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“Not a chance,” Avril cut in. “My group’s using the jet in a week, just like Grandpa said we could. You’re going to have to deal with it—and stop bothering him about it, too. I could hear your whiny complaints bouncing off the walls as I left the suite.”

Casey scowled venomously at his sister. “That isn’t fair. My trip’s been planned for months.”

“So has mine,” Avril shot back. “The destination wasn’t, but the trip’s been around since winter break. Suck it up. You don’t get to invite any bimbos on the plane with you; we all know that’s why you’re pissed about it. Grandpa’s not going to let you slut up his plane, so you’re throwing a hissy fit.”

Casey flushed with heat. For some reason, that was the moment he decided to mention a woman who was about as far from being a “bimbo” as one could be. “I can’t believe you’re taking Victoria with you. It’s ridiculous; you justloveto twist the knife.”

“Why not? I’ve gone to plenty of places with her. She’salwayswanted to go to Fiji. Now she can. I’m sure she’ll be happy about it. More so sinceI’mthe only Knight who’ll also be there.”

A moment before Casey could snap back, his grandfather loudly cleared his throat. Both grandchildren grew silent and still. Avril was even willing to look slightly abashed. Casey didn’t even put on an act of seeming chastised.

“I’d say this isn’t the norm,” Rory said, addressing Liam, “but I’d be lying. I hope you won’t think too much less of our family, seeing them act so churlishly.”

“Every family argues,” Liam said. “I overheard my dormmate and his sister getting into a shouting match on the phone over something silly—a missing jacket or something—just last week.”

“That they do, unfortunately. That they do.” Softening his sternness, he nodded. “I hope you and Avril enjoy the rest of your time here, then the trip you have planned. Come, Casey.”

“Bye, Grandpa,” Avril said, giving him a side hug before he passed, which served to hideherhickey from the two men.

Casey, however, didn’t follow in Rory’s wake. It was clear he still had more to say. And just as he was about to say it, all while glaring daggers at his younger sister, a voice barked at him from farther down the hall.

“If you want to find yourself flying onanyplane next weekend, you won’t ignore my words, Casey.”

Face shadowing darkly, though embarrassment finally appeared on his expression, Casey shoved himself past Avril and hurried after his irate grandfather. At that moment, he understood Avril’s earlier words. Rory Knight was the onlytruebillionaire of the family. He clearly had complete control over what he owned, and his grandchildren weren’t free to run amok quite as much as they might have wished. One liked to run a littlemore amok than the other, based on how the conversation had gone.

That meant Liam was left standing in the hall with theresponsibleKnight grandchild. Billionaires really were a different breed.

“Hate him,” Avril grimaced, watching until the curve of the stone hallway blocked Casey and Rory from view. “God, how miserable would Victoria be if she’d somehow married that jackass?”

“Probably very,” Liam thought, aware that he’d probably feel the need—that burr in his conscience—to mention that he’d finally met the person who’d almost become Victoria’s worse half once he saw her in a little while. The much, much worse half.

“Well, come on,” Avril said. “Talk about a mood killer. Blech.”

“I could try and fix that on the ride home,” he offered.

Avril swept her gaze toward him, then looked again at his neck. “That much is obvious. Come on,Boyfriend.If I have to introduce you to my family as Anna’s boyfriend, I get to have some fun with you on the car ride home.”

“Deal,” Liam said, though Avril quickly but playfully reminded him that it was a demand, not a deal.

Chapter Thirty-One

Sim, Portugal

Well before Liam could begin to detail his brief encounter with two other members of the Knight dynasty, Victoria noticed what Avril’s family had not. It wasn’t the most obvious hickey out there, but her crystal blue eyes snapped to it almost the second she opened her door. Outside of that, nothing. No mention of it, no inquiry about who’d given it to him. She let him in, and he came in. She led him out back, and he followed.

By now, it was all pretty rote. Playing against one another, chatting while he did his best but inevitably crumbled in the mid- or late-game, having something to drink, maybe something to snack on. The only difference between then and now was how late he’d arrived. It was already about when he’d usually startthinking about departing. Fortunately, sunset had stretched out a little as spring arrived, so it was still bright, warm, and pleasant at four o'clock.

He was a little hungry, though. He’d worked his muscles in a way he hoped wouldalsobecome rote.

Actually, there was one more difference than just his later arrival. His intentions. During his previous visits, he’d focused more on learning than winning. It was the right thing to do. Instead of praying for a fluke, he worked to improve his chances for the next week, and the next week, and the one after that.

Although he had one more chance the following Saturday, he’d decided he wouldn’t put all his hopes in that singular basket. Better to have two, one for each arm.

As he settled into his chair, his pieces already set up, Liam supposed that meeting Casey Knight might have been a gift, not a horror. Unintentionally, he now had something that might distract Victoria from the game, without hopefully ruining her interest in it. But she’d talked about him before, and it’d been so long ago, so he didn’t think it’d ruin her day. While it was clear that Casey was still wrapped up in the past, he didn’t think the same was true about Victoria.

“So, you know now, right?”

“Hmm? Know what?”

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