Page 82 of Holiday Home 4

A rather large part,Victoria replied.As is evident by how little my arm can keep hidden.

Liam grinned at the rare appearance of one of her jokes, yes, but also at the plain fact that she hadn’t tried all that hard to keep everything hidden. Yeah, she’d picked that picture for a reason.

It hit him on the side of his head, the mistake he’d made. He’d gone and forgotten the compliment he should have led with.

Oh, yeah. You look delicious too.

My breasts look delicious, but my food can’t get the same compliment?Victoria asked, catching him off guard with a second joke in a row.

It was totally delicious. That’s why I ate everything on my plate.

But it didn’t get the compliment then,Victoria said, and he didn’t quite realize she was teasing him. Victoria Moreno,teasing someone.Avril would have thought that hell had frozen over.Only now, after I’ve brought it up as a complaint. Even though it’s the one you’ve been allowed to test the deliciousness of.

Fortunately, Tess kept her room cool, and the AC purred quietly through the vents set in the ceiling. She liked heavy covers, however, which meant that Liam’s body temperature soared. Carefully, doing his best not to wake Tess, he removed the covers, then decided to relocate altogether.

He ended up downstairs, grabbing a drink of water in the kitchen as he typed out a response that could backfire. He wasgoing past simmering now, and he hoped Victoria could forgive him. Instead, he hoped shewantedhim to do so.

Well, my imagination has convinced me that you have the tastiest breasts imaginable, so that’s why. Are you going to tell my silly, over-the-top thoughts that they werewrongabout your delicious breasts?

Reality rarely exceeds imagination,Victoria said, yet Liam could feel the rhythm in their replies syncing up.

Rarely, but in this situation?he hastily typed out, leaning against Tess’s countertop, staring at his phone excitedly.

In this instance, it’s possible,Victoria replied. Doused in oil, a match flickering before him, he felt on the cusp of being set ablaze.

I knew it. It’s why I’ve been calling you delicious for so long.

Yes,that’swhy you’ve used that specific compliment so much. It certainly wasn’t a flubbed compliment, which you’ve now maneuvered into feigning as deliberate.

Guilty as charged though he might be, he’d never admit it. The worst-kept secret in existence would go with him to the grave.I just knew it fit, that’s all. A perfect fit for a perfect woman.

Your compliments have certainly escalated tonight,Victoria replied.

I wonder why?he almost typed out. However, he decided to go a different route.

Just ensuring you’re aware of how marvelously beautiful and wonderful you are.

Were you thinking that I might be lacking self-confidence, Liam?

No, no way,he sent back.If you can casually tell me that you’re going to destroy me in chess over and over, then you’re not lacking in that department. Or any department, Professor.Besides, the last person who ought to be humble is you. Not after the absolute gift you just sent me.

It wasn’t a gift,Victoria reminded him.It was a prize. You took it when you defeated me earlier today.

Part of him knew she was reminding him of this because he shouldn’t start begging for freebies. Simultaneously, he knewshewas reinforcinghisconfidence.

To the victor go the spoils, huh?Liam said.

That was what happened, yes,Victoria said.

Her simple reply sent a surge of primal desire racing through his veins. What would a woman of her height and voluptuousness look like in a cavewoman’s outfit, barely wearing anything at all? It was a somewhat odd thought, yet he envisioned it all the same. And some of the bikinis he expected to see her in weren’t so far away from that level of exposure. Some might be more revealing.

I just need to improve so I can win against you more often. With spoils like these, I’m going to end up addicted.

My garden will be all the better tended as you try your hardest to get enough supply to become addicted, Victoria replied. Punching down isn’t great practice, and Tess and I have started playing again on Thursdays. Between that and some online play, I will be closing my weaknesses. You’ll have to earn your wins, every single one.

That’s how I want it,he said, even though hereallywouldn’t have minded if she wanted to be a bit more generous.It makes it taste even better.

You and your tastebuds,Victoria remarked.