Page 8 of Holiday Home 5

So, shehadhopped into the shower with Anna. Well,thatdidn’t conjure up an eternally distracting image.

“Chessanda massage,” Avril said, stopping at the place he’d been standing when he’d been eating breakfast. “Andan almost empty bowl of yogurt and granola! You can apparently have it all aboard Knight Number Two.”

“Is that really the name of this plane?” Tess asked, sucking in a quick breath as Liam resumed his focus on the final knot in her neck.

“Oh, I have no idea. I probably should, but I’ve never asked.” Avril’s brilliant green eyes swiveled from recipient to provider. “If you’re giving out free massages, it’s only fair that you make sure you have enough hand stamina to share. One for me, one for Anna, even one for Victoria, assuming she doesn’t crystalize ice spikes out of her shoulders whenever a man tries to touch her.”

Avril received a dry look for her comments.

“I don’t mind,” Liam said. “I’m more than happy to use my hands for good. Anyone who wants a massage, well, I’ll be here all week.”

Eventually, Avril returned to the private suite or lavatory to get dressed. A short time later, Anna appeared for the first time this morning, already dried, dressed, and smelling incredible. A strong, enticing aroma of vanilla rolled off her skin as she was invited to sit next to Tess. She’d made it just in time to see him in the end game of Tess’s massage, and her in the end game of defeating Victoria yet again. Anna looked at both things with interest, the former especially.

He understood Victoria’s frustration; he’d felt it himself several dozen times. Againstbothwomen currently playing in this game.

One win and how many losses?he wondered as plans for one final match were made. They had a good hour or so before they needed to start preparing for their arrival at Nadi International Airport, but Victoria also had plans to shower. And he ought to follow in her wake once she was out, clean himself up a bit.

He wasn’t entirely sure how they’d spend their first day—or any of their days—in Fiji. He wasn’t even sure what island they’d be staying on or which resort Avril had gotten them rooms in. Nadi International Airport was on Viti Levu, Fiji’s largest island. But there were hundreds of smaller islands in the archipelago, including famous groups like the Mamanucas and Yasawas. He’d ended up slightly overwhelmed by the options during his personal search, and Avril was staying tight-lipped about everything—the benefit of being the trip’s benefactor. Everyone else, even Anna and Victoria, let her have her secrets. Since they’d probably been on trips like this with her before, Liam supposed their calm should set him at ease.

“Thank you so much, Liam,” Tess said once he finished massaging her shoulders. “I feel so much better.”

Her compliment caused his heart to soar, and he happily offered his services if she needed them again. Even though she already knew she had a lifelong free pass to his hands, no matter where she wanted them to go.

Anna and Victoria glanced at him as he moved around to pick up his empty bowl and return it to the kitchen. He was happy for the attention, hopeful they were also considering inquiring about a massage or two. It was an oddly fulfilling talent, being good at massages, one he wouldn’t have thought he’d be proud to possess. But, based on the attention it had received, he’d say the seed he’d planted had a good chance of sprouting in multiple locations.

By the time Liam returned, Victoria knocked over her king—she liked to do that, which was curiously dramatic for such a composed person—and accepted the fact that she wouldn’t be breaking her losing streak on this flight. Avril had also returned, dressed in loose, breezy clothing—all the women who’d showered wore similar outfits. While it might still be a little cool when they arrived, the weather forecast promised a warm afternoon in the lower eighties for their first day in Fiji.

After she and Tess stowed their pieces away in the compartments on their respective sides of the chess board, Victoria headed off to shower. Once that happened, Avril took her seat. Stretching her arms above her head, she nodded toward the nearest window. Liam’s eyes followed the gesture. Glimmers of sunlight were just beginning to become visible now, flecks of gold and orange as the sun chased after them on the eastern horizon.

“Just an hour or so away,” Avril said, lips curling into a lazy, catlike smile. “Paradise awaits.”

“Yes, butwhichparadise?” Liam asked.

“At this point, an itinerary would be appreciated,” Tess agreed. He was glad to have the support, expecting Avril to try even harder to clutch her secrets if he’d been the only one to bring up the topic.

“At least for the first day,” Anna said, forming their alliance against Avril’s tyranny in full. That was how you had to do it.

“Alright, fine, fine,” Avril said, bowing, for once, to the group’s pressure. “After we land, we’ll obviously be in Nadi. There’s a seaplane flight from there to the paradise resort we’ll be using as a home base, but there’s also some stuff to do in Nadi before we fly over—assuming you all don’t veto doing that sort of stuff.”

“A home base?” Liam asked.

“I’ve got us pre-booked for activities all over the place, spread all over,” Avril said nonchalantly, as if that were the expected situation. For a billionaire’s granddaughter, it probably was. “We’ll have options; don’t you worry your pretty head about that. As a loose opening pitch, I figured we’d hang about a little on the main island for some of the first day, absorb some culture, try some cuisine, and then go see ourlavishresort accommodations. Afterward, we can decide whether to be beachgoers on the second day or get active and start seeing the sights. I’ve got us passes for flights, boat rides, just about anything that acts as a mode of transport. And we’ve got free availability at two dozen resorts for the entire week, though I think you’ll all want to keep coming back to the main one I’ve selected.”

Well, that was at least something. She’d confirmed that they wouldn’t be staying on Viti Levu, though he’d always assumed she’d take them to a more private location. One of the island groups it was. Which one, they’d apparently find out in half a day.

Chapter Three

Permission for Paradise

According to their pilots, they were about thirty minutes from the airport when Liam rejoined the others. He’d showered, handled all his hygiene needs, and swapped into fresh clothes. When he returned to the others, multiple eyes looked toward the shimmering blue waters far below them. Soon, lush, verdant islands, some no larger than this jet, would also begin filling their view.

Until then, Liam would just have to “settle” for admiring the four beautiful women inside the plane. Each one of them could have stolen the hearts of a room. With four of them gathered in one spot, it was nearly overwhelming. Choked for options. That was what he was.

He settled down and made himself comfortable for the final bit of travel left, admiring them all. A perceptive set of eyes soon noticed him when he looked at her.

She had some of the most unique and alluring features he’d ever seen. Her eyes were a pearly, vibrant green. If anything, there might be a comparison or two to make with certain lagoons they might stumble upon in Fiji. Skin fair and soft—he knew that for a fact—her eyes always seemed to shine. From the moment of their introduction, he’d been awed by their beauty.

Those same eyes warmed his very soul. Looking at him, her affection toward him expanded her smile. That was always a good thing, especially when Anna had the most luscious set of lips that Liam knew he’d ever have the privilege of kissing, even if he ended up kissing a million other women. And right now, barring one more addition he’d like to make to his list of kissed women, he was pretty satisfied with the number he was at.

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