When in Paris... (Language of Love) by Beverley Kendall Read Free Book Online

frown pulling on her mouth.
    The guys’ eyes meet across the table and a look passes between them. Troy clears his throat and says, “You just pulled the oldest female trick in the book.”
    April jerks her head slightly back and her eyes go wide then immediately narrow. “Excuse me?”
    At the soft warning in her voice, Troy barks out a laugh. “Okay, okay, don’t blow a gasket. But think of what you said to Zach. You asked him if he wasn’t going to Paris because his girlfriend would have a fit when you don’t even know he has one.”
    Well call me a dimwit but I don’t get it. And the mystified expression on April’s face tells me we’re rowing in the same boat.
    “Come again?” April asks, turning her bewildered gaze to Zach.
    Zach reclines back in his chair, a dryly amused smile ghosting his lips. “He means if you want to know if I have a girlfriend, all you had to do was ask.”
    After he says that, what does he do? He looks at me like I’m the one with the hidden agenda. What an ego. And he’s not the only one staring at me, but now so are Troy and April.
    April. My best friend.
    My defenses go up and before I take the time to think it through, I blurt out, “Why are you looking at me? I’m not the one who asked. Anyway, I don’t care if you and Ashley are still together.”
    There’s a big difference between being vaguely curious and actively attempting to ferret out information. I’m certainly not guilty of that. Although, it probably hadn’t been a good idea to mention his ex by name.
    “Of course you don’t,” Zach agrees smoothly, his tone conveying exactly the opposite.
    Of all the egotistical, pompous, asshat guys I’ve ever met, he takes the cake. He must think he’s God’s gift.
    “Believe me, Zach, if I wanted to know I would’ve asked,” I reply in feigned sugary sweetness, lying through my teeth. For a guy who knows diddly squat about me, he’s sure making some pretty grand assumptions.
    Wait. How the hell did I get pulled into this? April had been the one playing investigative reporter and now she’s just sitting back watching us like we’re her favorite stand-up act. With friends like that and all that.
    “Relax, Olivia, I’m only messing with you.”
    Right, that’s what he says but his words are at odds with the way he’s watching me. As if he can read every thought that’s ever gone through my mind. But if he wants to play the whole thing off as a joke, I’m fine with that.
    “Of course you were,” I say in an equally agreeable tone before I return my attention to my food without sparing him another glance. I can feel him staring a hole into the side of my face. Good, let him get a long, hard look.
    Troy does a poor job covering his laugh with a cough. When I narrow my eyes at him, he quickly averts his gaze, pushes his chair back and stands. “April, I almost forgot. My mom sent you something. I have it in my room.” He motions for her to come with him.
    Gee, how subtle.
    But my traitor of a best friend can’t scramble out of her chair fast enough and the next thing I know, I’m watching as they disappear down the hall and hear the subsequent closing of a door, leaving me and Zach alone. Something that’s never happened before.
    “April,” I call out belatedly, making a move to rise. Zach’s hand on my arm prevents me from following them.
    “They obviously want us to talk.”
    While Zach is speaking, all I can think—all I can feel is his warm hand on my arm. I must have been looking down at his arm like I’d grown another one because he releases me, not quickly, but slowly, so the tips of his fingers trail over my bare flesh until the contact is broken.
    “Sit down. I think we need to clear the air if we’re going to be friends.”
    Reluctantly, I sink back into the chair, vowing to wring my best friend’s neck as soon as I get her alone. Right now I’m sure she’s thinks she’s just the cleverest little matchmaker in the world.
    “Oh,