Page 88 of Reckless Kiss

“You jealous?”

“Insanely, let’s get going.”

Jason chuckled as he slapped his brother on his back and took the clothes from Archer’s arms. Looking at his brother, Archer relaxed now that he was there.

“Thanks, brother,” Archer said. “Thanks for coming.”

“You holler, and we’ll be there. Always.”

When they arrived back onto the lawns behind Erica’s cottage, Luke was standing with his arms folded, with his feet a foot apart. Archer knew the stance meant he didn’t like Gregg any more than he did.

“He’s still standing, it must mean something, and Erica’s nowhere in sight,” Jason commented as they came nearer.

“Follow me,” Archer said to Gregg’s back.

The man turned around, relieved to see Archer. That could only mean Luke had given him advice that was threatening. For a second, Archer felt for the man. Luke’s quiet chats were not pleasant. He never laid a finger on anyone, but he sure knew how to threaten. Archer took off in the direction of Turner Hall and the shower by the swimming pool. He waited for Gregg to get washed and changed, then escorted him back.

Erica and Daisy sat on the sofa under the covered patio,with Luke, Jason, and Yanny opposite. Luke spotted them coming first and stood. The other four stood too and put their coffee mugs on the table.

“Let’s go for a walk,” Erica said to Gregg when they arrived.

She didn’t wait for an answer and whistled for Teddy to go with her. He ran to catch her up and stuck by her side. Archer’s heart filled with love for the stray dog and his protectiveness of a woman he barely knew.

It brought to the surface his own feelings for Erica.

“Do not touch her,” Archer said as Gregg moved to join Erica.

“I’ve already had the speech from your brother Luke.”

“Doesn’t mean it’s sunk in, does it?” Archer replied. “I mean it. Do not upset her.”

“I know her better than you do, dickhead. She is my wife.”

“Was your wife. You gave her up. Now she’s engaged to someone else.”

“Whoever he is, he won’t win. I’ll get her back.”

“Come on, Archer, join us for a coffee. We haven’t seen each other for weeks,” Jason said, taking Archer’s arm to steer him away. Archer let him, but only because he didn’t want to put Erica in a position to have to explain. If she hadn’t already told Gregg who she was marrying, it wasn’t his place yet.

It riled him he couldn’t speak to Erica first, couldn’t tell her how he really felt, how much he missed her. So he kept a wail inside as he watched Gregg jog to catch Erica up. Teddy barked and moved to Erica’s other side, away from Gregg.

“That’s my boy,” Archer said aloud and laughed.

He joined his siblings on the sofas. Someone had brought out juices and a platter of pastries.

“Where did they come from?” Archer asked.

“I got a basket together to welcome Erica back. As a peace offering for invading her home,” Daisy said.

“Are you best friends now?” Luke asked, jabbing her in the ribs with his elbow.

“I really like her, Archer. Please make sure you marry her,” Daisy said.

“I can’t make her marry me, Daisy, but I sure hope she isn’t considering getting back together with her ex-husband. There is nothing to make her go through with the deal we struck. She is free to walk away. Along with my fucking heart.”

“Aww, Archer. It will all work out. I just know it,” Daisy said.

Unconvinced, Archer munched through a couple of pastries and listened to his sibling’s banter. He’d missed them over the last few months since he’d been back on the island. He’d hoped like hell he could convince Erica of his true feelings because he needed the wedding business to get Jason, Luke, and Daisy back for good.

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