendor, holding up two fingers to the girl working.

“I find alcohol helps.” She hands me one of the beers and keeps the other for herself.

We walk slowly away, sipping from the bottles.

“How many concerts have you been to with Brogan?”

“Only one other. The three of us went to an 80s rock cover band concert this summer.” Her mouth pulls into a grin. “I bet Archer is extra grateful you’re with us this time.”

“Why?”

“Brogan and I snuck off to have sex in the truck between bands.”

I try to keep from bursting out with laughter and fail. “No, you didn’t.”

“We did.” She shrugs her shoulders up toward her ears. “I have no regrets, but poor Archer. He’s had to third wheel it with us a lot.”

“I don’t think he minds. He adores you.”

“Same. He’s the best.” London pauses a few feet away from the tunnel that leads back to the seats. “You think so too, right?”

“That Archer is the best?”

She nods, staring at me in a frightening sort of way. London’s always been so sweet and nice but right now I get the feeling she’s ready to throw down if I say the wrong thing.

“If I say no are you going to kick my ass?”

Her expression softens and she laughs. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

I laugh along with her, but then she stops suddenly and she’s glaring at me again.

“If you and my brother have kids, you’re going to be great at scaring your kids into telling the truth,” I tell her honestly.

“Don’t sidestep the question. Are you in love with him or what?”

Surprise makes me choke on the next sip of my beer. “Love?”

“I see the way you look at him and him at you.”

“He’s really great and we’re having so much fun.”

She keeps giving me that tough stare. “And?”

“I’m a little in love with him,” I admit finally. Damn she’s good.

London squeals and lunges to hug me, spilling a little of her beer on me in the process. “I knew it. I so knew it.”

“He doesn’t know so you cannot say anything,” I say, suddenly panicking a little. I’ve barely even admitted it to myself.

“I won’t.” She mimes zipping her lips and then breaks out into another huge smile. I can’t believe this same woman was just glaring at me a few seconds ago.

Now that I’ve said the words out loud, my stomach is a bundle of nerves walking back into the concert. Archer and Brogan are standing together, belting out the song with huge smiles on their faces.

London shoots me a knowing grin. Brogan spots us first, opening up his stance and singing directly to her. My gaze moves to Archer. He’s looking my way, no longer singing.

Everything okay? he signs.

Perfect.

I walk right up to him, sling my arms over his shoulders and kiss him. His surprise only has him hesitating for a second before he’s wrapping me up closer and sweeping his tongue into my mouth.

He said kissing was mandatory at this event. I agree. Kissing Archer is my favorite sport. It’s never just a kiss with him. It’s so much more.

My heart hammers in my chest. I want him in a way I’ve never wanted anyone else. It’s beyond a physical need.

I’m not sure how long we kiss, but when the song comes to an end and the noise falls to a dull roar, I pull back. He stares back at me with adoration, almost lazily roaming over my features like he’s trying to memorize the way I look. My insides go soft.

Another song starts up.

“Is this one of your favorites?” I ask.

He shakes his head, attention tuned to my mouth now in that way he does when he’s reading my lips. It never stops surprising me how good Archer is at making me feel heard. Some people would probably attribute it to his hearing loss and him wanting to keep up with conversations, but I think it’s just him. He cares deeply for the people in his life and he makes sure they know it.

Being one of those people he’s let into his circle is special. Which is exactly how he makes me feel. I can only hope I make him feel a fraction of that feeling in return.

“Want to go on a little adventure?” I ask him.

His brows pinch together. “An adventure?”

Nodding, I grab his hand and pull him with me. I stop in front of London and Brogan.

“Can I borrow your truck key, big brother?” I hold my palm out and fight a smile.

He reaches into his pocket and pulls it out before something snaps into place for him. Brogan pulls the key back out of reach from me.

“Wait. Why do you need my truck?” he asks.

“Don’t worry. We aren’t going anywhere. I just want to sit in it for a few minutes.”

My intent hits London and she covers a laugh with one hand. Brogan looks between his fiancée and me. Then he looks to Archer.

“You’re not…” He trails off.

My smile finally breaks free. “At least you have someone to hang with while we’re gone.”

“I don’t need to hear the specifics.” He groans and hands over his keys.

“Thank you,” I yell over the music and pull Archer with me.

When we get outside, he tips his head toward the keys in my fingers and asks, “What was that about?”

“London mentioned they once left you at a concert to go have sex in the truck.” I aim a flirty smile at him. “I thought you might want to get a little payback.”

“Oh shit.” Laughter spills out of him. He tugs me to him and swipes his mouth over mine. “I think that’s the nicest thing anyone’s done for me.”

“I’ve got your back, baby.”

He pulls the tailgate of the truck down and takes a seat. “There’s just one problem.”

“What’s that?”

“There are cameras.” He points, and I swivel around and find the little device, actually several of them.

“Well shit.” I look back to him. “How’d they do it?”

He’s grinning despite the situation. “We were at a different venue. Less security.”

Laughing, I take a seat next to him. “So I pulled you out here for nothing?”

“Nah. I’m glad to have you all to myself, even if it means keeping my hands off of you.”

“I was looking forward to your hands being on me.”

“Me too.” He places his palm across my thigh, fingers splayed out, so they curl around the sides. He tips his head back to the sky and his eyes flutter closed for a moment.

He’s such a beautiful man. Masculine and rough, but beautiful. I rest my head against his shoulder, and he wraps his arm around my waist.

It isn’t what I had in mind, but sitting under the stars and just being with him is still better than almost anything else I can imagine doing right now.

I can just hear the music inside, the guitar and heavy drums. Turning to face Archer, I place my legs over the top of his. The tips of his fingers move under my skirt. Not as high as we both wish they were, but enough to make my stomach flutter with excitement for later.

“I think I could sit with you anywhere, any time and feel like the luckiest guy in the world.”

“Yeah, me too.” Though I had definitely imagined us out here doing something.

“I have something for you.” He shifts so he can reach into his pocket.

“You do?” I ask, even as he pulls out a small gold bracelet.

“It’s not wrapped or anything, but I saw it today and thought of you.”

He drops the jewelry in my hand. I run a fingernail over the thin chain and the small ballet shoe charm.

“You replaced my bracelet.” And it looks way more expensive than the original. I think it’s the first time a man has given me a gift outside of holidays or my birthday, and I’m at a loss for words.

“It’s beautiful.”

He smiles in a relieved kind of way that makes me wonder if he was nervous about giving it to me.

I drape it along my right wrist and clasp it, then hold up my arm to let the charm dangle.

“Thank you.”