Well, she wasn’t a total idiot. If he wanted to help, he could help. And she? She’d...try really hard not to watch too closely as his muscles worked, not stare at his butt as he bent down, not feel the itch in her fingers to touch. And not dwell on just how handsome he was without make-up. Without anything.
Dear heaven, she was going to need so much help not to do those things.
It took over an hour for Alannah’s hair, face and body to be made-up—slightly less for the two male models, and slightly more for Nico to decide on how he wanted them draped in his first scene.
Finally they got to taking some pictures—meaning Vivi could have a moment to step back and organise refreshments. Good thing—she didn’t want to watch everyone start sweating as they took in Alannah posing in a teensy bikini.
‘You want some help?’ Liam caught up with her as she stepped off the boat.
She sent him a suspicious glance. ‘You don’t want to go watch the models writhe on your deck?’
He shook his head.
Oh, she didn’t believe him. ‘You’d really rather do the coffee run with me?’
‘I’d rather writhe on my deck with you, but sadly that isn’t an option.’
She choked back both her blush and a laugh. ‘We need to be quick.’
‘Do we?’ he asked idly. ‘Shame.’
Oh, he was naughty. So much naughtier than he’d been all those years ago. And even more irresistible. ‘You’re appalling.’
‘I’m not as bad as you,’ he argued mildly. ‘Here’s you spending your life doing everything to keep everyone else happy. When do you do what you want? Take what you want? You’ve got the give, where’s the take?’
He might sound as if he were teasing, but she got the less-than-subtle criticism. ‘This is what I want. I have everything I need.’
‘Everything?’ His brows arched and he waggled an admonishing finger at her. ‘No boyfriend. No orgasm.’ His expression reckoned she was missing out big-time.
She rolled her eyes. ‘What was I thinking?’ she played along, sarcasm dripping. ‘Of course, no life is complete without sex.’
‘You said it.’
She sent him one of her stern-secretary looks. ‘I do not need a man to have an orgasm.’
‘Oh, my.’ His laughter rumbled. ‘So independent now.’
‘That’s right,’ she said loftily, walking down to the doorway to collect the coffees she’d ordered to be delivered. ‘From meek and mild to self-sufficient and successful.’
‘And sassy,’ he noted. ‘But still someone else’s slave,’ he called after her.
‘Secretary,’ she corrected, giving him a kill-shot look over her shoulder.
‘Same thing.’ He shrugged it off.
‘Insult me all you like—it’s not going to work.’
He grinned and stepped in front of her to take the tray for her from the delivery boy. Easily dealing with the transaction in flawless Italian for her. At least it sounded flawless.
It sounded gorgeous.
‘Where did you go?’ he asked as they walked back to take it to the others. ‘After we split?’
For a moment she tensed, then consciously relaxed. Why not talk about it? They were adults now, right? They could hold a conversation about the past without getting worked up—neither flirting nor fighting.
‘London.’ She gestured for him to put the coffee down until the current crop of pics had been taken. ‘I had no money, no skills, three quarters of a degree, nowhere to live.’ She’d fought hard to get a foot in the door. She hadn’t had the time to think about him. Not ever think about him. But she was proud of what she’d achieved.
‘What about your parents?’ He frowned. ‘You didn’t go back to them?’
‘Why would I do that?’ she asked. After the way they’d spoken to her—making their opinion of her crystal clear? After what had happened to Stella, she’d known what she was in for when she’d walked out of that door with Liam. When her sister had left home as a teen, all record of her existence had been obliterated. Her parents were unforgiving. No memory of Victoria would remain in their home.
‘But...’ He picked up a coffee but didn’t take a sip. ‘You see them now?’
She hesitated. ‘I send them a Christmas card.’ Because there was that tiny part of her that ached.
‘Do they send you one back?’
She didn’t answer.
‘You’re kidding.’ He looked appalled. ‘They really did it, then? Cast you out? They don’t even acknowledge Christmas?’
‘Well...’ Vivi shifted uncomfortably ‘...I don’t put a return address on the envelope.’
Liam paused, then his left eyebrow lifted. ‘You haven’t told them where you live? Or what you do? Or anything?’
Vivi unnecessarily brushed her fingers through her bob, knowing it would fall perfectly back into place. Hooray for working with the world’s best hairstylists.
‘You haven’t given them a chance?’ he pushed.
‘What was the point? I know exactly what would happen. Look at Stella.’ She was too scared. If they didn’t have her address, she wouldn’t hope for contact. She couldn’t be disappointed.
‘Right.’ He nodded. ‘Well, what about her? Have you tried to get in touch with her?’ His voice raised enough for Nico to turn and frown at them.
Vi
vi took a step back from the others and sent Liam a frown of her own.
‘I thought about it.’ But she hadn’t wanted to come begging. She’d wanted to succeed on her own first. And she had. Then she’d made some friends at work. They’d become her family. And why would Stella want to get in touch with her? She’d walked away and never looked back. Never once thought to call her little sister.
‘But you never did?’ Liam had an intent, almost disapproving, solemn look on his face. ‘You’re so unforgiving.’
Vivi folded her arms across her chest. ‘No, I’m not.’
‘You are.’
‘Stella never once tried to get in touch with me. My parents told me that if I left, not to bother coming back.’ Hell, hadn’t Liam heard that? Her mother had shouted it so loud half the world must have.
‘You’ve never said anything awful in the heat of the moment?’ Liam asked quietly.
There was a silence and she sent him a look. Then sighed. ‘Trust me. I know they’re not interested. They’re the ones who are unforgiving. When Stella left, I saw what they did to her stuff. Why would I do that to myself? Why would I knock on the door only to have it slammed in my face?’
‘So you’re afraid,’ he said softly.
‘No. I’m just not stupid. Besides, I don’t have the time. I’m too busy—’
‘Doing everything for Gia.’
That again? ‘Gianetta’s been more of a friend to me than anyone in my family ever has,’ Vivi pointed out. ‘And believe me, I understand that the relationship I have with Gia is a business one. If I annoy her, I’m out the door.’ She knew what she had to do to survive. And survive she would.
‘Okay.’ He blew out a big breath and then cleared his throat. ‘So what do you do for Christmas?’
Oh. She couldn’t help the guilty grin. ‘I work. What about you?’
‘I work.’
She laughed. So not surprised. That Christmas they’d had together had kind of killed the spirit. When you had people screaming at you, it didn’t make things festive.