Page 32 of Reckless Kiss

“Are you being overwhelmed by his six-pack? Deprivation making you desperate? Are you agreeing to marry him to feel good about yourself, so you know you’re still desirable when your ex-husband hooked up with a woman a decade younger than you?”

“Ouch and no.”

“Then why has he presented you with the same scenario as the movie you’ve just won an Oscar for?”

“It’s not exactly the same. I don’t think the aunt will slowly poison him and me while we dine at her table.”

“What does he think you’re going to get out of it?”

“My desire to see his siblings settled.”

“He will not buy that. Why not tell him the truth of why you’re hiding out?”

“Because he’ll think I’m only marrying him to shove it in Gregg and Monica’s face.”

“And you’re not doing that?”

Silence again, this time Erica.

“I don’t think that’s my motive. I can get divorced as soon as Archer gets the business.”

“How long will that be?”

“Three months. Then I could walk away.”

“You’re only booked in there for two months. Do you want me to extend your stay?”

“Let me talk to Archer. We didn’t discuss any details.”

“Did you kiss him?”

“Um,” Erica said.

“Erica.” Yanny said her name with a sigh.

“I’m totally in control. If we’re to pretend to be madly in love, then it’s only natural there will be PDA.”

“How much did you practise?”

“Yanny.” It was Erica’s turn to use a name as a warning.

“Erica,” he snapped.

“All right, it was a couple of kisses, and that’s it. After our agreement, he left me to my lines and disappeared into the darkness of the gardens.”

“I’m not sure you’ll come out of this deal unscathed lovely,” Yanny said gently.

“I’ll be fine. It’s not like I’m announcing the engagement or the marriage. As with old-fashioned people, it will be sedate and low-key. Archer will get what he wants, and I’ll get what I want.”

“I’m invited to the wedding, right?” Yanny asked.

Chapter 18

Archer

Archer picked up his beer bottle and walked through the empty kitchens at Edward Hall. He waited for his sister, Daisy, to answer her phone. As soon as her face appeared on the screen, he blurted, “I think I’ve found a wife.”

Daisy scrubbed her face with her hand, waking herself up while she processed her brother’s statement.

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