Don't Want You Like a Best Friend (Mischief & Matchmaking, #1)

by Emma R. Alban

The morning will come, with its light and its reality. But now, here in the cocoon of her bed, in their love, with nothing between them, is a perfection she’s never known, and she intends to savor it for as long as she can.

the way Beth touched her, the way it felt—she couldn’t do that with a man, couldn’t feel that with a man.

They could spend much of the year together at the estate. Avoiding Lord Montson’s mother, she supposes, but still.

She can live through anything if it will give her nights and days and sunrises with Gwen.

we continue consorting with the Havenforts I am certain he will rescind his approval and that will mark you for the rest of the season,” Mother says.

No love, no hope, no Gwen. There’s no way out but forward. Like mother, like daughter.

“You’ll have money, and time, and children,” Gwen continues, staring blankly at the fuzzy leaves. “He won’t be you,” Beth says, lips against her skin.

She stumbles as Beth surges forward, taking Gwen’s face in her hands to drag her down into a searing kiss.

“Does it ever stop?” “The heartache?” “Yes,” she whispers.

At least she had one brief moment of love and joy and affection before a life without.

She forces herself to step through the doorway, toward her new, empty life.

Albie steps in close, completely blocking Gwen from view. She’s never seen his face like that—dark and brooding and just a bit intimidating. It’s not a word she’s ever associated with him.

Lord Montson whoops and Beth realizes she’s spent the whole race staring at Gwen. Skirmisher’s the winner. They won. How utterly meaningless.

But it hurt less to drink than to listen to Albie’s uncle wax poetic about Meredith and the upcoming wedding and how they’re all heading for the country immediately afterward.

She’s just not sure what to do with the opportunity now that everything’s so horribly broken.

you’re convinced, I’m convinced,” Gwen tells the side of her head. “I’m really not strong enough to lose you again.”

Beth seethes. “Yes, seeing the person I hold dearest in the world a few days a year makes everything better. Spending the rest of forever with the Ashmonds now feels thoroughly tolerable.”

It’s not that Mother won’t acknowledge it. It’s that she can’t even imagine a world where Beth and Gwen could be together.

Gwen has a lifetime to grieve. But right now, they have only these twenty minutes in this little room.

would give my husband warning, that if he ever struck me again, that would be it. I won’t—I won’t stand to be beaten,” she says slowly.

“Where are we going?” “To get you your happy ending,”

“What are you doing here?” Gwen asks, turning back to Beth. “What we should have done months ago,” Beth says simply, squeezing her hand.

Beth is fresh meat, another young woman to embarrass and spoil, and tonight, that’s entirely Gwen’s job.

“I think James fancies men,” Gwen says on a rushed whisper. Beth goes still. “Excuse me?” “I think he likes men, and I think he likes Bobby.”

“No. No. We almost killed our parents. I am not embarking on another matchmaking scheme. Especially since we can’t marry off their parents to make sure they can be together.”

“I wouldn’t be with James,” Gwen says quickly. “It would be in name only. They’d live in one, we’d live in the other, and make appearances when necessary. The perfect disguise.”

“But since that’s not an option, yes. I’d like to take empty vows with James and get you in exchange, forever.” “Me too,” Beth whispers. “The marrying you part, not James.”