Page 117 of Twisted Beauty

Katie giggled. “No, bonehead. Nothing like that. Can’t a girl just be happy to see her best friend?”

“Not this happy.”

But Liv decided to drop it. Not that she had much of a choice. They were already pulling into the driveway of Katie’s condo.

The second the car was parked, Liv swung the door open and hopped out. She was instantly struck with the sound of crashing waves, the call of the seagulls, and the tang of the salt air. So peaceful. So wonderful. She could hardly believe she was back. It felt like she’d been gone forever, and at the same time like she’d never left.

Liv looked at the entry to the condo complex and smiled. Home. A temporary one until she found her own, but still. She felt like she was finally home. She grabbed her carry-on bag from the back seat, slung it over her arm, and headed to the trunk.

“I’ll get your suitcase,” Katie said. “Go on inside.”

Okay, no. This was not normal. Not for a woman who was afraid to break a nail if she had to lean down and pick her own purse up off the ground. Besides, it took both of them to lift the thing into the trunk in the first place. “Katie, I’m warning you, there’d better not be anything going on.”

“Oh my gosh, Livvy. Would you quit being so suspicious already? I’m trying to welcome you home. Just say thank you.”

“Fine, thank you,” Liv grumbled. But her gut still told her something was up.

She headed for the front door, but glanced back at Katie, only to see a sly little smile on her face as she popped the trunk.

“Door’s unlocked,” Katie said.

Unlocked? Well, that could only mean one thing. A party. Liv paused before opening the door, but finally gave in. What choice did she have? She went ahead and walked in, but stopped short, just a few steps inside the front door.

Oh. My. God.

Matt stood in the living room, just a few feet away, staring at her. Actually, he was leaning against the back of the couch, with his long legs stretched out in front of him, looking casual and intense at the same time. His broad shoulders and large frame sucked all the air out of the room.

She couldn’t believe he was here.

Why was he here?

Her heart raced and she had to remind herself how to breathe.

“Hey.” His smooth, velvety voice wrapped around her like a warm, comforting blanket.

Liv swallowed and stared at him, but couldn’t quite find her voice.

He cleared his throat. “So we have a little problem.”

A problem. Like her being here? In his town? Well, that would be his problem then, not hers. Except he didn’t look upset. His gaze roamed over her face and zeroed in on her eyes, like he was drinking her in. Maybe it was wishful thinking on her part, but he kind of looked relieved to see her.

She tilted her head, afraid to open her mouth and ask what he meant. Afraid she was misinterpreting his body language.

Matt straightened up from the couch and pulled a folded piece of paper from his back pocket. “I have this nonrefundable plane ticket to LA, but it looks like I don’t need it anymore.” His voice was soft and gentle. Like warm honey. “Any idea what I should do with it?”

Tears stung at Liv’s eyes but she blinked them back. Was he saying he was coming to get her? Or was she delusional? She wrapped her arms around herself and tried not to get her hopes up. “LA?” she whispered.

He nodded, but he was so blurry that she couldn’t see his expression. She blinked, and felt a tear roll down her cheek. Damn it.

He took a few steps closer to her. “I’m guessing you weren’t expecting to see me today. Katie didn’t say anything?”

Liv shook her head.

“Well I’ll be damned. I thought she’d be on the phone with you the minute I told her.”

“Told her what?”

“My big plan. To show up at your doorstep and beg you to take me back.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked so sad she had to resist throwing her arms around him to make him feel better. “Grovel if I had to. And either bring you back here, or stay there with you.”