Page 26 of Reckless Kiss

Archer

He’d avoided Erica for a week, trying not to get sight of her. Or smell her perfume. Whatever scent she wore had seeped into the cushions on the chairs next to the pool. He had to wait until she had finished in the pool each day before he took a swim. Some days she spent hours in the pool. He felt like a peeping Tom standing by the tall bushes waiting for her to finish.

Until he found a wife, Archer had little else to do with his time. His Aunt Cynthia had forbidden him to do more repairs on the cottages without her express consent.

Bailey suggested Archer train his new dog Teddy as he would need plenty of exercise daily. Archer spent hours on the internet studying the best food, training, and lifestyle for a Doberman. He hoped like hell he would be able to provide a good home for the dog. He’d gone into the town a few nights and met up with Ralph and Nate. They’d introduced him to pretty much anyone who had entered the bar. A few women had gravitated towards them, but Archerwasn’t interested. His mind kept wandering back to Erica up at the estate.

Archer had to find a wife and was already a week into his three months. Once he had a woman who would agree to the ruse, they had to have their banns read in church at least a month before their wedding date—two months, preferably, according to his aunt. She’d told him the vicar preferred to have more time. Archer wouldn’t put it past his aunt to time the three months to the second. To his calculations, he needed to find a wife in three weeks.

Frustrated with the deal he’d struck, he called Daisy. She’d know what to do.

“What’s up, brother? Found me a sister-in-law yet? I’d love to have a girl on board. All the testosterone has been a bit much over the years,” she said when the line connected.

“No. that’s why I’m calling.”

“Oh, you like someone,” she said in her conspiratorial tone.

“Is it that obvious? How do you know?”

“Only to me, big brother. You look like you’re in pain. Where are you?”

“My old bedroom,” Archer replied, sitting down on the ancient bed. “Aunt Cynthia had me move in when I agreed to the deal. She clearly doesn’t trust me.”

“Is that the same bed you had as a kid?”

“Yep. I’m going to need a chiropractor by the time this is over. One way or another.”

“You’ve found a girl you can put your proposal to. Except you like her, and she’s a decent person, so you’re worried she’ll tell you to take a hike, thus losing out on the deal you made with the dragon and a shot at a chance of love.”

“Christ, how do you do that?”

“It was an educated guess. Otherwise, you would be calling me to tell me to book a ticket home.”

“Where are you?”

“Kenya,” she replied.

“Did I wake you?”

“Nah, it’s only an hour’s time difference. So what’s she like?”

“I don’t know very much about her. I met her a week ago, and we connected. Then she wanted to kiss me, and I said no and ran away. I’ve known her for a day, but it’s like I’ve missed her this past week. I catch glimpses of her around the estate but have avoided her.”

“Why?”

“I told you, she said she wanted to kiss me.”

“Then why didn’t you kiss her?”

“Because I didn’t want her to think I only kissed her to get her to marry me.”

“I see your point. Why don’t you cook her dinner and get to know her? You’re a good judge of character. You’ll be able to tell if she’s game by the end of the meal.”

“Jason’s the chef, not me. I can fix her dodgy electrics in her bathroom but not dinner.”

“The cottages had faulty wiring?”

“Yeah. The electrician who installed the new bathrooms messed up the shower power switch.”

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