When Archie came outside he saw Duncan who was stretching his legs. He was sweating caus he had just trained.

" Hi Duncan, training for something " Archie asked him. He was calmed down a bit after a walk in the gardens.

"Yeah, ... I'm training for the hilltop Race..." Duncan was out of breath."It's next weekend. Nothing for you Arch to take part at it ? "

" Don't think so, it's been to long ago that I had trained. I didn't find the time for it the last months with the opening of my restaurant. My condition is to bad at the moment." Archie replied. " And then...well as you probably can remember, the last time Jamie took part at it he was the second. Dad wanted him to win. After the race he said to Jamie 'you're a looser' and didn't talk for days to him." Archie took a deep breath. " In the eyes of my dad I am already a looser and if I'm gonna loose the race I'm gonna fall more in his esteem."

" Archie, you can do it for yourself not for the family " Duncan tried again.

"I'm gonna think about it Duncan, and then Justine is also expecting me back in London. I don't know if I can stay here so long "

That night Archie couldn't sleep. He went down to the kitchen to make a cup of tea. After a while he realized he wasn't alone in the kitchen.

"Hi, you also couldn't sleep Archie? " Lexie came into the kitchen, wearing a big shirt with the text 'Tasty' on it. She took an apple from the fruit dish and jumped on the table.

Archie raised his cup and asked " You want ? " She nodded no.

"No I can't sleep. " He looked as if he was irresolute. " Lexie I'm sorry I didn't eat something of that wonderful dinner you made " Lexie gave a sign with her hand.

"Never mind Archie. I was also very angry to Hector. He might be glad that I didn't empty the whole dish on his head. "

Archie must laugh about her reaction. " Lexie, I still feel guilty for what happened years ago. It's very hard to forget and to forgive for him, but he is still my dad. And I can't appreciate what he's doing. " Archie laid his hands on the dresser. Lexie stopped eating her apple.

"I hope for you that he will change Archie, and that he'll see how bad he's behaving himself "

"Yeah, maybe if he only gave me a sign that he still cares for me, then I'll take the decision to stay something longer and take part at the Hilltop Race "

" That would be great Archie,"Lexie said with a cheerful voice, " well ... if you wont do it for your dad then do it for me " Archie turned around to look in her face. What he saw before him wasn't anymore the little girl with whom he became good friends when he was young, but a very pretty woman.

"Lexie, if I didn't have you "

"....and your eyes then you saw nothing " she completed him.

With a smile on his face he walked in her direction to hug her. He looked her deep in her eyes. She looked at him from his eyes to his mouth and back. At once he started kissing her. A very tender kiss. But then the kiss became more passionated. He took her at her hips and she wrapped her legs around him. She wanted to feel him very close to her. Then at once Archie stopped kissing her. He did a step backwards and rubbed through his hair.

"Sorry Lexie, I shouldn't have done that. It's wrong of me. You know there's still Justine in my life "

"Never mind " Lexie said looking very disappointed. On that moment she wished Justine to the other part of the world.

"I'm going back to my room " she said leaving the kitchen. Some minutes later Archie also went upstairs. In his room he was laying on his bed looking to the ceiling.Then he took the decision to started training for the race the next morning. With still the feeling of Lexie's sweet lips on his lips he felt asleep.