Page 12 of Twisted Beauty

“Well then, get your pretty little butt out here,” Katie said.

An image of Liv’s “pretty little butt” swinging as she stomped out of the living room in that gauzy dress flashed through Matt’s mind. Then an image of that same ass naked on his bed, with Liv on all fours waiting for him, and that turquoise dress bunched up over her hips. Christ. He needed to get a grip.

Liv wandered out with her eyes red and puffy and her cell phone dangling at her side. She tucked the phone behind her back and held it there.

“Okay, bossy lady. I’m here,” Liv said with such an obvious tone of fake happiness he wondered how anyone bought it.

Matt ran a hand through his hair. The sadness in her eyes tugged at him, but it wasn’t his problem. He’d finally reached a point in his life where he didn’t need to worry about someone else’s issues.

Exactly why he’d stayed in Mexico. Sure, he’d originally come here to help out his grandfather with the magic shop, but that was supposed to be temporary until he found some more permanent help. Once he realized Sadie wouldn’t step foot in this place, even if it meant she could squeeze more money out of him, he refused to go back home. Staying in Mexico seemed like the best way to maintain his sanity.

“Oh my gosh, are you okay? What happened?” Katie shoved her way around Matt and the center island to rush over to Liv. The movement snapped him back to the present.

Why was he constantly surrounded by drama?

“Um, nothing.” Liv plastered on a smile that looked forced. “I just…have a headache still. Where’s that Advil?”

“On the counter.” Katie sounded relieved.

“Take three and meet us outside.” Zach placed a hand on Katie’s back and ushered her toward the patio door.

Liv gave him a little nod. “Yes, doctor.”

Katie wiggled out of Zach’s touch long enough to step back into the kitchen and snatch the pitcher from Matt’s hand. “Glasses are outside, bonehead.”

There wasn’t much he could do about Zach’s girlfriend but laugh. Sometimes he appreciated her spunk, but it was a good thing he wasn’t the one dating her. They’d kill each other.

He and Zach followed her out onto the deck, and the three of them sat down at the table on the same wicker chairs he’d told her not to buy just last week. They obviously weren’t designed to be dining chairs. Even at Matt’s height, the plexiglass table felt too tall.

Katie filled each of their glasses and then lifted hers in a toast. “To friends.” She fluttered her eyelashes at Zach. “With benefits.”

Zach nudged Katie under the table with his leg. “And private decks.”

“And meat,” Matt said, gesturing with his glass to the barbecue. He needed to bring these two idiots back down to earth, where they had company.

“Right on.” Zach winked at Katie with a stupid grin on his face, and Matt realized the innuendo a little too late.

A few minutes later, Liv waltzed out onto the deck with her margarita, looking much more composed. Without making eye contact with anyone, she set her glass on a side table and settled onto a lounge under a huge red umbrella like she owned the place. So even though this gathering was explicitly for her, she didn’t bother to join them at the table. How many times had Sadie done the same kind of thing? Acting like such a prima donna, with no concern for anyone else?

Liv stretched out her long legs, leaned back, and closed her eyes. The motion hiked up her dress, revealing even more of those slender, pale thighs and a hint of bright pink bikini underneath.

Holy hell. He needed to drag his eyes to her face, or the ocean, or his drink. Anything but that body.

He shook his head to clear it. “You comfortable there, princesa?”

She glanced up at him with her eyes glinting. “Did you seriously just call me a princess?”

“Ooh, I forgot you know Spanish, Livvy,” Katie chimed in from the chair across from him. “Want to practice with me?”

“Um, sure, but that one was pretty straightforward.” Liv closed her eyes again.

“Obviously. But most of it’s hard,” Katie said, pouting. “Like I really want to tell Matt to shut up in Spanish, but I can’t remember how.”

“You’ll get it, babe.” Zach whispered something else in her ear, making her giggle, and then reached for her under the table. Thank fuck Liv’s eyes were closed. Matt didn’t particularly care if Zach groped his girlfriend twenty-four seven, but Liv watching it with him would up the awkward a little too much.

The doorbell chimed and Katie jumped up. “More company!”

Zach followed her in like a man on a leash, and Matt shook his head. Not that he was faring much better. He didn’t even like Liv and yet he couldn’t tear his eyes from that body.