Page 32 of Twisted Beauty

“I’ll bet.” Liv folded her arms. “Too bad you can’t throw me out of here this time. If anyone’s leaving tonight, it’s you.”

That sounded like a dare.

“Toss her out?” Nate asked, looking back and forth between Liv and Matt with a frown.

“Uh huh. Turns out Matt’s psychotic,” Katie said. She waltzed around Liv and Nate like she owned the place and sat down in a folding chair at the far end of the living room. “Who knew?”

“Simple misunderstanding,” Zach said. True to form, he headed straight for the ice chest, propped it open, and pulled out the first two beers he could get his hands on without even looking at the labels.

“Oh my gosh, seriously?” Katie leaned back and folded her arms. “He threw both of us out. We didn’t even do anything, he just snapped. And you’re taking his side?”

“Of course not, sweets, I’m just saying you’re being too harsh.” Zach went to sit down next to her. “He thought he was protecting Tito. We talked about this.”

They’d talked about it? Matt took another long swig. If Zach shared any details about Matt’s life, he was an ass. This was none of Kat’s business.

Katie let out a little huff. “Is there wine?” she asked Nate. “I hate beer.”

“Would I invite you and forget the wine, Kat? Red or white?” Nate answered, but his eyes never left Liv. He’d followed her from the entryway to the balcony, where she looked out through a dingy slider at the buildings across the street.

“White, please.” Katie shot Matt a glare that could wither plants. “I need a super big glass.”

Matt needed to apologize. He’d promised Tito he would, but her tantrum was making him smile. So it would have to wait. Besides, he’d rather talk to her alone, or just her and Zach.

“Liv?” Nate’s voice softened. “What can I offer you?” He placed a hand on her lower back and ushered her toward the kitchen.

Matt balled his hands at his sides, and resisted the urge to punch the wall. If she wanted to waste her time with a jackass like Nate, that was her own business. He shouldn’t care. He didn’t.

“I’ll have the same, thanks,” Liv said. She could have made an effort to step away from his touch. Instead, she ate up the attention and had no idea what this guy’s motives were.

Nate filled two red plastic cups with wine and handed one to Liv. He took the other across the room to Katie before heading back toward Liv. “I’ve a playlist ready upstairs. I keep all the equipment from my DJ days locked away up there. If you’re curious, you’re welcome to join me.”

“Thanks. Maybe later.”

Smart girl.

“Any time, love.” Nate gave Liv’s bare shoulder a light squeeze and winked before heading up the stairs. “Back in a jiff.”

He knew how to lay on the charm, that was for damn sure. Judging by the way Liv watched him walk away, it was working.

A shrill voice pulled his attention to the far side of the living room, where Zach and Katie sat arguing over their drinks. Kat was animated, and looked like she wanted to scratch someone’s eyes out. He had to assume that someone was him. Apparently Zach hadn’t been able to improve her opinion of Matt one bit.

Instead of fuming over the nonsense at the magic shop, she should be doing something to protect her best friend from the likes of Nate. Instead, she was practically pushing them together. Typical Kat.

He glanced back to Liv, who was alone in the kitchen, checking out the various bottles of wine and looking fairly uncomfortable. So Matt finished off his beer, grabbed another from the ice chest and went to stand by her.

He pried off the bottle top with his own key and took a swig. “Look, I probably owe you an apology for what happened the other day.”

Liv raised her eyebrows and looked genuinely surprised. “How many of those have you had?”

Matt chuckled. “I’m not drunk, if that’s what you’re getting at. The truth is, I couldn’t let you take advantage of Tito. That’s all that was. Nothing personal.” He swiped a hand across the back of his neck. Why was he so sweaty?

“Okay. So let me see if I’m clear here. You introduce me to Tito, he shows me all the things he loves about his shop, you go ballistic and throw me out. Because you’re protecting Tito. Were you afraid I’d ask for a discount or something?” Liv placed her hands on her hips and looked at him expectantly. It took a herculean effort to keep his eyes on her face. Because it was his own hands he wanted on her hips, and that slender waist. His palms itched.

Matt swallowed and tried to focus. “Tell me something. Whose idea was it to tease Katie with that statue?”

Liv gave him the strangest look, and her features softened. She set her wine cup down on the counter. “Tito placed it in my hands and told me to take it to her.” Her voice was gentle, and there was something that looked like sympathy in her eyes. Matt had no idea why. “The way he smiled at me, like a mischievous little kid, I couldn’t resist.”

Basically the same story Tito sold him. He’d almost hoped Tito was exaggerating, so he wouldn’t have to feel like such an ass.