Free Beautiful Distraction by Jess Michaels Page B

that the earl didn’t speak about the past that had scarred him and driven him from his home. Normally she would leave the poor man alone with his memories, but this was an opening Violet could desperately need. So she continued.
    “I suppose I can appreciate that vow. After all, there is little to bring you back to London. You have cut ties with your sister since her marriage, haven’t you?”
    Beside her, Violet sucked in her breath in surprise and Mal physically jolted. And despite how uncomfortable she was, Olivia held her stare on Liam, waiting for his answer.
    “I do not speak about such things.” Liam sounded as though he were choking on the words.
    Olivia hesitated. How she wanted to stop. To leave it be, as would be polite. But she found herself speaking again. “Of course, after what you went through—”
    With a grunt, Liam pushed to his feet and turned away from them all. He stood on the edge of the blanket, hands clenched at his sides.
    Olivia froze, but Violet moved, rising to her feet and moving toward Liam. Gently she touched his elbow and he looked at her.
    “Why don’t we walk around the lake?” she asked softly. “I think we could both use the exercise.”
    Liam stared at her a moment, then he jerked out a nod and the two of them walked away.
    Olivia watched them go in shock. She hadn’t expected Liam to spill his every secret, but he responded to her like she wasn’t even a person.
    “He thinks low of me,” she whispered, refusing to look at Mal.
    Malcolm touched her hand. “He is simply very private. And…broken, which I’m sure you know from gossip. Truly, you cannot take his moods personally. I’ve known him for almost two decades and he still cuts me off just as he did to you.”
    Her embarrassment faded as she looked at Mal. There was a pinched, pained expression on his face as he watched their friends disappear from view.
    “Were you always in his service?” she asked.
    Mal shook his head slowly and lay back on the blanket with his hands propped under his head. As he motioned her to join him, she rested her head on his shoulder, spreading her hand against his chest as an act of comfort.
    “I was not as elevated as he in status, but we ended up at the same school. It may be hard to imagine, but at the time I was a very slight boy.”
    She sat up slightly to stare at him, all perfectly formed muscle and sinew. “No!”
    He nodded. “Indeed. Some of the more popular boys saw me as a target. Liam was their leader.”
    Her lips parted. “And he attacked you?”
    Mal smiled. “No. He stepped in and made it clear that I was to be his friend and if anyone else wanted to remain so, they would straighten up.” His smile faded slightly. “He was different then, charismatic and made to lead. Everyone wanted to be his mate and somehow I was chosen.”
    Olivia stared at him in wonder. It was hard to picture this strong, virile man at her side as a weak and frightened boy.
    Mal continued, “He took me in at school, but also at home. My father was not kind, often he was violent.”
    She flinched. That she did understand. “I’m sorry.”
    He shrugged, but she saw the tension on his face that showed her how much he cared, even if he dismissed the past. “It was a long time ago. But Liam made certain I was invited to every Christmas, every summer holiday with his family, in order to separate me from my father. He made what would have been a living hell into some of the best years of my life.”
    Olivia sighed. He had confided some painful facts to her, ones that explained perfectly why Malcolm would stand by Liam, despite the earl’s prickly disposition. They were bound as best friends.
    And Liam despised her.
    She sat up and turned her face so he wouldn’t see how much that fact affected her, even as she tried to gather her emotions. But her eyes stung with tears and the familiar press of humiliation at not being quite good enough began to make her chest ache.
    Mal sat up