Free Sins of My Father (Black Brothers #1) by Lisa Cardiff Page A

smiling over the rim of her glass. I barely restrained the urge to roll my eyes. Here went her test.
    His eyes darted toward Winnie. Then, he focused all his chocolaty, smoldering heat back on me. “It’s not really my type of place, but if Langley wants to stay, I don’t mind. Whatever Langley wants…” His voice trailed off, a suggestive smirk on his face. His lips were made for sweaty nights and sin.
    “Thank God. Let’s get out of this place.” Winnie hopped out of her chair so fast, you’d think she’d won the lottery.
    Archer chuckled. “Tell me how you really feel.”
    “Nine isn’t our usual stomping ground,” I said.
    “I need to make reservations for dinner. Meet me outside in ten minutes.” He handed me a fifty-dollar bill. “Will this cover it?”
    I eyed the money. “You don’t have to pay for our drinks.”
    Winnie snagged the money out of his hand. “If he’s offering, who am I to reject his generosity?”
    Archer’s lips skimmed across my forehead. “See you in a couple minutes.” I watched the back of his head. Even after he disappeared from my line of sight, I could pinpoint his location from the women’s heads boomeranging in his direction.
    “I’m taking off. You guys can go to dinner without me.”
    “What’s wrong?” I asked, searching Winnie’s eyes.
    She smiled and leaned forward, so her mouth was inches from my ear. “I’m in the way. Archer likes you. I mean really likes you.”
    My heart tripped over itself. “How can you tell?”
    “He ran all over town looking for you. He graciously agreed to hang out with you and your friend without complaint.”
    “I’m not sure. I thought Brandon liked me.”
    “No, Brandon liked the idea of you and what you could mean for his career.”
    “Maybe Archer feels the same way.”
    “Not even close. Have you seen the way he looks at you?” She fanned her face. “Within seconds of arriving, he had mentally undressed you at least twice.
    I nearly choked on my drink. “Shut up.”
    “I’m jealous. It was like watching porn, but live.”
    “Did you really say that?”
    “I did.” She kissed me on the cheek as she squeezed my hand. “Have fun and fuck your stepdad.”
    I cringed. “Don’t say that. I think my vodka just reversed course.”
    She rolled her eyes. “Not literally, but who cares what he thinks? He liked Brandon.”
    “So?”
    “Brandon is like the head of the douche cavalry.”
    “The douche cavalry? Are you serious?”
    She shrugged. “Hey, it sounded good in my head. Let’s go find Archer and a taxi for me.”
    “Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?” I leaned into her. “I don’t mind. This was supposed to be a girls’ night out.”
    She scrunched up her face. “Ah, yeah. I’m not lonely enough to spend a Friday night as the third wheel on your date with Mr. Dark, Sexy, and Filthy Rich.”

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER TEN
     
     
    Archer
     
    “If you have a driver, why’d you take a taxi the night we met? Was it his night off or something?” Langley asked as she hopped into the backseat of the black town car. Her slim black skirt slid up her impressively toned legs.
    I could’ve answered her question with a simple confirmation, or I could tell her the truth. I went with the truth. “I sent him home. I wanted to share a taxi with you.”
    Her eyes locked on mine, assessing, contemplating. I loosened my tie and pulled it over my head, dropping it on my briefcase. In the rush to find Langley, I hadn’t bothered to stop home and change my clothes. When the silence lengthened, I braced for an inevitable sassy comment.
    “I’m glad you did.” She smiled. “So what do you have planned for dinner now that Winnie ditched us?”
    I’d have to find a way to thank her friend sometime in the future. I wasn’t opposed to including Winnie in our dinner plans, but I preferred to be alone with Langley.
    “Originally, I planned to take you to The Bar Café in Adams Morgan,