Page 36 of The Bad Wedding Date

Fraser pushed into the small of my back again, edging me forward, and Tristan’s cocky smile fell as he took a step back.

“It’s not true?” Tristan asked, confusion marring his features.

“Does it even matter what my answer is? You’re all going to gossip anyway.” Turning to Fraser, I shook my head and avoided his gaze. “Let’s get out of here.”

“Come on, Char!” Tristan called out just as he reached for my elbow, gripped it tightly, and tried to turn me around. His fingers dug into my skin, pinching and potentially bruising. My head spun in his direction, and I stared at him through narrowed eyes.

Before I could issue him with a warning of my own, Fraser had stepped in front of me and was now staring down at Tristan as though he could crush his skull with one hand.

“You’d do well to get your hands off of her,” Fraser said with an air of calm that sent chills down my spine. “Now.”

Tristan paled and released me immediately. Backing up, he tried to remain as smug as he always had been, but I saw the subtle way he swallowed. I saw the fear shining from his eyes.

“Shit, Lottie. You didn’t have to bring a guard dog with you,” Tristan said with a nervous laugh.

“No, but he looks cute standing next to me, so I did it anyway. Goodbye, Tristan.”

He eyed Fraser and me, glancing between the two of us before he shook his head and muttered something under his breath—no doubt another insult—and we watched him turn and leave, unable to ignore the few people standing close by who were now staring at us. When my attention drifted back to Fraser, however, I saw he was eyeing Tristan across the room, his jaw rigid, his hands tensed by his thighs.

“Easy, big guy,” I said, placing a hand on his arm. “That idiot isn’t worth the fight,” I said.

“I don’t fight boys.”

“Then, I don’t need to worry about you killing the guy.”

“I don’tkillboys, either.”

He looked down, his eyes searching mine, and as if he suddenly remembered where he was, Fraser’s scowl faded, and his shoulders sagged.

“I’m starting to understand why you don’t like being around these people,” he said.

“Took you long enough.”

10

Fraser

She eventually gave in and shimmied to the dance floor the momentYoung Hearts, Run Freeby Candi Statonfilled the air—a guilty pleasure of hers, apparently. Charlotte, fuelled by too many bubbles, was fascinating to watch. The way she did whatever I said so easily should have made me happy. Instead, I felt bad for playing her like a puppet.

You’re better than that, Charlotte. Come on. You don’t even fucking know me!

It worked for me, though. This was what I’d been waiting for. All eyes were now on her while I stayed on the sidelines so I could turn my attention to the motherfucker who had ruined my life… although I’d yet to see him. I hadn’t had a chance to slip away and go sniffing around for any sign of him, either, with Charlotte’s attention so focused on my whereabouts. She always had her eyes on me, and I had to admit, I found it hard to take my own off her.

She found two older ladies on the dance floor who she clearly felt comfortable with. Each of them had bright, white curls and ageing skin. They had to be in their late seventies at best, but those people were who Charlotte clearly felt able to be herself around. She had an innocent old soul trapped inside a sinfully youthful body.

Dancing, she became magic, and I couldn’t do anything but stare at her.

Fuck! No!

Focus, Fraser. You’re not here for her. You’re here for someone else.

I begrudgingly forced my attention to drift around the room. It wasn’t a surprise to see a collection of bodies facing Charlotte’s way. Some pointing, others whispering, some laughing in disbelief that she was dancing, and a few obvious stares of contempt, including those of her own mother.

There was a look in Laurie Grant’s eyes that didn’t belong on a parent. Envy? Regret? Scorn? No wonder Charlotte felt like an alien among the streets of London.

Yet, there she danced, powered by my encouragement and her own determination to prove she didn’t need their approval, and I had to suck in a breath to stop the huge grin that wanted to be set free at the sight of her happiness.

“We haven’t had time to chat properly,” came a voice beside me.

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