Page 46 of Electric Kiss

Archer scoffed. “Well, you’re right about that,” he said. “Nathaniel is bad news, Daisy. You can’t trust him.”

Jason nodded in agreement. “He’s got a reputation for using women and then tossing them aside,” he said. “You don’t want to get involved with someone like that.”

Daisy bristled at their words. “I can make my own decisions,” she said defiantly. “And Nate isn’t like that. He’s kind and caring, and he treats me well.”

Luke, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. “I agree with Jason,” he said. “Nathaniel is not a good guy.”

“You guys are just judging him based on rumours,” Daisy said. “You should hear the rumours about us and none of them are true.

Luke, Jason and Archer exchanged a look, clearly not convinced.

Daisy shifted in her seat while the others took theirs around the small conference table. She felt her face flame with anger. Daisy couldn’t believe that her brothers were being so judgmental about Nathaniel. She had never felt this way about anyone before, and she knew deep down that he differed from the other guys she had dated in the past.

“I can’t believe you guys,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion. “You don’t even know him, and yet you’re ready to label him as a bad guy just because of some stupid comments when we were in school.”

“Those comments made you cry, Daisy,” Luke said.

“He’s different now. Anyway, this meeting is about Edward Hall, not my love life. I didn’t interfere with yours, so keep out of mine.”

Daisy stood up, her hands resting on the table as she leaned forward to stare at her brothers.

“You don’t get to judge me, Luke. You don’t get to decide who I love or who I date. Nathaniel has been nothing but kind and understanding towards me, something that none of my brothers have been able to do.”

Her brothers recoiled in surprise at her sudden outburst. She had always been the quiet one in the family, the peacemaker who avoided confrontations. But not this time. She was tired of being dismissed and belittled by her own family.

“Let’s get this meeting started so I can go back to my desk to make sure we can pay our wages bill this month,” she barked.

She watched her brothers attempt to disagree and want to grill her about Nate, but she was all business, banging open her work diary with the list of subjects she wanted to go through. Archer would give his headline news, and then it would be Daisy.

Luke gave her the evils, and Jason had moved on and tapped at his tablet to get to come to life. When she looked back to Archer, he was giving her a look of contemplation. A look she couldn’t read.

As the meeting progressed, Daisy could feel Archer’s gaze on her. It was as if he was studying her, trying todecipher what had caused her sudden change in demeanour. Daisy couldn’t help but feel self-conscious under his scrutiny.

When it was finally her turn to speak, she took a deep breath and began to go through her list of subjects. But she couldn’t shake off the feeling that Archer was still watching her intently.

When she was done, Archer went to his updates.

“Some Turner business that links in with Edward Hall that you should know,” Archer said. “Jennifer has retired, and Cynthia has hired nurses to look after her.”

Daisy’s dating life and her panic attacks were forgotten. They all focussed on Archer. Jennifer had been by Cynthia’s side for fifty years or more.

“Was it over the row outside the cottages?” Daisy asked and then regretted her omission.

“How do you know about that?” Luke asked.

“I was there,” Daisy confessed.

“We didn’t see you. In fact, we didn’t see you for a month afterwards.”

“I didn’t hang around. My internship finished early, so I came back to Copper Island. I could see something going down and decided if I was coming back full time, then I should take a break before coming back.”

“For a month?” Jason said.

“It was a really nice hotel,” Daisy replied with a shrug.

Three sets of wary glances swung her way, but Archer spoke up again.

“I’m told by Bailey that she only goes out for fresh air at night. Don’t be alarmed if you see her wandering about for fresh air at night. She’s taken to walking the perimeter of the fencing along the cliff after the filming shuts down for the day.”

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