Fall For Me Read online

  I went ahead and paid for our breakfast and established a new tab under my name. A few minutes later, I was sitting across from Phoebe. I hadn't been lying when I said I was starving. A corner of my mind hoped that some food would cause this visceral reaction to her to dissipate. Maybe I was just so hungry I was misreading my body’s signals.

  No such luck. A while later, I had finished off my bagel and my egg extravaganza. Every time Phoebe met my eyes, it felt as if sparks shimmered in the air between us.

  “It makes sense that you're a firefighter,” I said as I set my napkin down on the table and took a swallow of my coffee, which was strong and delicious.

  “It does?” Phoebe asked, lifting her hand and twirling a lock of her hair around her fingers.

  I wanted to slide my fingers through her glossy hair before I kissed her senseless. And that mouth of hers? Fuck me. Talk about a mouth made for sin. Her lips were plush, full, and pink. I could imagine just how they would look after a long kiss—swollen and kiss-bitten.

  I forced my mind back to the moment. “Of course. You always loved to be outside, and you had more nerve than I ever did.”

  “I did not.”

  “Oh, you did. Remember that place we used to go swimming in the summer where the water was freezing? You were always first to dive off the rope. I had to get up my nerve to do it after you.”

  Phoebe threw her head back with a laugh. Fuck me, again. The sound of her laughter—raspy and throaty—went straight to my balls. Not a good place. I shifted in my seat, telling myself this attraction would pass.

  “I do like my job. I don't even really think of it as a job. I won't be able to do it forever, but it works for now,” she replied, hopefully unaware of my distracted state.

  “What do you plan to do after that?”

  “I don't know. I'll have to figure it out.”

  “You went to college, right?”

  “Yup. I planned ahead and majored in wildlife biology.”

  “You probably have an opinion about my family’s mine.” I knew I was walking into a hornet’s nest with public opinion about the old mine, but I hoped my plans would alleviate the concerns.

  “Of course, I do. Not many people in Alaska want to see that mine open again. Is that why you're here?” Her blue eyes searched mine.

  “Yes, but it’s not what you think, which brings me back to my other plan.”

  “What plan?”

  “The one to get back at your shitty best friend who’s marrying your ex. See, if I'd stayed here, we would have been best friends in high school.”

  “I know.” She traced her fingertip in a meandering circle around her coffee mug.

  “Who is this Tasha, and how come I don't remember her?”

  “She moved here in seventh grade. Her family is still here. That's why the wedding's happening here. I appreciate your offer, but don’t you think it’s a bit much?”

  “Maybe, but it’s not just for that. If I get married, I'll be able to take control of this entire branch of the business and shut the mine down. I’m thinking we get married the day before your ex-friend’s wedding and then go as guests to hers.”

  Phoebe's eyes widened. “What?! Archer, that's insane. No one will believe it.”

  “Why not? We were best friends in elementary school. It's not like we didn't know each other before. We can totally pull off a whirlwind courtship. I normally don’t care that my family tends to draw gossip, but let’s use that to our advantage and completely show him up. We'll even make it a society wedding.”

  “Is there such a thing as a society wedding in Willow Brook?” Phoebe eyed me dubiously.

  “We can make it one. Let's do it.”

  “It's just my pride,” she said quietly.

  “I know, but you can do me a favor and do something for the environment and show up your ex and your ex-friend all at once.”

  A slow smile stretched across her face. “You know what? You're right. It’s totally worth it. I'm all about saving the environment and my pride at the same time. And we're friends. We can do this. I'm in.”

  Chapter Four

  Phoebe

  “You’re doing what?” Madison asked, her eyes going wide.

  “What?” I countered, feeling my defensiveness rise swiftly.

  Madison circled her hand in the air. “Can you clarify what you just said?”

  “Archer’s an old friend. He was my best friend when we were kids. I completely trust him, and he needs to get married so he can take over the mine and close it down.”

  “So, by marrying him, you're sort of saving the world?” My friend’s lips twitched at the corners as she eyed me incredulously.

  “I mean, yeah,” I offered with a shrug. Madison was still studying me skeptically, so I pressed ahead. “And then I'm going to bring him as my plus-one to Tasha’s wedding. It’ll be a ‘kill two birds with one stone’ kind of thing.”

  Madison pressed her lips together, her eyes flicking down toward the table before she lifted her coffee cup, took a swallow, and met my gaze again. We were at Firehouse Café because it was our favorite place to meet. “And you say you're not upset over your ex?”

  “Well, I don't want the guy, but he cheated on me with my best friend, and that sucks.”

  I was starting to feel ridiculous when it all made so much sense when I’d talked with Archer about it. I'd even felt like I was doing something socially responsible.

  “I get it. I definitely do. That is the worst kind of move a friend could pull.”

  “I suppose it’s just about my pride.”

  Her lips curled into a full smile. “Well, you picked a good man to show her up with. Even I know who the Cannon family is. They own a massive conglomerate, and it all started as a small family business. I can’t even believe they used to live here.”

  “Fireweed Industries started near Juneau, and the family owns land in Willow Brook. That’s how they ended up here,” I explained.

  “Explain to me how marrying Archer will make it so he can close the mine? I’m a little lost on that.”

  “In order for Archer to take over management of this part of the family company, he has to get married. He plans to shut down the mine and reconfigure the operation entirely.”

  Madison blinked. “That is kind of cool,” she said with another slow smile.

  “I'm all about the environment,” I said solemnly.

  Madison sputtered on a sip of coffee with her laughter. Just then, the door to the café opened, announcing the arrival of Madison's boyfriend with a cheerful jingle of the bell. “Graham's here,” I commented, gesturing toward the door.

  Her head whipped toward the entrance. “Damn, you've got it bad,” I teased.

  When she looked back toward me, her cheeks were flushed. “I know.” She shook her head slowly. “I don't usually get like this about guys.”

  “You sure do with Graham.”

  “Okay, before Graham, I didn't do that. Not even when I was engaged before.”

  “You were engaged? How did I miss this?”

  Madison let out a soft sigh. “We broke up a year before I even moved here. Meeting Graham showed me I wasn't in love before. We had started dating in college, and he fit in with the life I thought I wanted.” She waved a hand gracefully through the air.

  Everything Madison did was graceful. She was beautiful—with glossy dark hair and pretty hazel eyes. She somehow managed to pull off that put-together look without seeming to put much effort into it. She was a stunner. Considering that I was a firefighter and prone to dressing casually, I could feel frumpy around her. Although I did know how to dress up when necessary.

  “You wouldn't have liked me before,” she finally said.

  Cocking my head to the side, I gave her a long look. “It sounds like you just hadn't figured yourself out yet. That doesn't usually happen when you're younger.”

  “You think? You seem to know who you are pretty well. You went to college, you have good friends, and you came
back home. You're a firefighter, and it completely suits you.”

  “I know, but it’s not that simple. You were already in a career you loved before you moved here. Remind me what you call your job?”

  “I’m an actuarian. It’s a fancy way of saying an accountant who assesses risk. I did know my career path early, and I love it, but I was pretty shallow. My life had to blow up for me to figure that shit out. Anyway, back to Archer, have you seen him yet?”

  I nodded quickly. “He's here in town.”

  Just then, Graham arrived beside our table, immediately putting his big palm on Madison’s shoulder and leaning down to press a kiss on her cheek. She flushed again when she looked up at him. “Hey.”

  “Hey, how's it going?” he asked.

  “Well, since I saw you half an hour ago, I drove to town, and now I'm getting coffee with Phoebe. She, however, is going to save the environment,” Madison offered dryly.

  Graham’s alert gaze shifted to me. “Really? How?” A grin teased at the corners of his mouth when he glanced back and forth between me and Madison, who was looking a little too cheerful and amused by my situation.

  “It’s complicated, but trust me, it will work,” I said firmly.

  Graham chuckled. “Okay then. Well, I’m headed out to help Chase cut down some trees.”

  “Seriously? On your day off?” I pressed. “Are you guys working today?”

  Madison laughed as she looked up at him. “Even when he’s not officially working, he’s working.”

  “Chase is planning to build a house, so I’m helping him clear the land,” Graham explained with a shrug.

  “Oh, good. I thought maybe you were secretly working, and I should be at the station.”

  “I’m not that kind of boss,” he said as he shook his head.

  “All right, well, have fun cutting trees,” I offered.

  “You two enjoy your coffee.”

  “Oh, we will. Also, we’re getting drinks tonight, so you’re on your own for dinner,” Madison said with a grin.

  “Pizza, then,” he replied with a wink. Graham was so enamored with Madison that even though he’d kissed her maybe three minutes ago, he gave her another lingering kiss.

  I looked away, taking several sips of my coffee and waving when he finally departed.

  “When do I get to meet Archer?” Madison asked.

  “I'm not sure. We haven't worked out all the details. But he's around town, so you’ll see him soon enough.”

  “Where's he staying?”

  “At a hotel in Anchorage,” Janet chimed in when she paused by our table.

  I hadn’t even known that but wasn’t about to let on. “Oh, really?” Madison prompted.

  Janet nodded. “He’s airing out his family's old home and doing some upgrades on it. As far as I know, he's planning to talk to Lucy and Amelia about that. That house has just been sitting there all this time.”

  “It’s been empty the whole time?” I prompted, surprised at this.

  “Sure has,” Janet replied. “They moved away, but they still own it.”

  “How old was I in fifth grade?” I mused.

  “I think most kids turn eleven in fifth grade,” Madison offered.

  I counted with my fingertips. “I'm about to turn thirty. Oh my god, I never worried about being thirty,” I said.

  “Well, don't worry about it now,” Janet offered with an airy wave. “Honey, I'm pushing seventy, and I promise the older you get, the better it is.”

  “You are not almost seventy,” Madison breathed, her eyes wide as she looked up at Janet.

  “Yes, I am.” Janet was laughing as she walked off.

  I looked back over at Madison. “I'm sure you'll see Archer soon.”

  “Well, the big question is, are you going to have to fake marry somebody unattractive?” she asked slyly.

  “Nope. He's way too attractive if you ask me.”

  Just then, as if the universe had set out to prove a point, the door to the café opened again. Seeing as I had a line of sight, I reflexively glanced over just as Archer came walking in. Madison followed my gaze, and heat flashed into my cheeks.

  “Well, well, well. Oh, my. No wonder you're willing to go for it. He is an eyeful,” she said bluntly.

  “Madison!” I hissed.

  Archer’s gaze landed on us, and he immediately veered in our direction. My belly swooped

  Chapter Five

  Archer

  I'd had a good long talk with myself last night. Most of it consisted of trying to convince myself I didn't really think Phoebe was hot. And further, that my fiery reaction to her had solely been because I'd been starving and discombobulated after my overnight flight. It must’ve been a fluke because I hadn’t seen her in a long time, and it stirred up emotions because she had been my best friend when we were little.

  So much for that personal lecture. The second I laid eyes on her, my feet veered toward her as if she had a leash attached to me and was pulling me across the room. Except the leash was electrified and sent a current sizzling through me. She was sitting at a table with a woman who—there was no other way to put it—was stunning. I tried to focus on the woman with her—her dark hair, big hazel eyes, and nice manicure. All of it was a gorgeous package, and I felt nothing, not even the slightest attraction.

  Stopping by the table, I risked looking at Phoebe again. The instant my eyes connected with hers, it felt as if my body was coming out of hibernation. Fiery hot prickles raced over my skin, and I didn't want to look away.

  “Hey, Archer,” she said with one of her warm smiles as she gestured to the woman across from her. “This is my friend Madison.” With a quick glance at Madison, she added, “And this is Archer.”

  I looked over at Madison, dipping my chin in acknowledgment. “Nice to meet you. Phoebe's one of my oldest friends, so any friend of hers is a friend of mine.”

  Madison looked more amused than I would have expected. “Nice to meet you. I was just getting the news from Phoebe.”

  “Oh?” Considering that I had only persuaded Phoebe to go along with my plan yesterday, we hadn't gone over the details and whether or not we should discuss it with anyone. I wasn't sure if that was what Madison referenced.

  “Archer?” Phoebe's eyes met mine. I saw the question there, followed by a hint of mirth. Phoebe had always had a sly streak. Apparently, she had decided she was just going to run with this.

  “Yeah?” I prompted.

  “I was telling her we were engaged,” she explained.

  “I think it's incredible. It's a love story.” Madison pressed her palm over her chest dramatically. “Childhood best friends reuniting. I love it,” she breathed.

  “I know. It's amazing,” Phoebe offered.

  “When's the wedding?” Madison asked brightly, her eyes bouncing back and forth between us. She looked up at me, adding, “Phoebe didn’t give me all the details.”

  No shit. We didn’t have all the details. All I knew was I wanted to make it happen before her friend got married. Glancing at Phoebe, I arched a brow in question.

  “Valentine's Day,” she offered.

  “Oh, that's so romantic,” Madison commented.

  Janet appeared beside me. “What's so romantic?” she asked.

  “Haven't you heard? Archer and Phoebe are engaged, and they're getting married on Valentine's Day.” Madison eyed me with a sly glint.

  Janet wasn't stupid, so I knew she sensed something was up, but she didn't miss a beat. She looked from me to Madison to Phoebe, back to me, and then Phoebe again before she pulled me into a big hug. “Oh, my gosh! I am so excited!” She stepped away. “You were such a sweet boy when you were kids, and you two were the best kind of friends.”

  When I looked toward Phoebe, she bit her lip. The second her teeth dented that plush surface, a jolt of lust sizzled straight to my cock. Fuck me. I thought this would be easy, but this was going to be hard in more ways than one. If I was going to convince my family, I couldn't do this ha
lf-ass.

  “I love it!” Janet continued. “You can have the reception here if you'd like. Although…” She paused, her eyes arcing to me. “You might be a little too rich for this place.”

  “Absolutely not. Janet, you know my parents. They’re still as down to earth as ever,” I replied.

  “I know, but I think you have a lot more money now,” she offered bluntly.

  I shrugged. I didn't like to talk about money but not because I hated money. My family was wealthy. Money could make things get weird and, on occasion, ugly, so I preferred not to let it define my life. “Phoebe and I haven’t had much time to plan, so we would love to take you up on it.”

  Janet smiled. “One way or another. Maybe the bridal shower or something else.” She paused when someone called her name. “I need to get back to the counter.”

  She squeezed my shoulders before she hurried away. Madison stood from the table, slipping into a fitted down jacket. “I need to get going. Why don't you take my seat?” She looked toward Phoebe. “I'll see you tonight at Wildlands.”

  Phoebe nodded. “You got it!”

  I slipped into the chair across from Phoebe as Madison walked off. “I need to order coffee.”

  “I need to use the restroom. Tell me what you want, and I'll order it at the counter on my way back,” she offered.

  “A triple shot Americano. Can you order an egg extravaganza and a smoked salmon cream cheese bagel too?”

  “Both again?” Phoebe teased as she stood.

  “I like to eat. You remember that, right?”

  “I do.” She stopped, the smile slipping from her face. “I missed you, Archer.”

  I suddenly felt pummeled by memories. We'd had so much fun as kids. We were always up to something, whether it be tromping through the woods, walking on the beach, digging for clams, or fishing. All of it had been fun and easy. Now, I had proposed this crazy plan, and a part of me feared I might ruin one of the best friendships I’d had. I just hoped I could stay sensible.

  “I missed you too, Phoebe,” I said honestly. “If we hadn't moved away before the era of smartphones and social media, I know we would have stayed in better touch.”