Page 73 of Reckless Kiss

Neither had seen him come in, and he didn’t want to eavesdrop anymore.

“You got that right,” Archer said and stepped further into the shed.

He pivoted to the side and took a look at who the woman was. He recognised her instantly as Freya Riley, high school teacher, and Luke’s childhood best friend. She was the only one Luke let close to him aside from his siblings.

“Oh, Archer, it’s great to see you. I got a postcard from Luke this morning. It’s from Spain, but who knows if he’s still there.”

She came over and gave him a big hug.

“To be honest, I don’t know where any of them are this week. We’ll catch up on Sunday. I’ll tell him you got his card.”

“No need, there is technology these days, and I can send him a text without having to send him a letter in return.”

“There’s always been the technology to do that, yet you both always insisted on writing to each other,” Archer said.

“I love getting random post. Then reading about his travels over a mug of tea. When I get home from teaching, it’s the best thing to do.”

“I shouldn’t keep you. My aunt will sail through her medical check-up and get Heidi to leave as soon as possible.”

“Yes, I need to get back to classes too. Good to see you,Archer. Hopefully will see you around town. Don’t be hiding up here like your aunt.”

“I’ll try to be sociable.”

Ralph laughed along with Freya. She said her goodbyes and left the shed. Archer had agreed to look at the lawn mower Ralph had said wouldn’t work. Trying to figure out what was wrong with it would take his mind off Erica, her smooth skin, and all-consuming kisses.

Chapter 35

Archer

Once the lawn mower was deemed irreparable by his hands, he called Nate at the boatyard to see if he could come up to the Hall to assess if the machine would ever cut grass again. Once Nate was assured Archer’s sister wasn’t at the house, he agreed to come the following day. There were too many questions floating around Archer’s head about the friends they all had as teenagers that now behaved differently. Nate’s animosity to Daisy was one he would deal with another time.

Jason would be on a flight on Sunday, so they’d brought the call to Saturday evening for a catch-up. Archer logged in on time to find Luke already there, swigging a beer and looking bored.

“How long have you been on the line?” Archer asked before he’d said hello.

“An hour, got my world clock mixed up. This is my thirdbeer.”

“Should make the call lively,” Archer replied, laughing.

A loud siren sounded when Daisy came on the line, making them all jump. She put her palm on her chest while she looked over her shoulder.

“Scare the crap out of me,” she said.

“What was it?”

“Police van. The Italians clearly don’t have volume control.”

Luke shook his head in amusement, taking another swig of his beer.

“Where are you, Luke?”

“Don’t you recognise your own home?” he asked, moving forward, so most of his head filled the screen.

“Not with your ugly mug in the way. Are you in the house in Scotland?”

“Yeah, got bored travelling. So I thought I’d start sorting out this place if we all end up back at Copper Island.”

“I’ve moved into Turner Hall,” Archer said.

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