Page 68 of Lipstick Kiss

“We kinda do, Mr Morris. The Turners own Copper Island, but we never rub people’s faces in it. Cynthia rarely comes into the town.”

“Is that right? So you think you’ve never used your power to get your own way like now when you want to spend the day in bed with Freya and faking her illness.”

“I’d be very careful about what you say next, Dudley. I’m telling you the truth. I have no reason to lie to you.”

“What will you do? Eh? Kick me off the island like your grandfather did with Jonathan Cranford. Exile me so I can never return. Looks like history is repeating itself. Cynthia fell for the wrong man, and it looks like Freya is too. You’re rotten, all of you Turners. You make everyone’s lives a misery. My life would’ve turned out differently without Archibald Turner and his sanctimonious preachings.”

“What are you talking about? I’ve been back for two months. What did I do? Why am I getting lumped in with that man?”

“Your aunt fell in love with a teacher, but overnight he disappeared. Most people think he never made it to the mainland, as no one has ever heard from him again. Because Jonathan was ousted for daring to love Cynthia Turner, I had to take on his classes during the day and evening. Work all day, run home to my wife and kids for an hour and then go back to the school until after the kids were in bed. I bet you can guess how much my wife liked that. I did such a great job. They never replaced Jonathan, so I did two jobs for ten years for single pay. By the time I became ahead teacher, my wife had gone and taken the kids. Your grandfather thought giving me the head teacher’s job was a reward for fixing the problem of one less teacher, but it was too late. I was already alone. So I have no respect for any of you Turners and will never think kindly of any of you. Your aunt is a horror, terrorising everyone who doesn’t agree with her, even from her stately seat up on the hill.”

Luke was so staggered by everything he’d just heard he wanted to sit down and neck a shot of brandy. Not daring to move in case Mr Morris wasn’t finished, he waited to be dismissed.

“I should go,” Luke said quietly after a few minutes. “Freya is unwell, and I need to make sure she doesn’t suffer from any delayed shock or have a virus from the cave she fell into.”

Luke spoke so softly he wondered if Mr Morris had heard. He seemed more slumped than when Luke had first come in. Not waiting for a reply, he heard a strangled sob just as he was closing the door.

Luke walked down the corridor, wondering what kind of damage the Turners had done to the residents of Copper Island and if he would live long enough to right the wrongs. He’d had enough for one day.

Cynthia could wait.

Luke sent a text updating his brothers and headed back to check on Freya.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Freya

Luke came back to the cottage and found her curled up in bed, reading on her tablet. She tilted her head up as he walked through the open doorway with a holdall in his hand. One that she recognised as hers.

“Hey, Luke,” she said.

Not having spoken since he woke an hour ago, she hadn’t realised her throat was so sore.

“I left you a bottle of water on the side,” he said, nodding to the bedside table.

She tossed her phone on the carpeted floor and sat up, struggling on the memory foam mattress. The mattress was a foot-high, moulded to her body in such a way she never wanted to leave the bed. Eventually, with the covers tucked under her chin, she grabbed the bottle and twisted it off. She drank half the small bottle and placed it back on the table. Not moving a muscle, she watched as Luke toed offhis shoes and put them in his walk-in closet. He came back out shirtless and in cut-off work-out shorts. She watched as he disappeared into the bathroom and heard the shower water hitting the tiles. When he came back out, he had a towel wrapped around his waist. The gulp she took reminded her that she had a sore throat from hell.

“Did you know that’s my side?” he asked, his head tilted with a warm grin.

“Should I scoot over to the other side?”

“No, I like you there. Let’s get you showered, and then we can get back into bed. I brought clothing, mainly warm stuff, in case we sit out in Archer’s back area. Hopefully, you’re warm enough in this bedroom.”

“I’d be warm enough in my own home,” she ventured.

The last thing she wanted to be was a burden.

“I know, but I couldn’t monitor you there.”

Luke tugged the covers away and then lifted her ankles, so she had to put her feet on the floor. She eyed him curiously as he took her hands and lifted her to standing.

“Arms up, Peaches,” he whispered, not looking her in the eye.

She raised her arms above her head, and he pulled her shirt off, leaving her in her panties.

“You’re stunning, Freya,” he said to her breasts and then lifted his head to look her in the eye.

His searing gaze, full of seriousness and affection, took her aback. “I am not worthy of you, but I’m going to try to be,” he said.

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