Page 70 of The Wedding Engagement

“Yeah, he’s become a friend. But that’s all we are. He likes someone else.”And so do I.

Arran nodded, some weight seeming to drift from his posture. “I just thought…because he was so tactile with you…”

She recalled how Brodie had whispered in her ear at dinner on Friday night and admitted he was testing to see if it got a rise out of Arran. Then her eyes widened as she connected the dots regarding his invitation to join him on the love seat. Had it been a little more than his being considerate? Had he purposely done it to make Arran jealous for her benefit?The sneaky sneak.“He’s a tactile person. But I’m afraid to say I think he was overdoing it for your benefit.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Mybenefit?”

Well. This was embarrassing. As much as she loved Brodie, she’d be giving him a swift kick up the arse when she next saw him. “He…told me he thought that you, er, liked me and were jealous. So he was playing up to it.”

She was worried that might make him cross, but a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “He was, was he?”

Arran was so close that she was enveloped in his intoxicating scent. Each breath of it drove up her heart rate, making her head soft and fuzzy. “He didn’t mean anything by it. He’s a good guy.”

“I know he is. I like him.” He traced his fingers along her cheekbone, his voice turning husky. “I just don’t like him touching you.”

A sweet thrill coursed through her veins.This is new. And I think I like it.

“Last weekend. After you and Sam…spoke to Dave.” He paused, swallowing hard. “I wanted to hold you. Comfort you. But Brodie had his arm around you and I thought…”

She went onto her tiptoes to touch her forehead to his, to comfort him, and he dipped his head to meet her. “You thought it was because we were a couple,” she said softly, feeling terrible that she’d inadvertently given him the wrong idea and caused him pain.

He nodded, taking a shaky breath. “And not being able to hug you felt like shit.”

Her voice came out in some sort of scratchy state. “I wanted you to hug me.”

Arran lifted his chin, bringing his lips softly to her forehead and making her skin come alive. “I could tell you weren’t okay. You might’ve fooled everyone else, but not me.”

The heat was burning through every nerve ending, making her pulse throb. Making her want him closer still.

“I tried,” he said, his voice hoarse. “I really did. To keep awayfrom you. Give you and him some space. But I couldn’t do it, Liv. Not when you needed me last week. And not when I saw that twat grabbing hold of you”—a hard edge coated his words—“and calling you a fucking bitch.”

She pulled him closer, wanting to comfort him fully. She kissed his cheek and let her lips graze his stubble. “That’s why you’ve been avoiding me?”

He nodded, his breath hitching as she pressed her lips to his jaw. “I’m sorry,” he said.

“It’s okay,” she breathed against his skin, resting her face against his cheek.

They both stayed perfectly still, the cool night air stretching out in silence around them, with only the sound of their breathing audible. He lifted her chin to mesh her gaze with his, tracing her jaw with his fingers. She wanted his fingers all over her. “Your eyes are amazing.” He drifted his gaze down. “I love that dress. You look beautiful.” He looked back into her eyes. “I’ve been wanting to tell you that all night.”

Her mouth was too dry to answer him, so she ended up nodding and uttering some kind of squeaky sound.

“And I love your red heels, and your red coat.” He lifted the soft, spacious hood to cover her head, holding on to the sides to pull her impossibly closer. “Little Red Riding Hood,” he whispered, making her pulse spike.

Her voice trembled. “That’s how I think of it too. Little Red Riding Hood.”

He smiled softly, and she became caught in it, like a small animal dazzled in the headlights. “I love your smile,” she said, before she could stop herself.

He gently brushed the tip of his nose against hers. “Thank you.”

Her brain fused. “You have nice teeth.”What?

Arran didn’t miss a beat. “All the better to eat you with.”

Liquid fire flooded her veins and she grasped the back of his jacket tightly, unable to hold back any longer. “Arran.”

He searched her eyes. “Yes?”

“I want…” She swallowed, her palpitations returning with a fierce intensity.

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