Wild Temptation (Wild, #1)(89)

All I care about is the fact that this kiss is either the end of something wonderful or the beginning of something magical.

“You should do that more often,” he murmurs, lowering me to the ground.

“You wanted me to smile. Here it is.” I run my fingers through to the end of his hair and allow my lips to spread and curve the way they want to. He places his hand on the camera, but I cover it with my own. “No,” I whisper. “This smile is for you. Just you.”

He takes his hand from under mine, conflicting emotions in his eyes, and cups my cheek. “I love the just-for-me smiles more than I love your normal smiles. Can I get them on a regular basis?”

I turn my face into his hand and kiss him palm. “I don’t know if I have a choice about that.”

“I don’t want you to have a choice.” He draws me closer to him. “I want your only choice to be me. No matter what happened before. And here, right now, this is the perfect time to make your choice. It’s a world away from everything you’re holding back because of. Promise me that, when we get home, you’ll tell me if it’s all or nothing.”

I close my eyes. I want it all as much as I want nothing. But right now, I want the all a little more.

“I promise. You, Tyler Stone, have three days to convince me why I should set every one of my fears aside and give you every part of me.”

“Are you challenging me, Miss Warren? Because you know how I take a challenge.”

“I’m challenging you. I challenge you to give me one good reason why I should take a chance on you.”

“Challenge accepted. I hope your heart—and your knickers—are ready for it.”

I open my eyes and stare straight into his. They’re dark and determined, hard and forceful, scheming, devious. I lay my hand at his waist and step farther into him. He grabs an umbrella and holds it over us ridiculously.

My heart and my knickers might be ready. I’m undecided if I am though. Still, I say, “I’m ready, Ty. Give me your best shot.”



Dayton sips her wine slowly. “A boat ride? That’s his idea of romanticizing you?”

“A boat ride with dinner,” I correct her like it’ll make a difference. I’m not really a boat person.

“Okay. But a boat? You hate boats.”

“I don’t hate boats. I simply have a strong dislike for anything that bobs in water.”

“Tell that to the salmon you ate for lunch.”

“Semantics.” I wave my hand and pick up my glass. “A boat. I feel sick thinking about it.”

“So tell him,” she says with a ‘duh’ face.

“No! He already paid for it and stuff. How awful would that make me?”

“Not as awful as you’d be vomiting everywhere with seasickness.”

My stomach turns. “Ugh. Don’t!”

“Don’t what?” Tyler asks, sitting on the chair next to me.

“Nothing.” I smile.

“So, Liv.” Aaron rests his elbows on the table. “Have you thought any more about my offer?”

The bar. The managing. The…responsibility. No, I want to say. I haven’t thought at all—but I’m quickly thinking that thinking stuff over is overrated.

“I’ll do it.”

Everyone stops.

Seriously? Is it that much of a shock? Wait.

Did I just agree to run a motherfucking bar? Holy crap. I did.

Their shock is justified.

“You will?” Aaron half-grins. “Really?”

“Why not?” I down my wine. Whyfuckingnotindeed. “I’m up for a challenge.”

Tyler squeezes my thigh under the table.

“Fantastic.” Aaron’s grin spreads across his face. “We’ll talk when we get back. We’ll go down there and run over everything.”

“Perfect. Why not?” I pour another glass of wine.

Wow. That was impulsive, even for me.

“Liv? Are you sure?” Dayton questions.

I close my eyes briefly before looking into hers. “I didn’t think about it before. That right there was an impulsive decision. I thrive off impulse. I have nothing to lose. Not really.”

Nope. Nothing to lose but a job. Good going, Liv.

“You’ll do well working for me.” Aaron sips his whisky. “Split-second decisions make success, not piss-assing around until you’re sure.”

“There we go, then. I’m already an asset.” I snort then turn to Dayton. “Your dress fitting is tomorrow, right?”

She nods. “At eleven. Are you coming with me?”

“Are you shitting me? Of course I’m coming with you, you idiot. I want to see this beauty!”

“She could turn up in a garbage bag and I’d still marry her,” Aaron says quietly, leaning over to kiss her.