The Best Friend Bargain (Kisses in the Sand #3) - Robin Bielman Page 0,1
say hi to her best friend.
His lips were pressed together, but his dimples were on full display and his eyes were laughing their ass off. He glanced down at the cake, back at her, then out toward the party. Whoever had pushed him had pulled a disappearing act and, unbelievably, no one else seemed to take notice of the girl wearing cake instead of a hat. Except the bartender. He put down her drink and said, “I’ll grab you a clean towel.”
Danny tipped back his skipper’s cap. “I’m sorry,” he said again. “But if it’s any consolation, chocolate is a good look for you.”
So he wanted to bypass the “Liv, what are you doing here?” question and banter instead? Fine. Liv could do that. She couldn’t blame him for not wanting to get messy. Or for taking her sudden appearance with some cold shoulder. She’d left with barely a good-bye and few words since, too busy giving herself a European makeover and falling in love.
She blinked a bunch of times and slid her tongue across her bottom lip. Then, because humiliation didn’t hurt quite as much with an accent, she went British on him and said, “There’s a first time for everything.”
He grinned and his brows rose in that charming way of his. He couldn’t help himself. Accents were his weakness with every female but her.
“Done right, first times are better than any other time.”
“And if it’s done wrong?”
“Then you have to do it again. And second times can be tricky.” He leaned his elbow on the bar, looking all relaxed and not the least bit contrite, like he was really enjoying seeing her covered in cake. The jerk.
“How’d I do?”
“I’d say you nailed it.” His lips pursed together in an annoying grin. “You could stop here and be satisfied.” He leaned a little closer. “Did I say chocolate was a good look for you? I meant great look.”
“Aren’t you the sweet talker.” Olivia glanced over her shoulder for the bartender. What was taking him so long? She was about ready to climb over the bar in search of cocktail napkins.
“So I’ve been told,” Danny said.
“By countless women, I know.”
He cocked a brow at that. “I should tell you the accent makes the cake on your face even better.”
“Imagine how good I taste.”
“I’m all for taste tests,” he said, his voice going deeper. Huh? He lifted his arm and gently rubbed the pad of this thumb across the corner of her mouth.
“What are you doing?” she asked, dropping the accent and taking a step back.
Danny stiffened and also took a step back. “Liv?”
“Yes, it’s Liv. Who did you think I was?”
“Miss?” the bartender said, drawing her attention. He handed her a towel, which she gratefully accepted and covered her face with.
What in the world had just happened? And why was the spot Danny had just touched tingling? She took a deep breath, in through her nose—ack! Bad idea. She snorted cake and choked out an unflattering cough.
Danny’s hand covered one of hers. “Let me help.” He took over cleaning her face, careful not to rub any cake into her eyes. Once through, he tossed the towel onto the counter and studied her. “Hi.”
“Hi.”
“Your hair is blond now. And shorter.”
She pried a piece of it off her sticky cheek. “Made a few changes while I was in London.” Including her attitude. Optimism, she’d discovered, did more good for her body than any diet ever had and she’d lost a few pounds without trying. Morning sickness had more recently made a contribution.
“You look good.”
“I think we already established that.” She gave a shy smile and giggled.
“C’mere,” he said with his usual affable tone, arms opened wide. His hug took them right back to where they’d always been. “What are you doing here? Is everything okay?”
Olivia pulled back. “Can’t a girl pay a surprise visit to her best friend?”
“Of course she can.” He eyed her with his super perceptive hazel know-it-all gaze and she had no doubt he knew a surprise wasn’t her only reason. But he also knew she’d tell him when she was ready.
“I’ve missed you.” She hadn’t realized how much until right now.
“Yeah, that’s why I heard from you so often,” he only half teased. She winced. She’d ignored him for months and here she was, hoping he’d jump into marriage and parenthood with her. “You back for good or have I lost you to the British capital city?”
“I’m back.” She left off the “for good,” hating the hesitation that