Page 1 of Reckless Kiss

Chapter1

Archer

“They’re going to do what?” Daisy Turner asked, with her teeth gritted together.

The wind gusted inside the canteen of the oil rig when one of their co-workers came through the side. Archer Turner’s sister stood with her hands fisting at her sides on the other side of the Formica table. The four siblings had crowded around while Archer explained the situation. A storm raged outside. Experiencing a storm on an oil rig was no fun, but it was calm compared to Daisy’s anger. She was the one he worried about the most.

“The oil rig is shutting down. All personnel are to leave within one week,” Archer said.

Archer sat next to his brother, Jason. Opposite him was his other brother, Luke. Daisy still stood. She searched his eyes, he guessed, to see if he was lying.

“Sit down, Daisy, please?” Luke said, tugging on her fisted hand.

Archer looked at all his siblings. He felt lost with thenews he’d been given a few hours ago. As a senior manager on the oil rig, Archer asked if he could break the news to tell his brothers and sister personally as he knew how this would affect them.

They’d all worked on the same oil rig since they’d qualified in their field of expertise. Archer had worked on the rig the longest for thirteen years while his siblings had joined the company every two years. Their dad had worked on the same oil rig, too. So Archer understood why Daisy was upset. They all wore visible signs of disappointment. It was their last connection to their father, who had passed away seven years earlier. Daisy had only been on the rig a week when their father had died.

“Fantastic. What the hell are we going to do now?” Luke asked, folding his arms roughly, chin up, like the world owed him a favour.

“We’ll have to find new rigs to work on,” Jason said.

“That means we’ll get split up. I don’t want to work on a rig if you’re not all on it,” Daisy said.

That’s how Archer felt, too—having his family close meant everything.

“We could head home to Copper Island?” Archer suggested.

He’d been thinking about the prospect of returning to Copper Island for the last hour. Their home, where they were raised, brought back memories, and not all of them were pleasant.

“Go back to the island. What would we do there?” Luke asked.

“Claim some of our inheritance early,” Archer stated.

“Aunt Cynthia would never in a million years hand it over. I swear she’s doing everything she can to live to a hundred and twenty, so we’ll be too old to get it,” Luke said.

Archer didn’t doubt his reasoning. Bitterness ran through his aunt’s veins like a lifeline.

“It’s great to hear you so positive, Luke,” Jason said, glaring at him.

“I’m being realistic. Aunt Cynthia is an ogre and a dragon rolled into one. She hated dad for dumping us on her. She hated mum even more for walking out on us,” Luke said.

“She is a dragon. As soon as we were old enough, we were on the first flight out to the rig once we’d passed all our qualifications,” Daisy said. “Going back to Copper Island seems a step back somehow.”

“It wouldn’t be so bad, would it? If we were all together,” Archer said.

His three siblings gave him wary looks, furrowed brows, and matching incredulous expressions.

“She’ll never give it to you,” Jason declared. “But if you can swing it, I’ll come to Copper Island to help you run whatever you’re thinking of doing.”

“To be clear, I’m not going begging unless you’re all in. I want to ask for the hotel business that is run out of Edward Hall. I also want the wedding business and the cottages they let out for long rentals,” Archer said.

“The hotel? What do we know about running a hotel?” Luke asked.

“Daisy could finish her accountancy qualifications and do the books. Jason can continue as a chef. I would be a handyman of sorts, as I’m an electrician.”

“And what use would I be as a medic? First aider in case a bride breaks her fingernail?” Luke asked.

Ignoring Luke and his pessimism, Archer looked at Daisy, who was visibly crestfallen that she would return so soon after escaping seven years ago. She nodded heracceptance, adding a perfect baleful look. He nudged Luke with his foot, raising his eyebrows for an answer.

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