Page 37 of The Wedding Engagement

He came into view as she was lowered into his arms, his head turned to the people who had been holding her up. “She’s with me.”

Something about that sentence made her feel warm and fuzzy. He held her gaze as he brought her against his chest. “How was that?”

Liv’s feet made contact with the floor as she looked up at him. “It was awesome. I thought I’d lost you, though, and was a bit nervous about finding you again when I’m one of the smallest people here.”

He shook his head, giving her a wink. “Nah. I was with you the whole time, waiting to get my hands on you.”

Something pulsed between them and she could’ve sworn his pupils dilated slightly. But then he was taking her hand to lead her away toward where they’d stowed their jackets.

As they left the pub and headed out into the night air, the fun-filled heat of the pub gave way to the sting of cold. It was accompanied by a sense of disappointment that they hadn’t solved the band issue.

“As much as I enjoyed that,” she told Arran as they made for the bus stop, “we still don’t have a band for Sam and Maya.”

He was quiet for a moment as they walked the last few yards to the bus shelter. Then, upon reaching it, he leaned against the edge,an unusually pensive look on his face. “It’s okay. I think I’ve got the answer.”

She raised her eyebrows. “As long as Shuggie’s not got anything to do with it. I don’t want our next stop to be a gig by a band named Satan’s Schlong.”

He laughed. “Don’t worry. This one will be different. What are you doing on Saturday night?”

—

Liv kept watch out ofher living room window, waiting for Arran’s car to arrive. This time she had learned her lesson and refused to come along until he told her the name of the band. They were called Love to Love and that seemed like a good sign.

For some reason Arran had been ever so slightly subdued since he’d suggested them, though, which was weird, because surely if they were as good as he said, and also free on the date they wanted, then it was a win-win.

So why the long face?she thought as she spied him arriving.

She left the house and climbed into his car, shooting him a smile. “You sure you don’t mind driving?”

He shook his head as he took them onto the main road out of town. “It’ll be easier than getting the bus. And I don’t fancy a drink anyway.”

She eyed him as he drove. “But you said you’d drive from the get-go. How did you know a few days back you wouldn’t fancy a drink tonight?”

Arran flashed her a smile. “Just a gut feeling.”

He was hiding something, but Liv got the distinct impression that whatever it was, he didn’t want to disclose it yet.

Their destination was a large hotel out in the countryside, between Glenavie and another town farther south. The band were playing a wedding (another good sign) and had told them they werewelcome to pop in during the evening reception to listen to a couple of songs from the back of the room. Liv had been a little nervous about being seen as a gate-crasher, but Arran had assured her this was normal practice, he and Jess having done it when picking their wedding band.

Arran took them up a narrow, winding country road that eventually brought them onto the grounds of the hotel, and they parked at the front. It was an old converted stone building, with a large new extension at the rear that housed the function suite. The low pulse of music was apparent as they climbed out of the car and crunched across the gravel toward the main entrance.

Heartened by the fact that said music did not contain any expletives, she gave Arran a smile. He looked a little pensive again as they walked through the big oak doors and into the reception area.

“You know this is part of a chain of hotels?” she told him. “Apparently the sister one in Glasgow does the best afternoon teaever. I’d love to go there one day.”

Arran smiled at her. “You and your scone obsession.”

“Yep,” she replied. “Sorry not sorry.”

They were directed through to the back of the hotel, where the music grew louder and Liv could already tell she was going to like the band. A gorgeous, soaring female voice was singing a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” with spot-on percussion, cool-as-fuck bass, and the backing of two male voices.

They walked through glass doors into a large conservatory, one wall lined with glass and overlooking the hills. “This is amazing,” Liv said, casting her eye around the place. Arran still appeared ill at ease, and she tried to fathom what was wrong. This definitely wasn’t the same venue he and Jess had booked for their canceled wedding, so it couldn’t be that.

They bought a soft drink for Arran and a glass of wine for Liv and hung out by the bar. Liv smiled as she watched the happywedding crowd, a few the worse for wear but in a joyful way as they danced and chatted and celebrated the wedding of their loved ones.

The two brides wore white, though very different styles, with one in a tightly fitting fishtail dress and the other in a long-sleeved bodice that gave way to a full pleated skirt.

“They look so beautiful and happy,” Liv murmured, almost surprised when Arran agreed; she’d thought her voice had been too low to hear over the music. “And the band are brilliant,” she added, eyeing the red-haired singer in her green velvet gown and nattily dressed male colleagues. “I mean, this is decided for me already.”

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