Page 43 of Reckless Kiss

“We can’t change the past, Archer,” she replied.

Archer saw a brief wave of sadness in her eyes before the shutter came down and indifference settled back on her features. She raised her chin and pulled her colourful shawl tighter around her shoulders. The purple and deep redpatterns swirled, making a drab-sounding woman look radiant.

“We can’t. Hopefully, I can influence the future of Turner Hall.”

“Have you found a wife yet?”

“It’s only been a couple of weeks, Aunt Cynthia,” he replied.

“Well, don’t forget to bring her to dinner. I want to meet her before you put an engagement ring on her finger. Do you have a ring?”

“I thought I’d let my future wife choose her engagement ring.”

“Don’t be absurd. She’ll wear a Turner ring. Come to my room in two hours. I’ll have a selection ready for you. I will hear no argument, Archer.”

“Yes, Aunt Cynthia.”

Archer wasn’t going to argue. He’d seen his mother’s ring. A gorgeous ruby set with diamonds. His grandmother’s ring was similar with an emerald. His aunt’s rings were stunning. The ring she wore while she glared at him in warning was a sapphire, square cut, loose on her slim finger. He’d remembered she’d always worn it. However, these days it didn’t sit as it should. He tilted his head in question, seeing if she seemed slimmer than he’d remembered. Her watch was loose too.

Dismissing the idea she was ill, he put it down to growing older.

Having a ring from the family jewels would take a task out of going into the town. Erica had been emphatic about staying away from people, and this was the solution.

“Two hours, don’t forget or keep me waiting.”

“Always be on time,” they both said simultaneously.

“I am always on time,” he replied with a grin.

His aunt harrumphed and turned away, then walked down the stairs. Even now, she shifted quickly at her age, with grace out of his sight. Archer took the back route out of Turner Hall and headed to Edward Hall. He unlocked the main door and walked through the empty foyer like he’d done a dozen times that week. He had helped Erica with her swimming practice in the mornings, and in the afternoons, he had scoured the smaller mansion.

He couldn’t shake the coldness of the place. Everything looked clean, grand, perfect for an upmarket wedding, but it felt like a ghost house where that last wedding was decades before, long before he left the island.

Archer had witnessed plenty of weddings taking place in the grand foyer, but the place now felt lost and forgotten. He made a mental note to ask his aunt when the last marriage had occurred and when the next one was booked when he chose Erica’s ring.

Taking the wide staircase two stairs at a time, he strode down the red carpet with gold metal trim at the skirting. In the corridor to the left and right were the hotel guest rooms.

Whether he got the hotel, wedding business, or cottages, Archer didn’t want to sleep under either of the Hall’s roofs.

If he didn’t pull off the deal, Archer had already decided he wouldn’t stay on the island, preferring to work overseas and away from the ghosts of the past. Archer had no idea what job he would take on the island if he stayed. Pride wouldn’t let him stay at Turner Hall at his aunt’s grace. He picked up the box of items, and with a stiff nod and a long glance at the floor-to-ceiling stain glass window overlooking the grounds where he’d studied for all his exams, he left the room, closing the door quietly.

Chapter 23

Archer

When he stepped outside and locked the main door behind him, he turned left and headed to see if Erica was at her cottage. It hadn’t been long since he’d last seen her, but when he rounded the corner and saw her curled up on the armchair in the shade, he felt his entire body relax. Archer approached quietly, seeing she was asleep, her hands tucked under her chin. The sun was almost shining on her toes as it had moved during the afternoon. He didn’t want her to burn in the sun. Crouching in front of her, he stroked the back of his hand over her forehead. Her skin was smooth and warm to the touch. She stirred but didn’t wake, burrowing deeper into the cushions. He couldn’t stop the grin split his face if he tried. He took a moment to gaze at her cuteness when she was asleep. Her beauty astounded him.

There was no doubting he was wildly attracted to Erica, and the need to sweep her up and take her inside had his hands twitching at his sides. He swelled at the thought ofremoving her clothes and kissing every inch of Erica to wake her. Instead, he kissed her cheek, deliberately touching the edge of her mouth with his.

“Wake up, honey,” he whispered as he hovered over her mouth.

She let out a long sigh and lifted her chin. “Make me,” she said, closing the gap.

Her lips parted as he sealed their mouths for a kiss. He dropped to his knees to lean closer as she tangled her tongue with his. He was making her wake up, but every part of his body was on high alert. The arm of the chair hid his apparent erection as he cupped the back of her head. Sighs and deep breathing filled the air as he pressed harder, searching deeper for a connection. This was a deal, but he was drawn to her. He tucked his arms under her legs and back without opening his eyes, lifting her off the chair. There was no hiding he wanted her, so he owned it by sitting back down with her on his lap. She draped her crossed legs over the arm of the chair. Threading his fingers through her loose hair, his eyes remained closed as he kissed her slowly. The lazy kiss changed from soft touches to stretching his mouth over hers to taste her. His other hand dropped to her hip, holding her in place as he lifted his hips. Archer knew he was in trouble making this move to get some friction. The ache was untenable.

At this stage, he was okay with coming in his pants than taking their make-out session to the next step.

“You’re so hard,” she whispered over his lips.

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