Beautiful Distraction by Jess Michaels Read Free Book Online

shook it.
    “You were here not a moment after our arrival,” she said with a wave of dismissal for his apology. “You must be Mr. Graham.”
    “I am.”
    He nodded and released her hand. He was so businesslike, and still he hadn’t looked at Olivia at all. Would he be unhappy once he noticed her?
    “Your items follow behind, do they?” he continued. “You had no trouble with the move?”
    “No trouble at all,” Violet reassured him. “Thank you for arranging for the multiple vehicles to ferry both us and our items.”
    His lips thinned ever so slightly. “I was following Windbury’s directives.”
    Olivia saw the tiny twitch of Violet’s lips. She recognized Mal’s hesitation when it came to her as well. And she dealt with it by motioning over her shoulder and becoming the first to acknowledge Olivia’s presence.
    “I believe you have met my friend, Olivia Cranfield?”
    As Olivia held her breath, Mal swung his gaze to her. She could only pray he wouldn’t pretend he didn’t know her or look at her with disregard or disappointment. Everything seemed to slow, until his expression shifted to one of happiness and unmistakable desire.
    “Mal,” Olivia whispered, nearly sagging with relief as she took a step toward him involuntarily.
    Mal caught her hand and lifted it to his lips. “Miss Olivia Cranfield. It’s been too long.”
    “It’s been less than a week,” Olivia laughed, shooting a look at Violet, who had no idea of their meeting in secret. She swatted him playfully. “But I do agree.”
    As expected, Violet stepped away from them, leaving Olivia to what her friend thought was a duty, but was nothing more than an immense pleasure.
    “Violet doesn’t know about us,” Olivia whispered.
    He smiled. “Are you embarrassed by me, Miss Cranfield?”
    “No,” she said, shaking her head swiftly. “I just like having you as mine.”
    He drew back and she realized what she had said. Stuttering, she tried to correct her overstatement.
    “M-my secret,” she said. “I like having you as my secret.”
    “Hmm,” he said, his voice rippling low in her belly and making her thighs clench.
    He might have elaborated, but suddenly Violet was coming toward them. At her side was a tall, handsome man with a scar that stretched across his face. Olivia started, for she hadn’t even realized they’d been joined by a fourth member of their party.
    “Liam, may I present to you my dearest friend, Miss Olivia Cranfield,” Violet said, motioning to her. “Olivia, the Earl of Windbury.”
    Olivia shook away all her stunned and desire-filled reactions and stepped forward, offering Liam a hand. “Good afternoon, my lord. I’m so pleased to meet you. Thank you so much for including me in your invitation to Violet. I would have been gutted had we not been able to spend our planned holiday together.”
    She might have been laying it on a bit thick, but if Liam had any hesitations about her being here, she had to put them to rest.
    “We are happy to have you join us,” Liam said, casting a quick glance at Malcolm, rather than at her. “Some of us more than others.”
    Out of nervousness, Olivia laughed, but she didn’t like that Malcolm scowled at his friend’s observation.
    Liam couldn’t have cared less. He already had his attention back on Violet, and there was no mistaking just how much the earl wanted her friend. What was shocking was that Violet couldn’t seem to hide how much she wanted the man in return.
    “Mal, why don’t you have Miss Cranfield shown to her chamber?” Liam asked, his gaze on Violet.
    “With great pleasure,” Mal said as he offered Olivia an arm. “Shall we?”
    Olivia hesitated. The moment she took Mal’s arm, everything would change again. But she did it, and she could only hope that whatever happened next was something she could manage, because she presently felt decidedly out of her element.

Chapter Five
    Mal led Olivia up a very wide, very fancy staircase to an equally