“Night, Dr. Boone,” she said, smiling at him.
He had no choice but to smile back. “Call me Archer, Miss Ivy.”
“Night, Dr. Archer,” she said before running to Clara.
Clara scooped her up and carried her down the hall.
“It’s killing you not to organize them, isn’t it?” Renata asked.
“What?” He turned to find his sister perched on the arm of his chair, watching him closely.
“The crayons. All the colors mixed up like that. Your OCD has to be going crazy,” she teased. “You can sort them. I won’t judge you.”
He arched a brow at her.
“Okay, maybe a little judging.” Renata giggled. “You’re right about the blue mare. Sweetest ride ever. You’ve got to name her, by the way.”
“Her owner should name her,” Archer said.
“If Shawn doesn’t take her, I’d like to,” Renata said, moving to the chair across from him.
“Okay.”
“What’s up with Dad?” she asked.
“What do you mean?”
She shook her head, rolling her eyes. “Nothing. I love you, big brother, but your cluelessness never fails to amaze me.”
He frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“Dad’s all chipper,” she said, waiting.
“He’s always chipper,” he countered. “It’s damn annoying at five in the morning.”
Renata laughed.
Eden came into the room then. She walked straight through to the kitchen, nodding in acknowledgment as she passed. Archer watched, trying to think of something to say. But she disappeared behind the door and the moment was lost.
“What do you make of Miss Caraway?” Renata asked.
Archer shot her a look. He sighed. “Why do I feel like this is a loaded question?”
She smiled. “I’m just wondering how far the cluelessness extends.”
“Fine, clue me in. I’ll be happy to clear up any of your misconceptions.”
She sat back. “You like her. Enough to keep her around. And the fact that Fester likes her is driving you nuts—especially since she won’t jump on board with your plan.”
He didn’t say anything. Because there was nothing to correct.
His sister smiled. “What are you going to do?”
“Do?”
Renata shook her head again. “Archer, come on. Out of all my brothers, you are the most tenacious. You make things happen, change people’s minds, bring them around, get them excited. You talk people out of money. You—the surly one. When you want something, you are unstoppable.”
“This applies to Miss Caraway how?” He waited. He knew exactly what his sister was saying, but there was no way he was going to admit that his interest in Eden extended outside of work. Playing the obtuse card was his only option.