Page 59 of Holiday Home 5

“Traitor,” Avril said.

“It’ll be a closer match this way,” Tess said. “More entertaining.”

Avril only grunted and sank her teeth back into her sandwich. So came to be the planned tennis tournament. Not exactly the most exotic of events to participate in while surrounded by a tropical paradise, but Liam suspected that hewouldenjoy seeing the four women in their tennis outfits, out of breath and panting as they worked to claim victory. When it came to Victoria, it’d certainly be a novel sight, assuming she strained herself to such a point. However, he hoped to find a different way to see her in an exhausted state before that happened.

The rest of the picnic passed by pleasantly but uneventfully. As requested, he behaved. As though it might have been asked of her even before they’d come out here, Avril did the same. They ate and drank and chatted with one another, and no sinful games or opportunities were suggested. Nevertheless, Liam relished how normalized things seemed to be becoming between them all. Three of the four womenweretopless, yet no one seemed upset or bothered by it. In his estimation, that could only bode well for the group relationship.

And hewasstarting to think more and more in terms ofgroupsituations. Avril probably would have grinned from ear to ear should she have gotten a peek into the sinful list of opportunities budding within his mind. Some for the short term, others for the long term. The latter plans were especially sordid, involving both summer and fall—and yes, thenextwinter break.

He hoped things between them all would only improve from here. If the path continued upward, he liked his chances for those future hopes. He liked them a lot.

“Liam, are you okay going on our walk now?” Anna asked about twenty minutes later.

They’d finished eating a while ago, after which some relaxation and digestion on their towels had followed. Anna remained the only woman wearing both components of herbikini, though Avril lounged in the shade, not joining Victoria and Tess in the sun. This was probably why. For their walk, which had a minor chance of bringing them across another beachgoer or two, depending on how far Anna intended to take them on this walk.

“Sure, let’s go,” Liam said, smiling as he hopped up to his feet.

Curiously, Anna gathered two rolled-up towels. She asked him to carry their water bottles, and after doing so, they bid the other three women farewell.

“Have fun,” Tess said. Avril echoed the sentiment, though she added a wink directed at Anna.

The two of them left tracks as they headed northward. Because of the way the beach bent eastward, then sharply turned northward, it didn’t take long for them to lose sight of the three gorgeous women staying behind. Not that Liam minded. He had the fourth still with him, and her company was more than enough to keep him in a good mood.

“Be honest with me,” he said, “are you good enough at tennis that I should bet on your team?”

“It would be the smart bet,” Anna said.

Liam grinned, leaned over, and kissed her on the cheek. “I figured it would be. It always is.”

“My mother and I play together a lot.”

“That sounds familiar,” Liam noted. “So, tennis in the summer, ice skating in the winter?”

“Ice-skating year-round,” Anna admitted, blushing slightly.

“Unfortunately, I don’t think Fiji is likely to have a rink.”

“No, I’m afraid you’re right,” Anna said. She turned her dazzling beauty toward him. “But I think I’ll be alright for the week.”

“More than alright, hopefully,” he said. “I can tell I’m walking right into Avril’s newest trap, but I feel like I shouldoffer a reward to whichever team wins in your upcoming match. The only reason shedidn’tbring it up is probably because she’s less confident that she’ll now be on the winning side.”

“I imagine you’re right,” Anna said. She bit her lower lip, then glanced behind them as if expecting to find a red-haired skulker pursuing them. “What kind of reward?”

“I’m not sure just yet,” he said. “A romantic one, maybe? A zesty one? It should probably be a bit more than a handshake and a hug, don’t you think?”

“Probably a bit more,” Anna agreed. Compared to the others, the dark-haired heiress usually practiced a little more restraint and subtlety. Her response followed that tact, but her expression couldn’t sync up with it. Her eyes danced with a heat that bordered on scalding.

“A romanticandzesty one?” Liam said, acting as though he hadn’t seen anything out of the ordinary. He glanced at her. “By the way, now that we’re alone, did you enjoy what happened in the ocean? No worries or regrets over it?”

Anna blushed but shook her head. “It was fine. Erm, fun. I don’t regret that it happened.”

“That makes three of us, I’m sure,” Liam said. “Avril almost seemed as into it as I was.”

“Yes, I… noticed.” She blushed furiously, and Liam hid a smile by rubbing his mouth with the back of his hand. “Avril’s certainly making the most of this trip.”

“I hope we’ll do the same.”

Anna nodded, and in that nod, he saw that that wasexactlywhat she was doing right now. Leading them away from the others would allow her to feel a little less inhibited. And then…

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