Page 44 of The Wedding Engagement

Sam flashed her a grin. “Fancy.”

Liv gave another of those high-pitched laughs. “Not really. I don’t think anywhere in Glenavie could be described as fancy.”

Arran listened, desperate to ask whom she was going on a date with. But he was trying to figure out how to interject in a polite manner, rather than going with his current instinct, which was to shout, “Who the fuck are you going on a date with?”

“Who’s the lucky guy?” Nico asked, rescuing him from his dilemma.

“Brodie, Maya and Sam’s friend,” Liv said, glancing at Arran, then away again quickly.

“Oh yeah, he’s a cool guy,” Nico said. “I’ve got a date this Saturday too. Maybe we’ll see each other.” He flashed Liv a grin. “A double date.”

She laughed again; this time the pitch sounded more normal. “We can rescue each other if it goes wrong.”

If it goes wrong, I want to be the one to rescue her.Arran realized that he washopingit would go wrong, and a wave of guilt washed over him. He lifted his beer and took a long sip, trying to douse the hot jealousy consuming his insides.

Chapter

Eleven

Liv dropped a packet ofbiscuits into her basket and headed toward the canned goods section. Her phone started to ring in her pocket, so she lifted it out as she walked.

Elise’s voice was a little panicked. “Liv. We’ve got a bit of a situation.”

She paused next to the tinned tuna. “What situation? Are you okay?”

“Oh, yes, sorry. I’m fine. It’s a wedding-planning-related situation.”

“What is it?”

“You know how Nico and I were meant to meet with that photographer this afternoon?”

“Yeah?” She reached out to take a pack of cans from the shelf.

“We can’t make it.”

Liv dropped the tuna into her basket. “Neither of you?”

“No. Jack’s got a fever, so I don’t want to leave him with Mum. And Nico’s got a vomiting bug.”

“Blimey. Everyone’s under the weather.”

“Yeah. Though Nico’s is probably a hangover.”

Liv smiled at Elise’s signature negativity wherever Nico was concerned. “I don’t think so. He wouldn’t have been out on the lash the night before his big date.” He’d mentioned having a date the same night she did, and hers was tonight. That thought sent a feeling of dread to her gut. “Anyhow. No need to panic. I can meet with the photographer and still have plenty of time to get ready for my date tonight.”

Elise let out a sigh. “Thank you so much. I owe you one.”

“No problem. Just text me the details.”

They ended the call and Liv grabbed a couple more things from the shelf, just as her phone started to ring again. “Shit,” she said, then glanced over to meet the disapproving eyes of an elderly lady across the aisle. She gave the woman a weak smile as she juggled the goods in her hands and the basket in order to answer the phone, not taking in who was calling. “Hello?”

“Hey, Aggie. I need to recruit you for a mission.”

Arran’s voice caused a delicious tingle to lick up her spine, prickling her skin with goose bumps. “Really? Well, I’m afraid I’ve already accepted a mission for today.”

“Has Elise called you?”

“Yeah. Why?” Liv managed to get her stuff into the basket.

---