Page 10 of Reckless Kiss

On the third cycle of viewing the video, the doorbell rang with urgency. Erica knew the press was brazen and stepping onto her property.

“I’ll just check it’s not the postman, lovely,” Yanny said quietly while Erica stared dumbfounded at her ex-husband’s audacity. She wanted her private life kept away from the public, and he displayed it in full view. Worse still, everyone would think he was cheating on her.

Another thing occurred to her. Gregory Potter, her husband of five years, had never kissed her as passionately as he kissed Monica. Not even in the heady first few weeks of dating. Sadness gripped her for a few moments until Yanny returned to the kitchen.

“It was the postman. I’ve left it all in the hallway.”

“Thanks, Yanny. Where’s a good place to run away to?”

Chapter 8

Archer

Bailey greeted Archer an hour before he was due to meet Aunt Cynthia. He ushered him into the kitchen, where Maggie sat him down and fed him breakfast. The puppy he’d rescued was sleeping on a dog bed in front of the small, lit fireplace like he’d lived there his whole life.

“What did you call him, Maggie?” Archer asked.

He sipped on his coffee while watching the clock. Even if he was a minute late, he knew his aunt would say no to his plea, just for his tardiness. She’d evict him from her land in the next breath.

“Teddy,” she said.

Teddy raised his head and looked at Maggie and then at Archer. He let out a woof and got up to pad across to him. Archer dropped his hand for the dog to sniff and lick. Once Teddy had approved of his rescuer, he flopped down at Archer’s feet and went back to sleep.

“How is the lady of the house today?” Archer asked.

“A pain in my goddam arse,” Jennifer said as shestomped into the room. “Do I have you to thank for her foul mood?” Jennifer asked, picking up the tea towel and pretended to flick Archer’s arm.

“I haven’t seen her today, so you can’t blame me,” Archer said with a broad grin, standing to bring the aged woman into a hug.

“It’s good to see you, Archer. Are you staying long?”

“That depends on the Mistress of the house. If she says no, then I’ll be on the next ferry off the Island.”

“For all our sakes, I hope she says yes. Your brothers and sister coming back to live here would be the greatest news we could hope for.”

It was an extreme statement. Archer hadn’t spoken to any of the staff since his grandfather had died. Coming back to Copper Island hurt in too many ways.

“Sir, it’s time to head upstairs if you don’t want to upset Miss Turner,” Bailey said, coming into the kitchen.

“Okay, Teddy, the moment of truth,” Archer said to the dog, who got up while Archer stood. Teddy let out a yap and nudged Archer’s leg.

Archer looked to Bailey and stood for inspection. Bailey assessed his suit, shirt, and tie with a grey eyebrow raised.

“I feel the need to retie your tie, Sir,” Bailey said.

“I’d be honoured. For old time’s sake. Even as a kid, I never could get it to sit straight.”

“I suspect that’s why you chose a job on the oil rigs than working in the City, Sir.”

“There may be some truth in that.”

Everyone laughed at the comment as Bailey and Archer left the kitchen and ascended the stone stairs up to the main foyer. Every piece of furniture was pristine, perfectly placed. There wasn’t a spec of dust anywhere. Memories came back from sliding down the banister and being caughtby his grandfather, who tanned his backside so he couldn’t sit without wincing for a week.

“I’ll take you into the morning room. Miss Turner is finishing breakfast.”

“Thanks, Bailey.”

Archer stood in the middle of the morning room. One side had waist-to-ceiling windows lined with a criss-cross of lead. His grandfather’s writing desk stood in the far corner. Archer wandered over and tugged on a drawer on the left. He smiled wide when he saw a fat cigar. His grandfather had let him smoke one when he was eleven, and Archer had never choked so much in his life.

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