Free Broken Souls by Beth Ashworth Page A

more uncomfortable, Ashley turned away and went back to rummaging in the fridge. She used the open doorway to hide her deep exhale as she tried to forget the sight she had just witnessed.
    Her best frie nd's brother was attractive... really , really attractive.
    If she w as being honest with herself, she hadn't actually expected to be so impressed by his appearance. Yes, she had spoken to the man online for the past few years, but it was nothing compared to seeing him in the flesh for the first time.
    She had thought he was good looking already, but it was nothing in comparison to the body that had been stood before her. The image of him still burned in her mind despite her efforts to shift it. She pictured the olive tones of his skin. He appeared darker than what she had imagined him to be. The sun-kissed glow he sported worked as a highlighter, illuminating the side of his lean and nicely shaped upper torso before her eyes had filtered down to what she could see were firm thighs teasing through the gap in his towel.
    She felt a feeling of lightness in her stomach as if she had swallowed a gallon of bubbles. There was a twinge of happiness and excitement from finally being able to meet him, but alongside it there was also a feeling of anxiety.
    She had heard a lot about Marco and his taste in women from Gabby over the years. His standard was very picky when it came to choosing the women he wanted to sleep with. There was a certain fulfilment that all girls had to meet before he would even entertain the idea of spending an evening with them.
    She wondered if she would fit his criteria at all.
    “For God’s sake, stop it!” Ashley chastised herself for her own thoughts. She wasn’t supposed to be thinking like this about Marco. He wasn’t good for her at all. Deep down she knew this, but refused to believe it. The attraction between them was there, it was clear as day in her mind. But she would never be able to act on it. He was her best friend’s brother, so he was off-limits completely. It was something that she was going to have to get over and quickly.
     
    ~
     
    Ashley heard Marco emerging from the bathroom a little while later. She was curled on the sofa in a ball, hugging her duvet cover to her chest. Tears burned and stung the skin on her already sore face. She had been crying constantly since the earlier thoughts of Marco had invaded her mind.
    It was wrong for her to be thinking of him like she was.
    She had forgotten the real purpose of his visit to London. He wasn't here on a jolly holiday to meet her and have a happy time, but instead, he had flown into the UK to be by his sister's bedside. And, ultimately, arrange her funeral.
    Guilt overwhelmed and wracked her completely. She couldn't believe that she had been so selfish earlier. This was supposed to be all about Gabby. Everything in her life right now was supposed to be consumed by the best friend she had only just lost, and not the man who had just physically walked into her life.
    “ Cara, I'm going out,” Marco grunted, loosely tucking his shirt into his trousers. He picked up his suit jacket from the back of the sofa and threw it casually over his shoulder.
    Not hearing any indication of when he was planning to return, Ashley sat upright from her curled position. She used the duvet cover that was still clutched in her hands to dab at her unrelenting tears. “M-Marco,” she said, trying to garner his attention.
    By this time, he was already standing by the front door, his hand raised in readiness to open the latch. “ Si? ” he asked, flicking a glance towards her.
    “ Um... Are you planning on staying here for the length of your trip?” She cringed at her own bluntness as soon as the words left her mouth. “I... I meant that you are more than welcome to stay here if you wanted to.” She knew that her attempt at recovering the situation was long gone and that she was continuing to dig into a deeper hole.
    Marco pursed his lips. “I didn't