Page 80 of Twisted Beauty

He grabbed his duffel and headed down to the dock, in a hurry to see her again.

He ducked into Starbucks to grab a coffee on the way through town. Big mistake. The second he walked in, he spotted Elle at the back of the line. As if she’d felt his gaze on her, she turned to stare at him with big, sad eyes.

“I thought we were friends,” she said as soon as he got in line behind her.

He hated how upset she looked, but he had to be careful here. He couldn’t lead her on. “Good morning to you too. Of course we’re friends. Why would you say that?”

“Because no one thought to invite me this weekend. I talked to Jana last night. She’s going.”

If Zach purposely left Elle out, Matt would have to thank him later. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you weren’t invited. Zach and Nate organized it, I’m just along for the ride. I’m sure it was an oversight.”

Elle nodded, but still didn’t smile. “Okay.”

With his coffee in hand, he stopped at her table to apologize once again but left quickly. He jogged down to Los Muertos pier with his duffel slung over his back. What a relief to see people still lined up on the ramp, waiting to get on the boat. This was the last one to Yelapa today, and he’d have been pissed as shit to miss it. Good thing the boat was running late too. Operating on “Mexican time,” as the expats liked to call it, since the locals were so relaxed about everything.

Matt searched through the line on the dock and quickly spotted Liv and that striking hair tumbling down her back. Usually it was a deep reddish brown, but in direct sunlight the red streaks glowed and made her look like a fucking goddess. He couldn’t tear his eyes away.

Liv climbed onto the boat, followed by Jana. Seeing how tightly they were packing people together on the bench seating, he called out to Katie just before she stepped off the dock. “Save me a seat, Kat.”

She gave him a little wave and nodded. He returned to the back of the line, surprised she’d heard him over the rumble of the engine.

He was one of the last few to make it on the boat but was able to squeeze between Katie and Liv on the bench seat. Zach was on the other side of Katie, so she had to press up close to him to make room. Win-win.

“Hey, gorgeous.” Matt leaned in and kissed Liv on the cheek. She turned a bright shade of pink and kept her head down. How anything could embarrass her after everything they’d done together was a mystery to him. When she didn’t look up, he whispered, “Don’t you want to know if I brought my magic wand?”

She raised her head to look him in the eye and folded her arms across her chest. “I didn’t write that.”

He felt Katie nudge him with her shoulder, and Matt suddenly understood. “Well, that’s disappointing. Does that mean you’re no longer interested in my magic—”

“Don’t say it again.” She was still pink, only now the color had spread down her neck and toward the dip in her tank top, where he could see the edge of her bikini top and the swell of her breast. God, he wanted to touch her. Liv turned away from him to face Katie. “See?”

“Oh my gosh, you’re such a party pooper.” Katie shrugged and then grinned at Matt. “You know, she still hasn’t forgiven me for sending you that text. I thought it was sweet.”

“Sweet?” Liv sounded annoyed. “Sweet would be telling someone you miss them or how handsome they are or how much fun you have with them.”

“Thanks, sweetheart.” Matt winked at her when she glanced back at him. “I missed you too.”

“Ugh. I’m not speaking to either of you. I need a drink.”

Well, that he could fix. Matt reached into his duffel, pulled out a beer and twisted off the top. He handed it to Liv. “As you wish.”

And that earned him a genuine smile. He loved that smile. Like the clouds had parted and the sun was breaking through.

“In that case, you’re forgiven.” Liv took a sip just as the boat surged forward and beer splashed out of the bottle. Matt couldn’t resist the opportunity. He reached up and swiped a thumb across her lower lip, then sucked the beer off his own thumb. The look Liv gave him was so filled with lust, he didn’t know how he’d make it until he got her alone again.

The boat was fairly small, with probably ten or fifteen rows of wooden benches. The only sound he could hear was the engine as it sped across the waves, passing tiny picturesque towns along the coast.

Liv took a couple of quick pictures, but eventually had to put her camera away to protect it from the salty spray. It was particularly choppy today, and they were all getting drenched. Matt took her bag and tucked it beneath him, between his duffel and the seat, keeping it dry so she could relax and enjoy the ride.

She ducked her head into his shoulder and laughed as the boat slammed down on a wave and the spray hit her in the face. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. She fit perfectly against his side, like she was made for him. Like she belonged there. That should have bothered him, but it didn’t. Not a goddamned bit. If anything, the hour-long ride was over too soon.

As the boat turned into an inlet near Yelapa and slowed, a crescent beach came into view. Restaurants, tables, lounge chairs and umbrellas dotted the beach. A long, wooden dock sat off to one side, where their boat came to rest. The crew helped everyone disembark, one by one, and Matt grabbed his own duffel along with Liv’s and Jana’s so they’d have an easier time climbing off the boat.

When they were all up on the dock, Zach motioned for them to wait while he pulled out his cell and made a quick call.

“Pedro’s on his way,” Zach said. “Let’s wait up here.” He gestured to a small open-air cafe at the end of the dock. The place was closed, but they all sat on a bench out front. There wasn’t much room, so Matt pulled Liv onto his lap.

“So who’s Pedro?” Katie asked.