Page 47 of Twisted Beauty

And he’d designed this room to look like a small version of his kitchen there. Gleaming metal countertops, modern appliances, tile floor, a rack of stainless and copper pots overhead. It had probably been a mistake. Because every time he walked in, the thought of what he’d given up smacked him in the face.

“Seriously? I’ve heard of that place. I could never afford to go there myself.” Liv walked up to a sepia-toned photo hanging on the one solid wall in the kitchen. “Is this it?”

“Yes,” he said feeling a mix of pride and regret.

Matt walked up behind her, close enough to smell the fragrance of her skin, a light floral scent that had somehow survived the soaking she’d gotten out in the storm. Made him think of springtime and clear California days. He followed her gaze to the image and felt a rush of pride for not just the place he'd left behind, but the whole composition of the image.

“This picture is striking,” she said, studying it. “Did you take it?”

“My cousin did. The one whose clothes you’re wearing. She’s really into street photography. Visited me in Malibu not long before I moved here. She took some incredible photos. They’re all over the house.”

Liv glanced up at him. “You have more? Hanging?”

“You sound surprised.”

“I just—I didn’t know you appreciated photography so much. Or are you just being nice because it’s Aleta?”

He really liked that she remembered his cousin’s name. Three years of marriage, and Sadie never once got it right. Hell, she’d barely remembered he had cousins.

“I love it. And not just hers. I’ve been collecting photos from all around Mexico. My favorite is in the living room.” He gestured for Liv to follow him, and stopped in front of a huge framed photo of a gritty but vibrant street scene in Mexico City. He’d bought it at an outdoor art show on a visit there last spring.

“It’s gorgeous.” Her voice was soft, almost a whisper, and he had no idea why. “Where is this?”

“Zocalo. The main square in Mexico City. There’s so much there. Museums, cathedrals, government buildings, rooftop restaurants, you name it. A mixture of modern and ancient architecture. Aleta took one look at this photo and has been hounding me to take her there ever since.”

“I can see why.” Liv’s face was inches from the photo, taking in every detail.

“Apparently her friends won’t go with her. I’m the only one who puts up with the hours she spends in one place, taking dozens of angles of the same thing.”

“That’s really—”

“Don’t say sweet.”

Liv studied him for a moment, and then polished off her wine without speaking.

Matt held out a hand for her glass. “I’ll get you a refill. You want something to eat with that?”

Liv laughed. “After all that food at Tito’s, I’m lucky I have room for the wine.”

“Let’s sit in here, then.” Matt put a hand on the small of her back and ushered her toward the couch, having flashbacks of Nate touching her the same way at the party. He almost asked what happened after he left, but he was better off not knowing. “Have a seat. I’ll bring the wine and we can watch the storm blow through.”

Liv sat down, tucked one leg beneath herself and stared out the window, looking younger than her age and a little lost. Her feet were bare and she still had that pink polish on her toes he’d noticed at the party, making her alluring as hell. He didn’t ask what she was thinking. With what he'd heard of her history, he had to assume it was something he couldn’t fix anyway.

He went back to the kitchen to refill their drinks.

“Thanks,” she said when he handed her a full glass of wine.

Matt sat down next to her, leaving a few feet of space between them. They sat in silence for several minutes, watching the lightning show over the water, listening to the rain and the pounding surf, and sipping wine.

He resisted the urge to run his fingers along the silky skin of her face or the curve of her waist. Keeping his hands to himself was getting more difficult by the second.

The electricity between them was palpable, or maybe the lightning was screwing with his senses. He needed a few minutes to clear his head.

Matt stood abruptly, and Liv looked up at him with her brows raised.

“I need to make a couple of phone calls,” he said. “Make sure everything’s still okay at the shop. At my neighbor’s place too.”

“Your neighbor?”