Page 87 of Lipstick Kiss

“I was thinking as soon as school breaks up for the summer holidays. Then if Mr Morris makes you work long hours in the next few weeks, I can be gallant and come and pick you up and drive you home. Then fingers crossed, you’ll be pregnant by the time school starts, and I can be overbearing and escort you home and take you to work.”

“Luke,” she said and sighed. “Don’t make Dad get his calendar off the kitchen wall and count the weeks.”

“That was so funny. I bet he’s not really outraged. We’re going to give him his first grandchild, hopefully, the first of many.”

Freya giggled against his chest. She lifted up her hand to angle her engagement ring. Luke threaded his fingers through hers and brought it back down to his chest.

“Is it really worth six million?”

“Roughly.”

“The Tuners are seriously wealthy.”

“Technically, Cynthia is wealthy. As we’re not allowed to see the bank accounts, I would say the Turners are asset-rich rather than cash-rich.”

“How does Cynthia earn an income?”

“I’m not sure. The lease rentals on the properties on the island would keep Turner Hall warm and lit, but that would be it. And maybe only her wing. We’ve all wondered about the money that comes from keeping this estate pristine. I know the Turner Corporation has businesses overseas, but which ones will remain a mystery until Archer inherits. Then all the secrets will—”

“Luke Turner,” a woman yelled.

For a moment, Luke thought it was Cynthia hollering out his name. Then he realised it was Jennifer. He stilled on the sofa and felt Freya do the same. They stayed entwined, their fingers clutched together, waiting for more.

Luke wondered if it was Jennifer.

“Luke Turner, come out of that cottage right this minute,” Jennifer yelled.

For an eighty-something woman, she had a loud commanding voice.

“Who is that?” Freya asked, lifting her body up on a straightened elbow, her hand deep in the cushions under his torso.

Luke didn’t want Freya anywhere near Jennifer, more so if Jennifer was angry.

“That’s Cynthia’s handmaid, Jennifer. Christ knows whyshe sounds so angry. She never comes to these cottages. If Cynthia was dead, they’d send Bailey to see Archer.”

Freya looked at him, stricken.

“That sounds so cold.”

“If she was a nicer woman, we would be at her bedside and know if she was unwell. The sad fact is, she is a cruel person, and the staff will follow protocol should the head of the Turner family pass away.”

“That makes me sad.”

“It won’t be the case with our generation. We are going to be a loving family, sharing each other’s lives. Support through the downs, celebrate the ups and improve Copper Island.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“Stay here. I’ll go and see what she wants.”

Luke sighed heavily, reluctantly unentwined his legs and arms from Freya and swung his feet to the ground to slip into his trainers. He didn’t bother lacing them up and stuffed the ends into the sides of his feet into the trainers. Luke hoped the conversation wouldn’t take long.

“You need backup. Just yell my name,” Freya said.

He loved her for that, wanted to hug her, and never let go.

Jennifer had stopped fifty feet from Jason’s cottage, clearly not knowing who lived in which cottage. Luke assumed she knew the first three were occupied as she looked at each one in turn. As Luke stepped onto the grass, he glanced down the row to see Jason and Archer sitting on their low walls, arms crossed, knees apart, and feet planted.

To anyone else, Jason looked relaxed, but Luke knew he was anything but calm on the inside. While Jason was barefoot, Archer had his trainers on. Big brother was ready tocome and assist if needed, even if it was against a woman in her eighties.

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