Page 35 of Pleasure Island

She pulled me into a Chanel No. 5 hug. “Did you enjoy your walk around the resort?”

“I always do.” Pulling back, I grinned at her. “It looks like the yoga classes are still popular.”

She wagged a finger at me. “Don’t you start on that again. Heavens, yes, they are popular.” She heaved out a sigh and shook her head. “I’ll never question your ideas again, child.”

I winked. “That’ll be the day.”

She caught my hand in hers and shook her head. “No. I have complete faith in you, Mila,” she told me.

The intent way she watched had me narrowing my eyes at her. “What are you up to, Grandma?”

She gave me an innocent look that made me narrow my eyes even more. “Absolutely nothing…for now.” Before I could press her further, she turned her charming smile on Liam.

I took my seat as she laid a hand on his shoulder, smiling at him as though they’d been lifelong friends. “And what do you think of my island, young man?”

I waited, expecting one of his non-answers.

But to my surprise, a real smile tugged at his lips. “It’s a beautiful location. Not exactly my speed.”

“Pleasure Island isn’t for everybody,” she said, patting his arm before offering hers. Without pause, Liam took her arm and escorted her back to her seat, all of ten feet away. “Tell me, Liam, did Mila try to talk you into doing naked yoga yet?”

Again, he surprised me. He laughed, the sound a little self-conscious, before offering his answer. “Again, something that’s not entirely my speed.”

“It’s not mine either. If I’m going to be naked and sweating, it’s not while an instructor is calling outDownward Dog,” Millie said, winking at me. “But it was Mila’s idea, and many of the guests seem to enjoy it.”

“A lot of people find naked yoga can be very freeing,” I said loftily, mentioning one of the selling points I’d used when convincing Millie to give it a try. “Not to mention, it’s a great work out and excellent for relieving stress.”

“I can think of something else that would do all of those things,” Millie said, a glint in her eye.

I could see a faint flush rise to Liam’s cheeks as he came around the table. I might have teased him about it…if Millie hadn’t been around. “My grandmother enjoys shocking people,” I told him.

He glanced at me, his mask once more in place.

Curious if he’d give in to me this time, I offered my arm. “We should sit. Millie put a lot of work into this meal.”

Solicitously, he accepted my arm and led me to the chair across from Millie’s.

He took the one that faced up toward the path, but still gave him a fair view of the beach – and anybody who might approach.

“You can take the evening off,” I chided. “I’m perfectly safe here.”

“My security is top-notch,” Millie added. Then she fixed her bright green eyes on me and said, “Now…without trying to worm out of it this time, tell me why you’re traveling with a bodyguard.”

Millie had been excited when I told her I was bringing company, and the only way to keep her in line had been to tell her the truth – Liam was there for security.

I made a face at her and reached for the glass of water.

There was a bottle of wine open and breathing, but before I could make the decision to have some, a uniformed waiter appeared at my side. He pulled the bottle from the bucket and went through the display of presenting it to everybody. Liam just stared at it, and I wondered what he thought of all of this.

Would he tell me if I asked him?

I bit back a soft laugh.

He barely spoke five words to me that he didn’t have to say out of courtesy. Him chatting with me about my grandmother’s beautiful little oceanside dinner? I didn’t see it happening.

He declined the wine, which wasn’t a surprise.

But Millie did as well, and I took my glass with a lavish sigh. “I guess that just means more for me,” I said, lifting my glass to Liam, then my grandmother.

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