Comeback (The Holland Brothers Book 3)

“Try on the red one,” I say, pointing to the dress Olivia holds in her right hand. In her other, she has a basic black one that she wears on every first date. It’s nice but doesn’t do justice to her killer body. And so far—unlucky.

“Red feels like too much for a movie date.”

“You’re going to the movies?” I ask, unable to hide my surprise.

“It’s a private screening. His friend produced the movie or directed.” She moves around her bedroom to stand in front of the floor-length mirror, holding the dress in front of her body.

She shakes her head and puts it back in her closet without trying it on. “I’m sticking with the black dress. If he doesn’t like me in this, he won’t like me in my ratty sweats.”

“You’ll look stunning no matter what.” I move to lie on her bed. I missed this. Hanging out in her room, talking, trying on clothes.

“Maybe I should just call it off now. Hanging with you and Greer sounds less stressful. Plus, I could put on my sweats.”

“No way. We’re going to eat chicken nuggets and french fries and too much ice cream while watching princess movies.”

“That sounds pretty perfect.” Olivia laughs as she sits down beside me. I can feel the weight of her stress about this date. I don’t know why she stresses. If the date doesn’t go great, it’s all the guy’s fault—not hers. She’s incredible. And I’m not just saying that because I’m her best friend.

“I don’t know how many more bad dates I can go on. Was it always this hard?” She puts her head in my lap. “I used to think about the days when Greer would be old enough that I could make some time for myself again and now it all feels like a huge waste of time. Maybe I missed my dating prime.”

“You did not.” I laugh softly but run my fingers through her hair in a reassuring manner. “You’re twenty-three, not one hundred.”

She groans again as if my words did nothing to soothe her. “I thought I was going to have my whole life figured out by this age.”

“We all did,” I assure her.

“Now look at us.”

“Hey, I have no complaints on how I’m going to spend my evening.”

“That’s because when I get back, you’re going home to your hot man.”

My lips pull into a wide grin. Yes, yes, I am. “Don’t forget about the chicken nuggets and ice cream.”

She laughs, but it sounds strained.

“Come on. Tonight could be great. This guy, what’s his name again?”

“Bradley.”

“Bradley could sweep you off your feet, and by Christmastime, Greer will have a new daddy.”

An unladylike snort leaves her as she sits up. “I don’t know about that. Greer is still holding out hope for her real daddy to stop being such a selfish prick.”

“She deserves better,” I say, anger filling me at the thought of anyone leaving precious Greer and not wanting to be in her life. I get that parenting is different than being the fun aunt who babysits and lets you eat too much bad food.

“Ugh. Make me feel better. Tell me something terrible about Archer.” Olivia moves to her mirror with her makeup bag.

“I’m sorry. If there is anything terrible, I haven’t found it yet.”

She shoots me a smile over her shoulder. “Wow. Nothing?”

“He’s sweet, attentive, an unbelievable kisser…” I trail off, continuing to list a dozen more things I adore about him in my head. The man is not only incredibly considerate in his everyday actions, he’s the most attentive guy I’ve ever slept with. It’s like he doesn’t enjoy sex unless I do. What a novel concept.

When I glance up, Olivia is fighting a laugh.

“You’ve got it so bad.” Her lips pull into a wide smile.

There’s really no use in denying it. Olivia knows me too well to believe me if I lied anyway.

“I do, but it’s still new and casual, so we’re keeping that between us.”

This time she doesn’t hold back her laughter. “I see. Playing it cool until you have the talk about it being more serious?”

“I don’t even know if he wants serious.”

“Have you asked him?” Olivia coats her lips in a fiery red.

“No. I’m waiting for him to bring it up.”

She wipes off the lipstick and reaches for a more neutral shade. “Maybe he’s waiting for you to bring it up.”

“Oh yes, guys love it when women want to talk about relationship stuff.”

“I get the feeling Archer is different. Or at least, different when it comes to you.”

She turns to face me. Her makeup is simple, but she’s already stunning. “How do I look?”

“Hot. Like super hot.”

She laughs off my compliment.

“We’re both princesses,” Greer says from the doorway. She’s wearing her Princess Peach costume from last Halloween.

“Oh no. I forgot my princess dress!” I say with an exaggerated pout that turns into a grin at my favorite five-year-old.

“You can wear my Elsa tiara, Auntie Brina.”

“Oh, thank goodness.” I grin at her and get up from the bed.

The three of us head out to the living room of the apartment where Greer’s princess costume supplies are strewn around.

“What happened in here?” Olivia asks, taking it in with wide eyes.

“I brought out all my dresses for the princess fashion show.”

Olivia glances from her daughter to me with an amused expression.

“And we’ll put everything away when we’re done. Won’t we?” I nod and Greer reluctantly does the same.

With a small laugh, Olivia grabs her purse and then goes to Greer and squats down. “Be good for Aunt Sabrina. Don’t stay up too late. And don’t eat so much that you hurt your stomach.”

There’s a little flicker of sadness on Greer’s face as she seems to realize her mother’s impending departure. I’ve stayed with Greer before, so I know she’ll be fine, but she adores her mom more than anyone else in the world.

“Love you, jellybean.” They embrace and then Olivia stands. Greer goes back to her mountain of costumes, and I walk Olivia to the door.

“Text me if you need anything,” she says.

“I won’t. We’ll be fine.”

“Okay, then text me pictures of the princess fashion show or I’ll feel left out.”

Laughing, I hug her. “You got it.”

With one more hesitant look at her daughter, she heads out the door.

Three hours later, Greer and I have eaten an entire package of dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets, shared a very large bowl of strawberry ice cream, and tried on every single princess dress, tiara, and accessory she owns.

A knock on the apartment door interrupts our second screening of Moana. I go silent and wait for it again. When it comes, I pull myself up from our blanket fort.

“This is the best part!” Greer protests.

“I’ll be right back.” I cross over quickly to the front door and pull it wide, expecting UPS or Amazon.

“What are you doing here?” I ask as I stare at Archer standing in the hallway.

His gaze rakes over me and his lips pull apart, flashing a sexy smirk. I lift a hand to the tiara perched on top of my head. I’m also wearing a tulle skirt and about ten beaded necklaces. Oh, and how could I forget the lipstick and blush that Greer decided we needed.

“I thought you might need some help babysitting, but I see you have everything under control.”

“We’re having a princess party.” I think I’m still in shock because I just stare at him. He’s in jeans and a Henley with a navy Mavericks hat.

He steps close and brushes a kiss to my lips. “You’re a very pretty princess.” The gruffness in his voice makes my stomach flip. “And I missed the hell out of you so please say it’s okay I’m here.”

“It’s okay. More than okay.” I finally snap out of it and wrap my arms around his neck. I breathe him in. How is it possible to miss someone so much in such a short amount of time? He kisses me again, but this time we’re interrupted by Greer.

“Aunt Brina?” Her sweet voice is hesitant as she calls for me. Oops, forgot about the child. I step away from Archer and turn to her.

“We have a guest.”

She stands up in the middle of our fort. We pulled several blankets and all the pillows to make a cozy spot for watching the movies. I can’t guess what her reaction is going to be. With her dad out of the picture, she doesn’t have a lot of men Archer’s age hanging around. Olivia is very careful about the guys she dates and who she lets meet her daughter.

Archer leaves me and walks right up to her, squatting down at eye-level.

“Hey, I’m Archer.” He holds out a big hand to her. “Remember me?”

She eyes it wearily. “You’re the guy that said he wasn’t Aunt Brina’s boyfriend.”

I open my mouth to save him, but Archer beats me. “I wised up and took your advice.”

“You did?” She swivels her head to me and then back.

“Yep. And she told me you were having the best princess party. I had to come see for myself. Is that okay?”

She shrugs one shoulder. “I guess so. Do you like Moana?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never seen it.”

Her eyes go comically wide. “You haven’t?”

He shakes his head. “Is it any good?”

“She isn’t a princess, but she’s friends with the ocean.”

“Ooh.” Archer looks like he has no idea what to say to that, but she takes his hand finally and leads him over to her costumes.

In minutes, she has him decked out in necklaces and a tiara on his head. Archer is a good sport, even when she asks about his hearing aids.

“What are they?” she asks as he takes off his hat and adjusts the crown on top of his head.

“They help me hear.”

“Do I need them?” She places both hands over her own ears.

“Not unless you can’t hear without them. Can you hear me?”

She nods.

“What about now?” he asks in a whisper.

She nods again.

“I think you’re good.”

Greer drops it after that and while she catches him up on Moana, I text Olivia to see how her date is going and to let her know Archer is here.

When I rejoin them, Greer has pulled my boyfriend down into the fort and is sitting next to him, explaining everything on the screen.

As I approach, he looks up at me and flashes a sheepish grin.

“Aren’t you a pretty princess,” I say.

“Damn straight.”

My brows lift and he coughs, wide eyes glancing over to Greer.

“You said a bad word,” she supplies helpfully.

“Oops. Sorry.” He smiles softly. “Can I still be a pretty princess?”

She thinks for a moment. “I don’t see why not. My mom says sometimes bad words slip out on accident. I bet even princesses slip up sometimes too.”

We watch in silence for a while. Greer is captivated and Archer sneaks a glance at me wearing a sexy smile.

When a big storm with lightning and ominous music happens on screen, Greer climbs farther onto his lap. She’s basically sitting on him at this point. And she stays there until the movie is over.

Her eyes are barely open until the credits roll and then she snaps to attention.

“Can we watch it again?!” she pleads.

“Not tonight.” I stop the movie. “Go brush your teeth and get changed for bed, munchkin.”

“Do I have to?” Her bright green eyes get all big and sweet. I have no idea how her mother stays strong all the time.

I bop her on the nose. “Yep. Princesses need sleep.”

She lets out a sigh and heads toward the bathroom with her shoulders slumped and her long gown trailing behind her like a train.

“Cute kid,” Archer says when the water starts in the bathroom.

“Yeah. The cutest.” And speaking of the cutest, damn he looks good. Even dressed up in Greer’s princess accessories. No, especially dressed up. I can’t believe he was so chill about it all. My heart is officially a puddle for this man.

“You’re good with her.” I tug at the beaded necklaces wrapped around his wrist and he uses the opportunity to capture my hand and thread our fingers together.

“She’s fun.”

“Do you want kids someday?” I ask, then realize that might be a weird question to ask someone you just started dating. If he’s freaked out though, he doesn’t show it.

His brows pinch together. “I’m not sure. I think so.”

“You haven’t thought about it?”

“I guess I haven’t really.” He brings our joined hands up and then tugs me closer, brushing his lips over mine before asking, “What about you?”

“Yeah. I do. Not soon or anything, but someday. I think I want to adopt like my parents did.”

One side of his smile quirks higher. “Really?”

I nod.

“You’re a good human, Sabrina Whitlock.”

His words warm my insides. “Because I want to adopt?”

“One of the many reasons.”

“Is that something you’d be okay with?” I ask. I guess we’ve moved past this being an awkward conversation, so I might as well know if we’re compatible in that area.

“Absolutely,” he says with so little thought that I’m not sure I believe him. Adopting is a big deal and lots of people decide against it or maybe never consider it at all.

Archer reaches up and brushes my hair away from my face, then straightens my tiara.

“You haven’t thought about having kids, but you know how you feel about adoption?” I ask, trying to make sense of his certainty on the subject. “Sorry, I’m just trying to understand. It’s such a big thing to be so sure.”

“It isn’t that I’ve never thought about kids, but it always felt like this thing that could happen in the future. You know, find the perfect girl, get married, have some babies.”

I chuckle softly. “Just like that, huh?”

He wears a wolfish grin that makes my stomach flip. “I checked off the first one, so I guess the others aren’t so far-fetched anymore.”

If I were perfect, I’d know what to say to that. God, he’s just so…unbelievable.

“As for adoption, my mom didn’t officially adopt Brogan or anything, but she might as well have. And it was the best thing that ever happened to me. To our whole family.”

“Right.” I feel like an idiot for not considering that sooner. Archer wasn’t adopted, but he knows what it’s like to welcome someone into his family that isn’t related by blood.

I bring my free hand up to cup his cheek. He hasn’t shaved for a day or two and his stubble is rough under my palm. “You’re kind of perfect too.”

His big, cocky grin returns. “Obviously.”

His mouth crashes down over mine, but before I can fully devour him, Greer comes running back out.

“All done!” she proclaims and weasels her way between us, sitting so she’s half on my lap and half on Archer’s lap. She has two of her very favorite princess books on her lap. Okay, technically they’re my favorites. She has special books she reads with her mom and ones she saves to read with me. She has two dancing cat books that she only ever wants me to read her.

“Can Archer read to me tonight?” she asks me. I try not to feel betrayed. I guess I’m not the only one that thinks he’s perfect.

“You’ll have to ask him.”

Greer and I glance over at Archer together.

“Will you read us a bedtime story?” I ask and sign in case he didn’t catch her question the first time.

His mouth opens and a flash of panic crosses his face for just a moment before he recovers. He smiles at Greer. “Only if you promise to help me sound out the really big words.”

She giggles. “I can’t read yet.”

“Oh no,” he whines, really selling it. “Well, I guess maybe Sabrina can help.”

“She’s a really good reader.” Greer nods enthusiastically and Archer meets my gaze over her head.

Pride swells in my chest. Greer’s opinion is top tier in my book.

“Well, challenge accepted.” Archer holds out his hand and Greer places the book in it.

Thirty minutes later, Archer has read my favorite books, plus six others. I’m as captivated as Greer. She’s fighting sleep to keep listening to him. Her eyes are barely open, but every time he stops talking, they fly open. She’s also fully placed herself on his lap now.

He looks pretty great with a little kid half-asleep in his arms.

I stand and motion for him to do the same. He stops reading and I quickly sign, Keep reading!

He does, somehow managing to balance the book and Greer while getting to his feet. I lead him to her room. I turn on her side lamp and pull back the covers, then turn to take a now fully asleep kid from him.

“You look real good right now,” I tell him.

He winks and I take her carefully from his arms. She wraps her arms around my neck. “Night, Aunt Brina.”

My heart squeezes. “Night, munchkin.”

I kiss her forehead and place her down on her bed and pull the blanket up. Then Archer and I creep out of her room quietly, and I close the door most of the way, leaving it open just a crack.

I rest my back against the wall. It always feels like a major accomplishment getting her to bed. Archer blows out a breath and runs a hand through his hair, forgetting the tiara and sending it askew. He takes it off and holds it in his fingers.

“How many books does that kid own?”

“Many, many more. Sometimes we have to read her favorites twice.”

He brings a hand up to his throat and lifts his chin. “I think I was one story away from losing my voice.”

“Oh, you poor thing.” I step closer and drape my arms around his shoulders.

Archer wears a satisfied smirk as I bring my lips to his.

“What can I do to help?” I murmur the question as he curls an arm around my waist.

He hums, nips my bottom lip, and then pushes me back against the wall.

“You’re a very pretty princess.” His gruff voice has a direct line to my pussy.

I wrap one leg around his waist, and he nudges farther between my legs. My eyes flutter closed, and I revel in the sensations. His touch alone is enough to have me aching for him.

I’m vaguely aware of a noise somewhere in the apartment, but it isn’t until Olivia clears her throat that I open my eyes. My best friend stands just inside the front door with an amused expression on her face.

I squeeze Archer’s bicep. He hasn’t heard her come in and is still lavishing my neck, sucking and biting and sending goosebumps across my skin. He looks up lazily. At my expression, he glances behind us.

Olivia waves at him.

“Oh shit,” he mutters quietly.

Laughing, I extract myself from him. “Hey. You’re back early. We just got Greer down for bed.”

She goes straight for the refrigerator, opens the freezer, and pulls out a pint of ice cream. Next she goes to the silverware drawer and gets a giant spoon.

“Uh oh,” I say, reading the signs of what must have been a terrible date. “That bad?”

“Worse.” She shovels a big scoop of chocolate ice cream. It’s so big she can barely fit it in her mouth.

Archer and I approach. I go to the drawer and get a spoon for myself. No one should have to eat their feelings alone. Archer hangs back and glances away like he’s trying to give us privacy as I pull myself to sit on the counter beside her.

“What happened?” I ask her.

She takes another bite and passes me the container before answering. “He spent the entire night flirting with other women in front of me, then when it was time to go, he started really laying on the charm. ‘You’re so beautiful.’ ‘I had such a great time tonight.’ ‘What do you say we go back to my place. I have a feeling we’d have really great chemistry.’” She makes a gagging sound. “I should have worn the red dress. Maybe he wouldn’t have been hitting on other women all night.”

“Screw him. You’re hot. Him flirting with other women has nothing to do with you and everything to do with his self-esteem issues.”

She makes a harrumph noise.

“Tell her she’s hot.” I nudge Archer, then sign the words in case he missed it the first time.

His brows lift and he looks from me to Olivia and back like he’s certain this is a trap.

“You are very hot,” he tells her, but he’s not exactly selling it.

“Superhot,” I add.

“Yeah, well, this superhot woman is not going out on another date for a very long time. I can’t take it. It’s exhausting.” She finally lets out a long exhale and I can tell she’s successfully brushing off the bad night. At least a little. “How was Greer?”

“A perfect angel as always.”

“How many books did she make you read at bedtime?”

“None.”

Olivia stops with the spoon halfway to her mouth. “None?”

I fight a smile. “She didn’t make me read any, but Archer had to read fourteen books.”

Olivia’s gaze slides to my boyfriend. My boyfriend—that’s something I still need to tell her.

“She’s a real cute kid,” he says, chuckling softly.

“I’m impressed. It usually takes her awhile to warm up to men,” Olivia says.

Archer’s face turns a soft shade of pink.

I manage to get one more scoop of ice cream before she puts the top on. “Okay. I’m not eating any more calories because of that guy. This dress already feels like it’s going to pop at the seams.”

She puts the ice cream in the freezer and our spoons in the dishwasher.

“Thank you for tonight.” She walks to me, and I hop down from the counter and hug her.

“Any time. We had fun.”

“Yes, I saw.”

“Sorry.” I chuckle. Archer smiles a little sheepish and a little cocky. He wraps both arms around my waist and I nuzzle into him.

“Don’t be. That’s more action than this place has seen in a while.”

“Mom?” Greer’s voice calls from her room.

Olivia smiles at us again as she heads to check on her daughter.

“We’re going to pick up and then get out of here,” I say.

“Leave it. I’ll do it tomorrow.”

“No way.”

“If you won’t let me pay you, then you can’t be cleaning my house in addition to babysitting.” She points a no-nonsense stare at me.

“Fine,” I relent. “Lunch tomorrow?”

“Yeah, I’ll swing by the studio.” She nods, then glances at Archer. “Better get out of here before she makes you read twenty more books.”

Archer’s body shakes with quiet laughter. “Nice to see you again.”

We grab our things and leave. As soon as we’re out the door, Archer pulls me back to him and drops his mouth to mine.

“Come home with me?” he asks between kisses.

“I do live there.”

“Yeah, I know, but stay with me. I want to fall asleep with you in my arms and wake up the same way.”

My stomach does that funny swoop thing again. “Okay, boyfriend.”

His smirk reappears and he nips at my bottom lip. “I can’t wait to feel you scream that later.”