Page 19 of Must Have Been Love

Photographs load up slowly. And in each one of them he’s unsmiling, his eyes stormy and piercing.

Like he can see right through the screen to me ogling him.

I touch my lip stud, remembering the way he looked when he stared at it, his eyes the same vibrant color of the ocean.

He’s rich, he’s arrogant, and he doesn’t know how to talk to people without antagonizing them.

So why is my heart beating like it’s about to fly out of my chest?

* * *

HUDSON

“I hear you’ve been making friends with the locals,” Parker says sardonically as I walk downstairs after reading Ayda a bedtime story.

Tonight it felt like I needed to make things up to her. I was an asshole earlier and she got to see the whole thing.

Parker is one of my closest friends – and also a business partner. We met in college during freshman year and for more than a decade he and West Abbott, the third of our triumvirate at college and our other investor, have been the only two non-family members I’d trust with my life.

And right now he’s smiling at me like he’s just won the lottery.

“She isn’t a local,” I say, annoyed that I’m having to think about Skyler Brown again. Because every time I do all I can think about is those lips and that metal stud and all the things I want to do with it.

That’s it, the next time I go to the mainland alone, I’m going to get laid. It’s been a long time and there’s no way I’m getting involved with anybody on Liberty. I’ll call up an old friend, one who knows the score, and fuck this annoyance out of myself.

Then everything can go back to the way I like it. Calm, normal. In control.

“She kind of is,” Autumn says, breezing in. She and Parker have been married for six months.

I’m happy that they’re happy. I’m also annoyed that they got together behind my back.

“Of course she is,” Parker agrees happily, giving me the side eye to watch my reaction. “Her dad was Liberty born and bred, right?”

“Right,” Autumn nods, and I know these two have been talking about this all evening. That’s the problem with living on a small island, the gossip is fucking rife. And my sister thrives on it. “She’s pretty though, isn’t she, Hud?”

I let out a long sigh. “It’s Hudson. And I guess, if you like that kind of thing.”

Her lip curls into a grin. “I do, I really like her. I’m hoping to see a lot more of her.”

“Just be careful,” I say. “You don’t know her.”

“She’s Wayne’s kid. She’s practically family,” Autumn says. “And you should be nicer to her. If you want to buy the bar you’re going to have to win her over.”

“Of course I don’t.” I frown. “I’ll make a good offer.”

“Not everything and everybody can be bought,” Autumn says pointedly, taking a seat on my sofa and kicking her shoes off. She crosses her legs into a yoga pose that tells me this isn’t just a flying visit. She and Parker live in the lighthouse that came with the hotel. She’s worked hard with an architect to make it perfect for them.

I just wish she was there right now, because I have work to do tonight.

“Is there something I can help you with?” I ask pointedly. “Or is this a social visit?”

Her grin widens. She’s used to my mood swings. “Actually, I’m here to talk about Ayda’s birthday party.”

“What birthday party?” I ask. Ayda’s birthday is early next month. But I haven’t arranged a party.

Autumn rolls her eyes. “It’s your daughter’s sixth birthday. It’s a big deal. You can’t treat it like it’s another day.”

“I wasn’t planning on treating it like another day,” I tell her. “I thought we could go to the mainland. Maybe take her out for dinner.”

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