Something Borrowed by Louisa George Read Free Book Online

‘Anger management classes were only a suggestion; the police didn’t actually make me go.’
    ‘Pity.’ He stepped back and let her go past him into the restaurant.
    But she stopped and turned to him, her back to her clients so they couldn’t hear her. ‘You need to know I’m going to recommend to Stacey that she doesn’t have her wedding here. That’s for the best, don’t you think?’
    Those dark eyes widened and the temper she’d imagined he’d have flared. ‘Not for me it isn’t. It’s money. It’s business, my business, and I’ll encourage them to book. In fact, I’ll bend over backwards to help them. Is this because of what happened? Because of Jason?’
    ‘I try not to let my personal life intrude on my professional, so please don’t think I have any special grudge against you or your business, but there are plenty of other wedding venues in London. I’m not 100 per cent sure this is the right place for Stacey and Mark. We have quite a few more to see. We’ll be in touch if we want to take things further.’
    ‘I think she’s already made her mind up. And we both know you’ll want to keep her happy. I’ve already put it in my diary.’ He put distance between them with the cool tone of his words. ‘You can’t avoid everyone who was at the wedding-that-never-happened, forever, you know. I presume you’re going to Jane Davidson’s wedding?’
    ‘Going to it? Of course, I’m organising it. She’s been my friend for years.’ She put the emphasis on my. When she and Jason had split their goods and chattels—via text, because she did not want to see him again ever—they’d also divided their friends up, too. She’d made a list. She liked lists; they made everything seem so much more clear-cut. It took the emotion of everything. At least, that had been the idea.
    Sadly, no matter what she'd done, the emotion had got in anyway. Some of their friends had shown their loyalties either to Chloe or to Jace, so those ones hadn’t been a difficult decision. Jane had stayed friends with Chloe. Actually, Jane had begged Chloe to continue planning the Hollywood wedding; they’d arranged so much together it was a shame not to continue so close to the big day. Chloe had taken that as a measure of Jane’s loyalty. ‘It’s going to be magnificent.’
    Vaughn’s lips thinned. ‘Has she mentioned that I’m going? Only, I thought I should warn you. I wouldn’t want to put myself at risk of a second bouquet battering.’
    ‘For goodness’ sake, it was a bunch of wilting flowers, and don’t think for a minute that I would waste my energy on you ever again.’ Just as she’d thought her irritation was subsiding, it began to rise again, starting as a swell of heat in the knot in her stomach. ‘Why would you go to Jane’s wedding anyway? You hardly know her.’
    ‘Why wouldn’t I? Tim’s a mate, and it’s his wedding too. Although you women often seem to forget that a man is involved.’
    The irritation quickly spread to her fingers, which she tapped on her notepad. Although, even worse, she was annoyed at herself for allowing him to niggle away at her. ‘I am a professional wedding planner, and I am fully aware there are two people involved. Since when have you been Tim’s friend? You’ve only been back…’
    ‘Three months.’ As if he knew the effect he was having on her, he grinned. ‘A lot can happen in three months. We go mountain biking sometimes, rock climbing and play football together.’
    ‘With Jason too? He plays with Tim on Sunday evenings. Has been for years.’ Her shoulders slumped a little as she realised their lives had continued as if nothing had changed. Well, she supposed, nothing much had changed for them. They’d all been able to carry on dreaming and planning. It was only Chloe who’d been hung out to dry, living in a strange limbo for three months where sleeping had been sporadic, and worrying had become her norm. She’d been forced to find cash to buy