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Reliving every minute of that night had set him back in terms of the strides he’d made in setting safe boundaries with her. Rather than reinforce the fact this couldn’t be more than sex, remembering her in that dress had him longing to find her, to drag her back here so he could spend the rest of this trip with her tied to his bed as he lost himself inside her.
After returning from the tour yesterday, Liza had cheerfully invited him to join her for dinner because he’d allowed her to believe that they were on holiday together by inviting her to stay in his suite.
So he’d had to change up his game plan, increase the emotional distance as well as the physical. It had been easier than he cared to admit, pulling out the old Matt. The one his father had raised him to be—cold, arrogant, unapologetic. While that version of himself still existed and had made more than a few appearances over the years—usually whenever dealing with someone who was a threat to his family or his business—typically he was able to keep his mask of indifference in place, tucking the darker, less savory parts of himself away.
When the conversation about Johnnie’s cousins came up, Matt had spied a way to open her eyes to who he really was. He didn’t like rehashing the past because he never came out of the stories looking good, but he could tell Liza was trying to rewrite an old story, to create a better version of the night he’d seduced Tony’s girlfriend.
No such version existed because he’d done everything her cousin had accused him of, and he’d done it all with malicious intent.
Matt had been relieved when Liza’s temper sparked because it felt familiar and safe, like they were on solid ground again. In his mind, he’d already gone back to the hotel, moved her into her own room, and was prepared to ignore her for the rest of the trip. He’d even considered offering his apologies to the grooms, hopping on his jet, and getting the hell out of dodge. Coming here had been a huge mistake.
The best way forward was for them to go backward, to continue being workplace nemeses, old family enemies, and somewhere down the road—in a decade or eight—he’d find a way to break free of his obsession with Liza Moretti.
Of course, that plan went to hell when she paused by the reception desk, and he’d snapped at the idea of letting her walk away from him. As was becoming his habit where she was concerned, he instantly lost the ground he’d made by dragging her back to his suite and fucking her like a meteor was about to strike the planet.
Mercifully, Matt had made it through the night without another bad dream, but that was only because he’d tossed and turned, too anxious to ever reach REM sleep. This morning when Liza had asked him if he wanted to join her on her tour of Pearl Harbor, he’d bailed, claiming he needed to work again. Matt had hated the hurt look on her face. So much so, he’d almost caved and accompanied her, but fortunately, he’d managed to refrain. Instead, he’d drawn another sketch of her. This time, it was of Liza standing under that streetlamp on New Year’s Eve, snow flurries falling as she looked up into the night sky.
Once that was done, he’d done the unthinkable and ordered a bunch of art supplies online. They would all be delivered to his home by the time he returned from Hawaii.
Liza smiled at him as she returned to the table, but it wasn’t the easygoing one she’d graced him with a couple of days ago. This smile was less sunny, uncertain, maybe even a bit annoyed. Not that he could blame her. He’d acted like a bear with a thorn in his paw ever since they sat down for the rehearsal dinner. The meal had ended, their tablemates circulating the room, socializing with other guests.
“Johnnie said they’re about to start hula lessons. I think I’m going to give it a whirl. Wanna try it?” It was the most she had said to him since she’d returned from Pearl Harbor.
“Pass,” he said.
Liza sighed. “It’s Hawaii, Matt. The perfect place to forget about work and cut loose. Besides, I’m pretty sure hula lessons are a required part of the touristy fun. Think it was in the fine print when we booked our flights.” He appreciated her efforts to make peace. He didn’t enjoy the two of them being at odds, even if he’d been the one to put them there.
“I didn’t book a flight,” he reminded her. “Besides, wiggling my ass in front of a bunch of strangers isn’t what I call fun.”
“What is it with you and wiggling asses?” The unexpected tease was sultry as hell, reminding him of the night they spent together on his jet. Liza’s wiggling ass had been far too tempting for him to resist that night, so he’d given in, taken her.
With one question, she’d thrust them right back to that place he was trying to escape. Now, rather than walk away, he found himself not only closing the door to the exit but locking it as well.
Leaning forward, he lowered his voice. “Behave.”
The word and the gruff tone had the desired effect as her eyelids grew heavy, her cheeks flushed, and for a moment, he hoped she’d issue that same dare she tossed at him last night.
When she’d told him to “make her,” the alpha inside had crashed out of him like the goddamn Kool-Aid Man. Spanking Liza ranked in his top five favorite things ever and he couldn’t wait to do it again. If he had his way, he’d fill all five of his top spots with it.
This time, Liza’s smile was bratty as hell. And, for a moment, he thought he was going to get his wish.
Unfortunately, someone gave Johnnie a microphone and he invited guests to the floor for the hula lesson.
Tease forgotten, Liza rose from the table and walked to the floor. She glanced back over her shoulder at him a couple of times, obviously hoping he’d join her. The second time she looked, he shook his head.
He’d rather remain here with an unobstructed view of his naughty girl.
The instructor demonstrated several moves that everyone copied, while explaining the proper technique for hip swaying and the use of hands. There was a lot of laughing, everyone enjoying the lesson, taking it with varying degrees of seriousness.
Arnold’s hula was so wooden, Matt wasn’t sure he was moving his hips at all. Probably because all his concentration was on the arm movements, which were flailing so wildly, he was concerned the man might take flight. After a few minutes, Arnold threw in the towel, loudly proclaiming that there was a problem at the bar. As far as Matt could tell, the only problem was Arnold’s drink was ready and waiting for him.
Johnnie was, of course, an amazing hula dancer. As was Liza. God, she was a natural, and if Matt didn’t look away soon, he was going to have to excuse himself to take care of some business. His dick had been rock-hard since the first sway of her hips.
The instructor started playing a hula song, guiding everyone through the simple routine she’d just taught them. Liza’s happy expression told Matt how much she was enjoying herself, and he couldn’t help but smile as well.
Until an attractive man stepped up behind her.
Matt didn’t know who the man was, but it was clear he was a native of the island, as he’d been chipping in to help the instructor, the two of them moving among the guests, giving personal help where needed.
