Page 93 of Twisted Beauty

Liv smiled, a real smile this time. “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go.”

As she strolled back out to the pool with Matt, she asked about Elle.

“She was more upset than I expected,” Matt said. “And she asked when you were leaving Mexico. I told her it was irrelevant, but I did give her the date. I hope that’s okay.”

“Sure.” Why wouldn’t it be? Short term was exactly what she’d signed up for, and exactly what she needed. It was an unexpected bonus that Matt meant so much more to her than a rebound guy should. Because he hadn’t just helped her get over Grant, he’d helped her start to believe she had something valuable to offer. That she could live her life on her own terms. That was worth however much she’d miss him when she left. Probably. Maybe.

The minute they arrived at the pool, Pedro handed Liv a drink the color of a tropical sunrise. She took a sip and sighed as the cold, delicious liquid slid down her throat.

“Up for a dip?” Matt asked.

“No, but go ahead. I’ll be the one napping on that lounge by the hot tub when you get out.”

He cupped her chin and planted a chaste kiss on her lips. She watched him walk to the far side of the pool where Zach was floating on an inflatable chair with a margarita shoved in the drink holder.

Liv settled into the lounge, took a long sip of her drink, and closed her eyes. The voices of her old and new friends mingled together as they splashed around in the pool, and a few frogs had already begun their nightly chorus. Her shoulders started to relax, and the air felt wonderfully warm even as the day faded away.

The sound of Matt’s laughter wafted over on the breeze, and it made her smile. She opened her eyes and realized it was completely dark out. She’d dozed off. She picked up her margarita and took a sip. It still tasted good, even melted.

She spotted Matt standing in the shallow end of the pool, leaning back against the edge and chatting with Zach. God, he was delicious, with water glistening on his chest and a flap of dark hair falling over one eye.

Maybe she’d overreacted to the whole Grant thing. Who cared if he was here? She didn’t need to let him spoil this perfect little interlude in her life. She’d just stay out of sight and ignore his texts, like she’d been doing all along. She’d take control of her emotions, and enjoy spending time with her new friends.

Nate pulled himself up out of the pool and grabbed a towel. He wasn’t as beefy as Matt, but he wasn’t hard on the eyes either. And it struck her as telling that Jana went back and forth between staring at him and pretending he didn’t exist. Maybe their one night together meant more to Jana than she’d realized. One of these days, she’d have to pull her aside and get the real scoop.

“I’m your cook tonight,” Nate announced to the group. “Grilled chicken skewers. Anyone hungry?”

“Famished,” Sebastian said, and a myriad of voices agreed with him.

Liv watched from her lounge as everyone dried off and filtered out of the pool area, until it was just her and Matt. He walked over, trailing wet footprints behind him, and sat down on the edge of her chair. His gaze swept up her body, lingering on every dip and curve, and left her skin tingling in its wake.

By the time his eyes reached hers they were hooded and dark, and his breathing was choppy. He ran a finger along her collarbone. “Join me in the hot tub?”

Liv set down her margarita. “That’s the best offer I’ve had all day.”

She got up and followed him over. He sank into the water immediately, while she dipped her toe in to check the temperature. “Holy crap, that’s hot.”

Matt chuckled. “It feels good. You’ll get used to it.”

She twisted her hair into a knot on top of her head and sat on the edge of the hot tub, dangling her feet into the water and wondering if this was how a lobster felt in the last moments of its life. But she was determined to get in, not wanting to miss a second of the time she had left here with Matt. She slid in a little at a time, until she was finally able to get her whole body submerged. “Mmmm. That does feel good.”

He draped an arm around her and pulled her up next to him. “You seem happier now, beautiful.” He ran his hand over her shoulder and then up to her neck, digging into her muscles with his thumbs.

She closed her eyes, dipped her head forward and moaned.

“Come sit over here.” Matt pulled her around in front of him and seated her between his legs, with her back to him.

He placed those big, strong hands on her and massaged her neck and shoulders, and Liv felt every remaining ounce of tension leave her body. By the time he finished, she wasn’t even sure she still had bones.

“At the risk of ruining the moment, are you sure you don’t want to talk about what upset you earlier?”

The truth was, she did. She wanted to tell him that her asshole ex was in town, that she needed Matt there with her in case she ran into him. That she needed his strength and his calm self-confidence. But she didn’t want to be the kind of woman who needed a man around in tough times, to make her feel justified in her decisions. That was the old Liv. And look where that had gotten her.

She shook her head. “Thanks, but no. I’d rather just enjoy this moment.”

Liv turned herself around to face Matt and straddled him on the bench seat. She ran a hand over his jawline and leaned in to kiss the dimple on his cheek.

He groaned and hooked his hands under her knees, pulling her legs around his waist until she was seated on top of him, pressed up against him.