The Best Friend Bargain (Kisses in the Sand #3) - Robin Bielman Page 0,2

sat in the back of her mind. If Will showed up unexpectedly and wanted her back, she’d probably go. She still foolishly loved him.

“You need a place to crash?”

That would make marriage a lot easier.

Olivia had grown up without a father until her mom married when Liv was nine. Her mother had never wanted her. Certainly not out of wedlock, and only marginally afterward. Liv was a mistake that Joy Lincoln Marshall’s faith prevented her from remedying. Liv still struggled with feeling a sense of security and finding where she fit in.

Did she really need to ask this of Danny? At twenty-seven she could do and act however she pleased. But no way could she tell her rigid mom and conservative stepdad about the baby without being married. She’d yet to do anything that didn’t disappoint them.

Absently, she put her hand on her stomach. She knew Danny had no plans to get married and she’d do anything to maintain what little connection she had left with her mom. She was the only family Liv had and, regardless of her mom’s resentment and detachment, Liv needed her in her life. Asking for Danny’s help might not be the right thing to do, but it seemed worth a try. Being alone right now hurt through every layer of her skin.

Maybe she’d left London too soon? Will had freaked when she told him about the pregnancy. “I thought we were just having fun,” he’d said. “No strings attached.” Her heart had deflated at his words. She’d given him a week to change his mind. He didn’t get in touch or come find her to declare his undying love and propose, so she left London. Going back to the States, she’d texted him in lieu of another face-to-face that would only bring the sting of his rejection back to the surface.

The long flight had given her time to think about her options—and Danny. And how a marriage between best friends could work to their advantage. Okay, pretty much only to her advantage, but she hated the thought of Danny being alone when—

“Earth to Liv.” Danny waved a hand in front of her face. “Do I need to get you a drink or get you out of here?”

She blinked back to the present. “Out of here, please.”

“Let’s go.”

“Wait.” She looked down. “What about the cake? I feel horrible. We can’t just leave it like this.”

Danny leaned over the bar looking for something. “Hand me that knife?” he asked. Then he cut off the half of the cake that she’d smashed with her face. It was smaller now, but none the worse for wear. She let out a relieved breath. “Toss this for us?” The bartender nodded.

Us. That one teensy tiny word injected life back into her aching heart.

“Thanks, man. And would you call over to the Beach Café and ask Rachel to send over all the cakes and cookies she’s got? I’ll square things up with her tomorrow.” Danny turned to her. “Ready?”

Olivia wasn’t sure how to answer that, so she didn’t. Instead, she quietly trailed behind her best friend, hoping beyond hope that what she wanted to ask of him didn’t ruin their friendship.

…

Danny had missed the hell out of Liv, but seeing her didn’t entirely erase his agitation. He hadn’t expected her to hop on a plane for London six months ago with barely a goodbye and then practically suspend communication. And he hadn’t expected her to stroll into White Strand all these months later with something bothering her, and looking…

He’d just forget about those moments when she’d had cake on her face and he’d had no clue who she was. That moment when, for the first time in a while, he’d wanted to take a woman home with him. The absurdity of the situation and her coolness had been damn appealing. She hadn’t yelled or made a scene, she’d jumped into conversation. With an accent. If he were honest, though, he’d been intrigued by more than just the accent and even-temper. He liked the new hair color, the new curves, and a certain twinkle in her pretty green eyes that he’d never noticed before.

And here he was, taking her home, but for entirely different reasons. Liv had something on her mind he needed to get to the bottom of. They didn’t keep secrets from each other. She’d left the country right after being humiliated and fired from her job. The few times she’d texted, she’d sounded good. Her occasional emails had been