Later that night Archer sat in a private nook on one of the upper decks with Tosin, Miguel, and Banks. They huddled around a table with tons of documents scattered across it. Who could have known it would require this much paperwork to set his plans in motion?

A bunch of empty beer bottles made perfect paperweights, warding off the breezes that kept getting stronger the longer they hung out. He did his part to help by draining another one then plunking it on top of the contract he’d just signed.

Away from city lights, the night sky sparkled as if it were littered with the diamonds they hoped to find when they could explore the shipwreck further. They’d spent the afternoon taking pictures and documenting the exact coordinates of the visible portions. Then they’d agreed it was best to take off, heading back to Bonaire for the end of their guests’ stay.

The last thing they wanted to do was tip anyone off about what was waiting beneath the waves. If they weren’t careful, treasure hunters would swarm the site, compromising the integrity of the find and cherry-picking valuable items.

They would have to keep the secret safe for the few weeks it would take to have the Banks Foundation file a claim, get any necessary permits, and organize an official salvage operation as one of its divisions. Now that most of their business was wrapped up, Archer couldn’t wait for Waverly to finish the massage he’d convinced her to get so that he could talk to the guys alone about their future.

Five more minutes, then he’d go search her out.

“I have one last thing I want to ask you all.” Archer scanned the face of each man around the table. “We’re joint owners here, so I don’t have the authority to give our shit away, but with my portion of the treasure proceeds, I’d like to buy our helicopter from the Divemaster Project.”

It wasn’t too hard to figure out what he might intend to do with one of those.

“Wow, that’s a hell of a Valentine’s Day gift. Are you in loooooove, Archie?” Tosin teased him as he had known the guy wouldn’t be able to resist doing.

“I—” Of course he loved Waverly. Loving someone and being in love with them were two different things, though. And he hadn’t said those words out loud to anyone yet. Not even himself.

Banks smiled at him.

“Yeah. Have been since I was eighteen, I think.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Here’s the thing. The same way I didn’t want you guys to feel stuck here, I’m having the same issue with her.”

“She doesn’t like working for her boyfriend?” Miguel asked. “I guess I can understand that.”

“Waverly doesn’t have a problem with it so much as I do.” He cleared his throat. “I was hoping I could give her the helicopter, then we could hire her as an independent company to run it. Fair market value on the contract.”

“You know, she could decide to take off.” Miguel pointed out the obvious. It didn’t make Archer’s leg stop jittering, either.

“Uh huh. But I’m hoping she won’t.” He shrugged.

Banks came to his rescue. “I’d say that’s a safe bet, Archie.”

“I haven’t said anything to her about it yet. So can we keep it on the down low until I find the right time?” He rubbed his hand over his mouth and chin. “She can be kind of stubborn about stuff like that sometimes.”

The guys laughed at his understatement.

“You know we’re happy for you, seriously.” Tosin slammed the rest of his beer, then said, “I just want you to be sure, Archer. This is a lot all at once. Our lives have completely changed and—”

“Thanks, but I’m positive.”

“If it’s the real thing, taking some more time to think things over isn’t going to change the outcome,” Miguel added.

Archer found himself grinding his teeth. He knew they meant well, but, what the hell? “She’s the perfect woman for me. The perfect partner. In every way.”

Okay, so that might have been a low blow. Both Miguel and Tosin winced.

Could they be jealous of Waverly and the extraordinary amount time he’d been spending with her lately?

“Boys, let it go for tonight,” Banks advised them. “Or someone’s going to end up with a black eye, and I’m fairly sure the doctor has already turned in for the night. Would hate to wake her up for an ice pack and some x-rays.”

“Is someone hurt?” Waverly asked then, making each of them jump. Even Banks.

Whew, that had been close.

In the background, Banks gathered the heap of paperwork and tucked it into an accordion folder that he placed discreetly beside his seat.

“No, Banks is just busting our balls,” Miguel answered for them.

“I don’t recommend that. I hear it’s painful.” Waverly smiled as she strolled to Archer and kissed him on the cheek. “Miss me?”

“Tons,” he admitted.

If the guys rolled their eyes, he chose to ignore it.

“You were right. That was heavenly. Vanessa is amazing with her hands.” Waverly sighed. “I didn’t realize how sore I was.”

If it wasn’t so dark out, he probably could have seen her blush. It wasn’t any secret that he’d contributed to her aches by using her so well, so often, lately. Hell, he could have benefited from a rubdown himself. It was a lot of work pleasing her. And he enjoyed every minute of it.

Archer grabbed her around the waist and tugged her into his lap.

“Oh, nice.” She squirmed, getting comfortable and putting him in danger of popping a boner at the same time. That’s what he got for enjoying her mild embarrassment. “My favorite seat in the house.”

“Be careful or he’ll put you over those knees next time you’re in the clubroom. Bet you won’t like that as much,” Miguel teased her.

“Huh? What’s the clubroom?” she asked, chuckling kind of uncomfortably as if she’d missed the punch line.

Oh, shit.

When she finally noticed the serious stares on the guys’ faces, she realized—for once—they weren’t joking. “Guys? What’d I miss?”

Miguel clammed up. He looked to Archer as if asking for help out of whatever hole he’d managed to dig for them both. Even Banks raised his brows, which was about as shocked as Archer had ever seen the guy before. Was it that big of a deal that he hadn’t felt the need to play in there with her?

Well…maybe.

“Archer?” She looked at him then.

“You’ve seriously never taken her there?” Tosin asked, making the whole thing worse. “What’s up with that? And your little speech earlier… It made it sound like she met all your needs. Are you sure, Archie?”

How dare they imply he was changing who he was to suit her? It just hadn’t come up yet. Plus, they’d had a lot to work through, given their past. Could that be why he had toned down that side of himself around her? Because he still felt guilty? Or like he had to hide those parts of himself?

Could the guys be right?

Damn it. He’d rather believe they were butthurt because he hadn’t participated in any late-night private parties, taking that aspect of their bond with him.

“Archer?” Waverly’s pitch went up and her volume increased as she repeated herself. She sprang up from his lap and propped her hand on her hip.

They might have had to excuse themselves then to have a very private discussion, and maybe their first serious fight since getting back together, except right then someone screamed.

The animalistic sound left no doubt that something was fucked to hell.

Archer and the rest of the guys shot to their feet, trying to figure out where the noise had come from. A few seconds later, a more controlled shout followed. It didn’t ease his anxiety in the least.

“Help! Someone please, help! Oh God, I think she’s dead!”