Free Confessions of a Bad Bridesmaid by Jennifer Rae Page B

something burst deep inside. Something that she wasn’t sure she was quite ready to let out.
    She pulled her neck away and her hair slid through his fingertips. She turned to face him.
    ‘Edward...’
    His eyes froze. The expression on his face froze; then it went hard.
    ‘I’m sorry, Olivia,’ he said quietly as his eyes turned away.
    She felt the cold envelop her when his gaze left hers. He was embarrassed. Shocked that he’d done that. She could feel his mortification and it mortified her.
    ‘Maybe we should get to the village. Meet the others.’
    Edward’s voice was rough, embarrassed, and Olivia’s whole body burned. He’d realised who he was with. He’d remembered last night. That was the look in his eyes. Shock, realisation, disgrace.
    Olivia needed to move—to get away from Edward and his too-honest reaction. And from the awful feeling that she was beginning to feel much more for this man than she had a right to.

TEN
    ‘You never told me, Will, how did you two meet?’ Edward looked at his brother. He was doing everything he could to avoid looking at Olivia.
    Their walk down from the rocks had been awkward. Olivia hadn’t been able to get far enough away from him. What had made him kiss her neck he’d never know. Her skin was so silky and her voice was so sexy he hadn’t known what he was doing until it was too late. Until she’d pulled away and he’d realised he’d stepped over the line. He’d lost control. Which was not like him. She was bringing out the worst in him.
    ‘Actually, Olivia was going out with him first.’ Fiona’s little voice twittered.
    Edward stilled. What the hell...?
    ‘What?’
    ‘No. That’s not—not right.’
    Olivia was stuttering. What was she nervous about? He turned to look at her. He’d be able to tell what she was thinking if he looked at her eyes. But he couldn’t. She wasn’t looking at him.
    ‘I wasn’t “going out” with Will. I mean we went out. Once. But it wasn’t like he was mine. I mean, you only did it out of politeness—didn’t you, Will?’
    ‘You went out with Will?’
    Fire throbbed in his neck. The idea of his brother’s hands on her was making him sick. He reached for his beer and sipped it, trying to look casual. Inside he was anything but casual. That silky skin, those beautiful breasts... Had his brother touched them? Edward’s shoulders ached. He was going to have to hit something. Very soon. Or, better yet, someone.
    ‘Yes. Once. That was how Will and Fiona met.’
    Olivia’s eyes finally met his and her chin tilted up. Defiant Olivia was back.
    ‘You were going out with Will and he chucked you for Fiona?’
    ‘No. No. ’
    ‘You bastard.’ Edward directed a hard look at William.
    ‘Settle down, mate, it wasn’t like that.’ Will held his hands up.
    Edward turned back to Olivia and his knuckles whitened where his hands were clasped together. ‘Were you two together? Were you intimate?’
    ‘Edward—what a question! Intimate? Who talks like that?’ Will shifted in his seat. ‘No. God , no.’
    Edward didn’t watch Will. He watched Olivia and the way her shoulders slumped when Will said, ‘ God , no.’ Had she wanted to be intimate with Will? Did she still want him? Was that why she was dressing in short dresses and laughing so much? Was she trying to attract Will’s attention away from Fiona?
    ‘No! No... It was nothing, Edward! Will and I just went out for dinner. That’s all.’ Olivia looked up at him, her blue eyes glassy.
    ‘When was this?’ Edward asked quietly.
    ‘It was the night Will and Fi met. Eight months ago.’
    ‘Did you like him?’
    Olivia coughed and glanced at Fiona, then at Will. Edward didn’t take his eyes off her. A slow, pink blush crept up her cheeks.
    ‘Of course I did. Will’s great.’
    ‘I see.’
    He couldn’t look any longer; he had to turn away. Olivia wanted Will. His Olivia. Wait—what? Olivia wasn’t his. She didn’t belong to him. He’d just met her, and put