Page 15 of Reckless Kiss

Luke laughed and sat back with a smug smile.

“Put the phone down, Daisy. I need you all to be serious for a moment. She wants me to get married in the family chapel. Not just engaged, married. That’s serious stuff, just because she thinks I’m going to whore my ass around the town and get half the single women pregnant,” Archer said.

“Shit. She said that?” Luke asked.

“Yep.”

“But dad loved mum. It’s not like it was a one-night stand. They got married as soon as they found out she was pregnant with you, Archer.”

“In the family chapel,” Jason added.

“I know that, and you all know that, but I think whenmum walked out, Aunt Cynthia assumed he was forced into it because she didn’t hang around.”

“Can we not talk about our mother?” Jason asked.

“Sure. Let’s go back to the deal. Did Aunt Cynthia mention any clause about not getting divorced?” Luke asked.

“No, she didn’t mention it at all, in fact,” Archer replied.

“So, find a wife, get married, and get divorced if it doesn’t work out. Get her to sign a pre-nuptial agreement first,” Luke said.

“It sounds so cold,” Archer muttered.

“Look, brother, you don’t have to do this. We’ll inherit eventually. We can return to the rigs overseas and chance our luck in getting the same place for all of us. We’re young enough to wait it out,” Daisy said.

“Get a fake wife,” Jason said.

“Luke,” Archer said, “what about you?”

“I don’t know, man, it’s a lot for her to ask you to give up. You’ve always been someone who wanted to marry once and forever. Marrying for a transaction seems beneath you,” Luke said.

“Right, you’re all saying I have to make my own decision?”

All three of them nodded. “Yes,” they said.

“Is it a profitable business?” Daisy asked.

He smiled for the first time in fifteen minutes. Daisy had gained her accountancy degree while on the rigs but had yet to do the final exams to qualify. Her main job on the oil rig they worked on was as a forklift driver.

“I have no fucking idea, Daisy,” Archer said and laughed. “Does it matter?”

“It may swing your decision,” she warned.

“Okay. I’ll let you know in the morning what I’ll do. In the meantime, do not send me pictures of your fabulous locations. I don’t want to see them,” Archer said, sounding grumpier than he was.

“If you want to talk later, Archer, call me,” Daisy said.

“Don’t call me,” Jason and Luke said simultaneously.

Somehow, they were able to bump fists on screen. It lightened the mood how little they wanted to be involved but would ultimately do whatever Archer asked them to do.

“If I agree to her terms, you’ll all come home?” Archer asked.

“I’ll be on the next flight,” Luke said.

“Absolutely,” Daisy said.

Jason did his one-shoulder shrug. “Sure,” he answered.

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