Page 70 of Booked for Summer

‘Define asshole… arsehole in this context.’

‘Aside from telling me off for trying to help his grandma? He thanked me for sleeping with him, told me it was just what he needed and walked out.’

Jeremy shuddered. ‘That comes under the definition of asshole, all right. Maybe it’s a good job he didn’t accept.’

‘He was rude enough to turn you down?’

‘He totally ignored my question and asked me about the budget, which I’m taking as the same thing.’

Beneath the careless shrug she saw his hurt and squeezed his arm. ‘He might come to his senses yet. And failing that, sod him. You can find a better best man.’

He looked at her quizzically. ‘The wedding is at the end of next month, when you’ll still be here.’

‘Second best am I now?’ She laughed and kissed his cheek. ‘I’d be honoured to be your substitute, but give Liam time. You probably surprised the hell out of him.’ She thought back over what he’d told her about his childhood, about what she knew of the man. ‘I don’t think he’s ever had a close friend before.’

Maybe it was why he’d pushed her away, too. But it didn’t excuse his rudeness.

* * *

Liam’s first thought, when he saw his grandma waving at him as he secured the yacht to its mooring was that she looked happier.

At least one of them was having a good week.

Of course his had been all right until he’d sabotaged his friendship with Jade. And then ignored Jeremy’s shocking request. As if he knew anything about being a fucking best man.

But for Jeremy to ask it of his boss, it must have taken balls as well as a lot of thought.

‘What’s wrong?’ Damn, he’d forgotten his grandma was watching. He’d barely opened his mouth to reply when she interrupted. ‘And don’t you tell me nothing. I know when you’re upset. I knew it when you were a boy, pretending you were quite happy to go back to boarding school when I’d already heard you sobbing your heart out, and I can tell it now.’

He double-checked the boat was secure, mainly to give him something to focus on besides the swell of emotion that had found its way into this throat. When he thought he had himself in check, he marched up to her and gave her a big hug. ‘Hello, you.’

She shook her head at him, chuckling. ‘Hello back. But don’t think you’re going to avoid my question.’

‘I wouldn’t for one minute.’ He threaded an arm around her waist. ‘But first answer me this. If you knew I hated boarding school so much, why did you keep sending me there?’

Sadness crept across her face. ‘I kept thinking you’d settle and make friends. I called the head once and he assured me you were fine and doing well academically. And you were so good at putting on a brave face I guess in the end it was easy for me to pretend you were fine.’

‘I was fine,’ he asserted.

‘Academically, yes, but we both know it left scars.’ She bustled him inside. ‘Now tell me what’s wrong because I’m older and wiser now and I won’t stop until I hear the truth.’

He decided to go with the easiest of his issues. ‘I was asked to be a best man the other day.’

Joy lit up her face and she clasped her hands together. ‘That’s marvellous. By who?’

‘Jeremy.’

‘The delightful guest-services manager?’

‘Your words.’ He let go of her and walked into the kitchen, busying himself with getting a glass of water so he didn’t have to look at her. ‘I didn’t accept.’ He waved a hand in her direction. ‘Before you get all up in my face, I didn’t turn it down either. I…’ Guilt, hot on the heels of shame, cannoned through him and he had to take a breath before he felt steady enough to face her. ‘I ignored the question.’

‘Liam Haven.’ He didn’t know which was worse, his own feelings of guilt, or seeing the disappointment on her face. ‘I didn’t bring you up to be graceless or rude. Being asked to be a best man is an honour and you should have treated it as such. Especially as it must have been hard for him to ask his boss such a thing.’

‘I know. It just took me by surprise.’ Understatement of the century. He’d have been less shocked if Jeremy had asked him to strip off and do a naked tour of the resort with him. How the hell had he allowed both Jeremy and Jade close enough to upset his equilibrium this week?

Had to be something mystical about the letter J.

‘Well, now the surprise is over, I hope you’ll apologise. If he’s got any sense he’ll have asked someone who appreciates the honour,’ she grumbled, rubbing salt into the wound.

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