Page 63 of The Wedding Engagement

“Because my experiment has worked.”

She frowned at him. “What experiment?”

“The one where I sit next to you and whisper in your ear. He’s giving me the evil eye.”

Liv’s heart thudded as she briefly raised her eyes and clocked Arran watching them, though he glanced away and nodded at what Sam was saying when she caught him. “I don’t understand.”

“I do. Did you tell him we went out?”

“Yeah, but he’s just a friend,” she said, watching Arran surreptitiously as she spoke and trying to ignore how hot he looked with his hair pulled up into a small topknot. “Why would he mind?”

“He’s clearly jealous. Does he know we decided to just be mates?”

“Yes.” Hold on, did they discuss that part? “No, wait…I can’t remember if I specifically told him that bit.”

Brodie leaned away, a knowing look in his eyes and a smile playing on his face.

She raised her eyebrows. “Are you enjoying this?”

“Kind of,” he said. “I seem to have a penchant in this friendship group for creating unnecessary jealousy. I think I like it.” He lifted his wineglass and sipped, pinkie sticking out and lips pursed as if he was an evil villain. Liv couldn’t help but laugh, and when she chanced another quick glance at Arran, he was watching them again, his face set in a frown.

She brought her eyes down to pay attention to her food, taking a mouthful. “Mmm, this is delicious.”

Brodie nodded. “Nico said his mum’s Italian? It’s her recipe.”

“Yeah, she’s an amazing cook.”

“Anyway. Stop changing the subject. Do you like Arran?”

Her mouth went dry, so she lifted her wineglass to take a sip. “Course I do. We’re friends.”

He rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean.”

She took another mouthful, staying silent as she chewed andweighed up her response. She kept her voice low. “Yeah. I like him. But it’s complicated.”

“Perhaps it doesn’t have to be,” he said softly.

Emotion pricked at her eyes and constricted her throat as she considered Arran back together with Jess. Why did the idea hurt so much, when she’d managed to cope with the reality of his being with her in the past? She blinked hard, then gave Brodie a weak smile, unable to get any words out.

Brodie touched the back of her hand with a reassuring smile, glancing at Arran briefly, before topping up their wineglasses.

Chapter

Sixteen

The springtime sun warmed Liv’sface as she sat at the edge of the Fairy Pools with Brodie, Ben, and Elise. Closing her eyes for a moment, she tuned in to the gentle sound of the waterfalls cascading into the far end of the pool.

Liv rubbed a towel over her wet hair, then wrapped it around her wet-suit-clad form. “Are you sure you don’t want to go in, Elise? It’s really refreshing.”

Elise glanced at the clear pool next to them, the stones and pebbles at the bottom perfectly visible—as if the water were glass. “It does look lovely,” she said. “But I’m such a wimp when it comes to cold water. My bad circulation goes mental and last time I tried open-water swimming the pain in my hands and feet made me faint.” She screwed her face up. “But don’t you guys tell anyone that; I’m still really embarrassed about it.”

Ben laughed. “Don’t worry, Elise. I’m with you, and I don’t even have bad circulation. I just hate being cold.”

Brodie nudged Ben’s shoulder, smiling. “But you work at a ski resort.”

Ben grinned. “Yeah, but I’m all cozy with a coffee inside the center, not out on the slopes like Sam and Maya.”

Brodie laughed, his blue eyes lighting up. Liv secretly rooted for him in her head.Come on, Ben. Fall in love with Brodie, you know you want to.

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