The Bridesmaid's Best Man by Susanna Carr Read Free Book Online

access,” he pointed out.
    She glared at him. “Is this about you going to the wedding? I already said no.” She didn’t even have to think about it. The word had fallen from her lips. She had been stunned by his request. How could he ask her on a date—even a fake one—when he had broken her heart? Didn’t he have any feelings?
    â€œI need more than a wedding invite,” he explained. “I need total access. The rehearsal dinner. Behind the scenes.”
    â€œIt’s not necessary.” Angie shook her head and started for her car. “Heidi may be out of the wedding, period. She has a head injury.”
    â€œBut the people at the bachelorette party would be there,” he said softly.
    She stopped and turned. “You don’t think it was an accident.”
    â€œIt could be an accident. The police think so, and I haven’t seen any information about her blood alcohol level,” he admitted. “I think someone may have tried to hurt Heidi. It probably had something to do with her private life. I just don’t know how they did it.”
    â€œPrivate life?” She thought that was an odd choice of words and she thought about the other comments he’d made about Heidi. She lifted her chin when she realized what he was trying not to say. “You mean drugs. That’s why you asked if she was on something.”
    His eyes widened with admiration. “Good catch. I don’t know if she’s still using.”
    She pursed her lips as she tried to remember how Heidi had acted over the past few days. “I haven’t seen any signs of it.”
    â€œYou weren’t looking for signs, but maybe if I hung around while you were preparing for the wedding...” he said hopefully as he let his words trail off.
    Angie sighed and crossed her arms. “Why do you have to drag me into this?”
    â€œWhy won’t you let me be your date?” he countered.
    â€œI think it’s obvious.” It didn’t matter if it was a pretend date. Spending a day with Cole would remind her of what she once had with him. What she had lost.
    Cole’s jaw tightened. “Are you taking someone else?”
    She went still. Angie would love to lie and avoid any discussion on her nonexistent love life. But it wouldn’t take much for him to find out the truth. “No.”
    His blue eyes darkened. “Will someone get jealous if you take me?” he asked stiffly.
    She wanted to scoff at the suggestion. “No.”
    He spread his arms out. “Then what’s the problem?”
    He didn’t get it. How was that possible? For a private detective, Cole Foster was oblivious. “I don’t have to give you a reason.” She turned and marched to her car.
    â€œCome on, Angie,” he said right behind her.
    â€œAfter all,” she said, “you didn’t give me a reason why you broke up with me.”
    â€œIs that what this is all about?” His voice rose with incredulity. “I told you why I needed to break up with you.”
    â€œYou weren’t ready for a relationship.” She yanked her car door open. “It’s you, not me.” She threw the water bottle into the backseat with more force than necessary. “Something about how I deserved better.”
    â€œYou do,” he said quietly.
    She wasn’t going to fall for the sincerity in his voice. No, what Cole really meant was that he deserved better. “Are you dating anyone?” she asked huskily as the emotions clawed her throat. “Wouldn’t she be upset if you started hanging around your ex? Or would she understand that it was just for an assignment?”
    â€œThere hasn’t been anyone since you.”
    Angie didn’t realize how much she needed to hear those words until he had spoken them. If he’d been in a relationship with someone else, it would have destroyed her. “I find that hard to believe,” she