WAS ARCHER KIDDING? Spending a couple nights with him alone anywhere was a dream, let alone at the Plaza Hotel. No need to twist my arm. I’d come willingly…and hopefully more than a few times.
I’d started packing a bag as soon as he texted, trying to keep myself busy as I anxiously awaited his next message.
“Going somewhere?” Travis leaned against the door to my room, watching me fold a pair of pants and set them neatly in my bag.
“Maybe.”
I grabbed another pair of pants off a hanger, even though I didn’t plan on wearing a damn thing if I could help it.
Travis’s eyes narrowed as he watched me add the second pair to my bag. “Don’t you have class tomorrow?”
“Aren’t you the one always telling me to live a little?”
Travis smirked, looking somewhat pleased with himself. “Glad to see you’re finally taking my advice.”
“Yeah, well, it doesn’t happen often, so you should enjoy this moment.”
“Oh, I am.” He seemed content to stand there observing as he crossed his arms. “You gonna tell me where you’re going?”
My mind raced as I tried to think up a good alibi. My thoughts automatically went to Serena, but I knew exactly where she was right then, and that wasn’t going to work. “Just a quick trip upstate with the family.”
When Travis snorted I realized what a shitty excuse that was. Like I’d ever gone on weekend trips with my family, especially one that encompassed a school day.
“You’re a terrible liar, Preston.”
“And you’re incredibly nosy. Don’t you have anywhere else to be?”
“As a matter of fact, I do.” He pushed off the door. “Have fun, man.”
With a wink, he was gone, and I finished packing in silence, waiting for my next instruction.
FILTH:
Meet me in the Plaza lobby, 6 p.m.
I STOOD AT the Pulitzer Fountain across the street to the iconic hotel a few minutes before six, my bag over my shoulder and feeling out of my body with anticipation. Even though the Plaza was a less than twenty-minute walk from my place, it felt like I was about to enter another world. A world I didn’t want the others to know about, to keep us in a private bubble while we were here.
Which was exactly why I’d walked instead of using Scotty. I had no doubt Travis would’ve badgered our poor driver to death to get the details of where he’d taken me.
After checking my phone again, I shoved it deep in my coat pocket and crossed the street. The sidewalk under the entrance awning was packed with people both arriving and departing in cars, and I slipped by them all and hoped I wouldn’t run into anyone I knew. It was unlikely they’d be staying, but the Plaza boasted stunning holiday décor and the champagne bar I knew my mom liked to frequent after shopping all day on Fifth Avenue.
I made my way through the crowd gathering to look at the Christmas trees, keeping my eye out for Archer. It took me more than a minute to spot him, his back to me as he stood at the check-in desk. He was still wearing his wool trench coat, but I would’ve recognized that head full of dark blond hair anywhere.
As I walked toward him, a shock of electricity zipped through me, and like he felt my gaze, Archer glanced over his shoulder. When he caught me heading his way, a sexy smile slowly curved his lips. God, he was gorgeous. It made my stomach flip to know that smile was for me.
The hotel clerk spoke, catching his attention again, and by then I was close enough to hear Archer tell the woman he’d like a couple of dinners sent up to the room.
Just as I was about to join him, a loud voice, tinged with a French accent, said, “Archer Carrington, I thought that was you.”
My eyes snagged on West’s dad, Mr. LaRue, clapping Archer on the shoulder, and instinctively I ducked—right there in the middle of the crowded lobby.
Shit. My heart pounded an erratic rhythm as I searched out a spot to hide without attracting notice. And I would attract Mr. LaRue’s notice if he saw me.
Shit shit shit shit.
I kept my head down as I moved behind a nearby Christmas tree, staying out of view but still close enough that I could see them through the branches.
Turned out, I could make out some of their conversation too.
As Archer looked up at Mr. LaRue, surprise lit his features, but he was somehow able to hide any panic he might’ve been feeling. Which he surely was. Because if that had been me, I would’ve frozen up or melted into the floor. Travis was right—I was a shit liar, even when I didn’t have to open my mouth.
“Jacques,” Archer said, giving him a smooth smile as they shook hands. “You here scoping out the competition?” West’s father was a hotel magnate, specifically for the Waldorf Astorias around the world, including the one I resided in.
He waved a flippant hand. “Just a business meeting too close to the holidays for my taste.” Before he could continue, the hotel clerk apologized for interrupting and slid a piece of paper toward Archer to sign.
“Staying overnight?” Mr. LaRue commented.
Archer paused before signing his name. “Uh, yes. A last-minute decision. My daughter and her friends have commandeered my place for the night, and if you’ve ever been around a group of girls giving a concert in your living room, you’d understand why.”
Mr. LaRue let out a boisterous chuckle, slapping Archer’s back. “Suddenly I’m grateful for Weston throwing his parties at his own place.”
Something like guilt passed over Archer’s face. “Yes, well, I would’ve stayed at the Waldorf, but I find it’s best to give the kids their space.”
The kids. I wanted to snort out a laugh at that, because technically I was included in that group. And Archer was definitely not looking at me like anything less than an equal.
“Oh, I’m not offended, my friend,” Mr. LaRue said. “But you have an escape anytime you need one, yes?”
Archer’s eyes flicked to where I was hiding before he looked back at Mr. LaRue. “I appreciate that.”
“Sir?” the hotel clerk said. “Just to confirm, you wanted the two filets, both medium rare, to be sent up now or later?”
Even with branches blocking much of my view, I could see the slight reddening of Archer’s face, and he wet his lips before responding.
“Let’s say eight thirty.”
The clerk nodded, and Mr. LaRue cocked an impish brow.
“Oh, I see. You’ll be entertaining a guest.”
Archer whipped his head in his friend’s direction as my heart began to pound harder.
“No,” he said quickly. “Nothing like that. I’m just…” He seemed to search for an excuse for why he was ordering two dinners, but he fumbled over what to say, which wasn’t like him at all. He was always overconfident and smooth, but Mr. LaRue’s unexpected appearance had clearly thrown both of us for a loop.
“Yes?” Mr. LaRue said.
“Anemic.”
I had to clap a hand over my mouth to keep from laughing. He couldn’t have just said he was hungry?
Mr. LaRue’s forehead creased. “I’m sorry?”
Archer looked like he wanted to slap himself in the face, but he sighed and said, “Anemic. You know, low iron. Rare in men, but what can I say, I’m unique.”
“Ah.” Mr. LaRue was still looking at him curiously, like he didn’t totally buy it but wasn’t going to argue. “Yes, you are that.”
“Your room key, sir,” the clerk said, sliding a small envelope Archer’s way. “You’re all set. Enjoy your stay with us.”
“Thank you,” Archer said, and when Mr. LaRue didn’t make a move to leave, I wondered how the hell I was going to get into the elevator.
Luckily, I didn’t have to wait long for him to finally get the hint.
“Well, I’ve taken up enough of your time,” he said, smiling at Archer. “Enjoy your night, and I’ll see you at the Winter Ball. Let me know if I can help in any way.”
“I appreciate that, Jacques. Take care.”
Archer closed his hand around the envelope as he watched Mr. LaRue make his way through the room, and the seconds passed by like hours as I held my breath. Damn, that’d been close. Would there be anyone else popping out of the woodwork to surprise us, or was the coast finally clear?
I waited for a signal from Archer, whose eyes were still on Mr. LaRue’s back, and when he turned his head my way, I stepped out from behind the tree.
He didn’t walk toward me, though, instead snapping his eyes toward the bank of elevators before turning on his heel. I waited a few paces, scanning the people around us, before following.
Maybe I should’ve worn a hat or some other disguise, but I’d been so eager to get here that it hadn’t crossed my mind.
Keeping my head down, I waited a couple feet back from Archer until the elevator opened. He stepped inside, and I followed, keeping to the opposite side of the car.
This was the furthest I planned to be away from him for the next two days, though.
The higher the floor, the more the elevator began to clear out, and once a couple got out on the fifteenth floor, we finally had the small space all to ourselves.
It was like a weight lifted off my shoulders the second the doors closed and we began to move again. Now I could look at him without worrying that anyone else would see. And thank God for that, because Archer looked good enough to eat. Fuck the filets he’d ordered for later, because all I wanted on my tongue was every inch of him I could get.
Like he knew what I was thinking, Archer’s expression turned hungry and he reached down to free the buttons of his overcoat. He didn’t say a word as he stared at me, taking me in the same way I did him.
He wasn’t in his usual suit today, but a nice pair of slacks and a black sweater that molded to his athletic frame. That was probably a casual outfit for him, but the man was hot no matter what he was or wasn’t wearing.
My fingers ached to touch him, but I forced myself to stay across the car, knowing once I got my hands on him, it would be game on.
Anticipation had my pulse quickening, and I counted down the seconds. Why was it that time seemed to go slower when you were dying to get somewhere?
One side of Archer’s mouth kicked up, like he could sense my impatience, and when the elevator doors finally opened on our floor, he inclined his head for me to go first.
No one could wipe the smile off my face if they tried.
