Page 76 of Reckless Kiss

Archer hung up from the call, fed up with being told what to do even if it was the right thing.

He closed the laptop lid and drummed his fingers, looking down at what he was wearing. He was still in his long shorts and t-shirt from attempting to fix the lawn mower. While he remembered, he sent a text to Daisy to ask her why Nate would only come to Turner Hall if she weren’t there.

Tossing the phone on the bed, he jumped into the shower and changed before heading to Erica’s cottage. He rapped on the back door, and there was no answer. Risking her wrath, he turned the doorknob, and it opened. Walking into the kitchen, he knew the place was empty. None of her belongings had gone as there was a shawl strewn over the back of the chair and a novel she’d been reading with a bookmark sticking out three-quarters of the way in. He stepped closer to see what she was reading and saw a folded piece of paper with his name scribbled on the front.

Gone to London to do movie stuff and pick up my wedding dress. Send me a message if you no longer want to get married and break the deal.

Archer took note of the number she’d scribbled and stored it in his phone. He’d wasted no time telling her the deal was still on but could he talk. Erica replied instantly,saying she wouldn’t have any time to speak meaningfully and they could talk when she returned in two weeks.

“Two weeks? Am I planning this whole wedding?” he thundered to nobody.

Then he made a call. “How quickly can you leave Italy?”

Chapter 36

Erica

Travelling at a moment’s notice was a luxury Erica took for granted. Having the money to book a private charter helicopter had its benefits when she was nursing a broken heart. Erica was still on the tarmac when Archer’s text came through to say he still wanted to get married, and the deal was still on. Flying as the only passenger, she felt guilty. Erica contacted charities on the island to see if they needed anything transported to the mainland. While they were loading up, Erica debated speaking to Archer but couldn’t risk being overheard. Whatever he had to say could wait until she returned.

“Okay, that’s it, Miss Turner. I’m grateful for your kindness,” the man said after sticking his head through the door opening of the helicopter.

“No problem. We’ll bring back your deliveries in two weeks.”

“Fantastic. You’ve saved us so much money.”

“I’m happy to help,” she said, then slid on her sunglasseswhen the burly man stepped from the helicopter to stand away.

She prayed he was another man who didn’t know who she was.

The flight back to London seemed to take seconds, and they soon landed at London City Airport. She had a car waiting to take her to her house in Kensington. When Erica had left, dozens of journalists were crowding at her house’s front gates. Yet, as she stepped from the car, the road was quiet. London smelled different since she’d been gone. The island’s fresh air had changed her senses, and she craved it already. The driver came with her to the door, placed her overnight bag next to her, and waited until she opened the door.

Erica thanked him, and she was once again alone. Being alone in the cottage was relaxing and calming but alone in her large house, she felt lonely. Leaving her case at the foot of the stairs, Erica made her way through the open-plan living room and into the kitchen. The vastness struck her. Picking up her post, she took it to her study, which was the smallest room on the ground floor. Heading back to the kitchen to make a snack and a coffee, she smiled at the flowers in a vase, left by Yanny as a welcome home surprise. Unfortunately, the flowers didn’t smell as fragrant as those from the flower farm on Copper Island.

Sighing, she waited for the kettle to boil and told herself comparing everything to the equivalent on Copper Island would not ease the ache in her heart.

Erica settled on the sofa, read her post, and then tossed it to one side. She wasn’t comfortable, restless in her own space. Deciding to go to bed early, Erica rummaged in her handbag for her book, only to remember she’d put it down when she wrote the note for Archer.

*0*

The following morning, Erica hoped for a better mood, but it didn’t come. It hadn’t rocked up when Yanny buzzed on her intercom.

She let him in through the gates and then greeted him on the threshold of her home with a hug.

“Are you okay?” Yanny asked her as he examined her face.

“Yeah, all good,” she said, attempting to keep the sigh from escaping.

“You haven’t told your face the message. It looks like someone took your favourite teddy away.”

Sighing, instantly remembering Archer’s dog and the cute teddy she’d held hostage that sat on her bed. She wondered if her heart was breaking. Archer thought she was acting the whole time. How could he believe that?

“My head is all over the place. Please tell me you have me busy for the next two weeks.”

Yanny led the way into the kitchen. He went to the coffee machine and helped himself to a cappuccino. Erica passed on caffeine and opted for water instead.

“You have meetings every day for the movie, dress fittings, script changes, you know the drill. Then, a couple of magazines are desperate to interview you, and then there’s your ex-husband.”

“Gregg? What about him?”

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