Page 77 of Twisted Beauty

Katie tilted her head. “To start a business with me and stay forever?”

She wasn’t touching that. “Matt and I are on the same page, okay? No matter what Tito wants. I like spending time with him, but that’s all it is. So stop worrying.”

“Whatever,” Katie said. “You should still take it off. You don’t want to mess around with magic.”

Liv lifted the pendant again and ran her thumb over the carving. The last thing she needed was some magic amulet sprinkling pixie dust all over her shirt in a misguided attempt to keep her in Mexico. To marry her off. Not that she believed in that sort of thing. But it did give her an idea.

“You realize if I’m dating a sexy hunk of a man, I might stick around in Mexico longer. You know, for all the no-strings-attached sex. I’d have to stay at your place longer too.”

"Oh my gosh. You’re right.” Katie bounced in her chair, grinning. “We could start that business together, and then by the time you’re tired of the man attached to all that awesome sex, you’ll want to stay anyway. You’re a genius. Destination Divas, here we come!”

Liv slapped her hands over her eyes. Katie was obsessed with this wedding business idea. “I’m starting to think that’s all you want me for.”

Katie thought for a moment. “I need you here for Tequila Therapy too.”

Liv shook her head, but couldn’t help smiling. “Let’s just drop it for a few minutes, okay?” She pulled out her camera and switched it on, thankful she still had some battery power left. “I want your opinion on the Mexipup photos.”

She flipped to a series of pictures, all of the same gorgeous brown-and-white mug. “Okay, this is Dexter. Which one of these pics would make you want to take this little guy home with you today?”

“I don’t want a dog. And anyway, isn’t Dexter a serial killer?”

“Dexter is the sweetest dog ever,” said a voice behind them. “He wouldn’t harm a fly.” Jana pulled a chair over from a neighboring table and sat down between them.

“Thank god,” Liv muttered under her breath. And not a minute too soon. No matter how many times she tried to change the subject, Katie wasn’t going to stop pestering her about Matt or the wedding business. Maybe Jana was just the buffer she needed.

“Thank goodness you’re here,” Katie said. “Otherwise I’d be spending our whole lunch looking at dog mugs.”

“What could be better than looking at dog mugs?” Jana took the camera from Liv and flipped through several photos. Her eyes widened, but Liv couldn’t read the expression.

A rush of anxiety flooded through her. She hadn’t had time to sift through the photos herself yet, and there was a good chance they were shit. Considering this was her first attempt at pet photography and all.

Unless you counted that one time she filmed Grant reporting on a downed tree blocking a major road. A huge chocolate lab had walked into frame, lifted his leg, and peed on a branch right next to Grant’s five-hundred-dollar shoes.

Live. On prime time TV.

Best. Episode. Ever.

Liv smiled at the memory. If she knew then what she knew now, she’d have searched for that dog after the show just to give him a big, meaty bone of appreciation.

“Wow, Liv.” Jana continued to flip through the photos. “These are amazing. All of them. They’ll really help the dogs get noticed online. How will you choose which ones to post?”

Liv breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m hoping you’ll help with that part.”

Katie reached over and covered the screen with her hand. “Never mind that. We have more important things to talk about. Livvy’s sticking around longer so she can keep having hot sex with Matt.”

Oh. My. God.

Jana raised her eyebrows. “Matt Reyes? You’re having hot sex with Matt Reyes?”

Liv dropped her head to her hands and groaned. She heard the waiter behind her and lifted her head to watch him drop off the margaritas, a bowl of chips with guacamole, and three menus.

She waited for him to leave. “Fine, yes. I’ve been having a little rebound fling with him, that’s all. It’s no big deal.”

“It’s a huge deal.” Katie held her hands out about a foot and a half apart to indicate just how huge it was. “Or so I’ve been told.”

“Wow, okay,” Jana said. “I thought maybe you and Nate had a thing.”

“Nate? No, he’s really nice. And handsome. Just not my type.”