Free Beautiful Distraction by Jess Michaels Page A

remarkable man, and she refused to do anything but enjoy it to the fullest.
    “This is a beautiful place,” she sighed.
    Mal looked down at her with a broad smile. “Not as lovely as my companion.”
    Warmth filled her cheeks, but Olivia refused to show how much his words had moved her. Instead, she rested her head against his shoulder as they continued up the path. “I’m glad I came with Violet,” she said softly.
    He looked ahead of them. “So am I.”
    They walked in comfortable silence for a while as Olivia took in the surroundings. She had been raised in London and lived there her entire life, so the freshness of the country, the greenness of it, made her heart hurt it was so lovely. She would certainly keep these memories precious in the future, both of this place and of the man she had found here.
    “This is it,” Malcolm said, motioning to a pretty little hill overlooking a gorgeous, clear blue lake.
    Servants had gone ahead of them to prepare, so there was a thick blanket spread out on the grass with various picnic items across it. Olivia released Malcolm’s hand and moved toward it.
    “Perfection,” she breathed as she turned to face him. “Mal, you were right, this is divine.”
    He smiled and together they began to spread the food out for everyone’s consumption. But even as they began to eat together, Olivia felt Liam and Violet watching them. Her friend was all but oozing confusion at how quickly Olivia had grown close to Mal. And who could blame her? But there was something about the man that made her trust him.
    The more troubling reaction was Liam’s. The earl alternated between staring at Mal and glaring at her. His scarred face was dark with emotions, first and foremost of which seemed to be anger.
    And if Mal’s best friend despised her, how could Mal continue an affiliation with her?
    Not that they had ever spoken of a future. Not that she wanted a future with any man.
    She blushed as she pushed those thoughts away.
    This wasn’t why she was here. Violet had brought her to be of assistance. Not just to distract Malcolm, but to aid Violet with her plans for Liam. And perhaps if she did that, it would help her remember her place in the world.
    “Violet,” she said, smiling at her friend, “didn’t you have plans in London at the end of the month?”
    Violet jolted. They had never spoken of such a thing and Olivia could see that her question had thrown her friend. That in itself was proof that Violet was struggling, for normally the other woman was more than capable of adapting to any conversation and turning it to her advantage.
    “I—” Violet began, voice shaking. “Did I?”
    Olivia drew back. Violet wouldn’t make this easy. “I thought you had something drawing you back. Certainly we cannot hide away in the country forever.” She tossed Mal a smile. “No matter how much we would like to do so.”
    He smiled in return, but there was suddenly distance to his stare.
    She cleared her throat and focused her attention on Liam. “Will you ever return to London, my lord?”
    The earl blinked and finally looked at her. “You are asking me?”
    Olivia frowned. Did he ignore her out of distraction or because he didn’t think her worthy of listening to? Did she even want to know the answer?
    “Yes, Lord Windbury,” she said, trying to keep her tone light. “We were talking about our return to the city in a fortnight or so. And I wondered if we might expect to see you and Malcolm there at some point in the future?”
    She smiled at him, but the earl didn’t return the expression. Instead, he stared at her as if she had sprouted a second head that was now bobbing up and down on her shoulder.
    “I don’t know,” Liam finally said slowly. “I haven’t put much thought into where I will go after our time in Bath is finished. But I don’t care for London. I swore to myself I wouldn’t return there again.”
    Olivia drew back, surprised he would reveal so much. It was well known