Page 31 of Peyton's Price

Matthias gave her a gently chiding glance. “And I think it was because he was fighting his instincts, burying his natural impulses around you.”

“Are you sure you’re not reading too much into a few arguments?” How much time could Matthias and Liam have spent together if neither she nor the other Tylers had ever met him?

Well, Liam does spend most of his life traveling on business for the hotel.It was possible some fraction of that time had been spent here, with his mysterious friend.

Matthias leaned down. This time, she could smell the wine on his breath. “Like I said before, Peyton, you’re a good bet. And not to brag, but my instincts have always served me well.”

“I would say I have to take your word on that, but you do live on a mega-yacht, so I guess they can’t be half bad,” she said, surreptitiously checking her own breath on the next turn.

Well, at least if he does kiss me, we’ll match,she thought wryly, although it was obvious his desire to kiss her had dwindled away.

“Caroline understands Liam in her way, too,” Matthias continued as he slowed them to a stop, making the wine in Peyton’s stomach swirl unpleasantly.

“Caroline knows better than demand more than he’s willing to give. She probably doesn’t think him capable of more. But she’s underestimating him. The fact she is willing to marry him now, after what she vowed…well, that tells me she doesn’t realize that.” He stopped abruptly. “Unless she changed her mind—but no. She wouldn’t do that.”

Fascinated, Peyton raised an eyebrow. It was almost as if he was having a conversation with himself.

“About what?” she prodded.

“Sex,” he said with a shrug.

“What?”

He blinked as if he’d forgotten she was there. “I didn’t mean to say that. Discretion being the better part of valor, etcetera et cetera.”

Matthias’ warm hand came up to cup her cheek. “But…if anyone deserves to know where the bodies are buried, it’s you.”

Her heart skipped a beat, but it wasn’t because of his touch. Or at least, not completely because of it.

“Tell me,” she whispered.

He hesitated. Gripping his hand, she willed him to speak. “The reason I don’t have much faith in the future success of Liam and Caroline’s marriage is because she once vowed never to let him touch her again. And if I know Caroline, she will stick to that. For all her faults, she’s a woman of her word.”

Peyton didn’t understand. “But she’s crazy about him. I’ve seen them together.” All over each other in fact. Granted, those public displays of affection had tapered off since the early days of their relationship.

Just thinking of it made her stomach hurt. She lurched away. “I think I drank too much. And none of what you are saying makes any sense. Caroline loves Liam.”

“CarolineneedsLiam. That’s something else entirely. You see, he’s the perfect foil for her. She looks great on his arm, and he’s a tour de force in the hotel world. Liam can satisfy her father’s sexist desire to turn his hotel chain over to a man. Caroline likes to pretend it doesn’t bother her, but the fact her father is passing her over to head the family business hurts. The old man is holding out for this marriage, but if Caroline marries Liam, then the sting of the insult lessens. She’d be half the hotel industry’s foremost power couple. But trusting Liam with her body after what happened is another matter entirely.”

Belatedly, light dawned. “Hecheatedon her?” Shock nearly knocked Peyton over.

Never in a million years would she have guessed Liam would do such a thing. He was a man of integrity. He prided himself on keeping his word, which was why he never made promises to the women he dated. Until Caroline, that is.

Matthias pursed his lips. “Cheating is a strong word. They weren’t actually together at the time, but when you’re off and on like that, I suppose it’s a technicality. Regardless, she wasn’t able to look the other way the way, not the way she would have if she had found him with anyone else.”

Pivoting on his heel, Matthias put his hands on her shoulders. “Peyton, you’ve been trying to convince me that Liam doesn’t have any feelings for you, but you never asked how I knew howyoufelt. You see, I happen to know the signs. Only one man can inflict the kind of damage I see in your eyes. And I know because I’ve been there.”

Holy shit.It felt as if the floor under her feet was disintegrating. Or maybe it was her heart.

“Youand Liam?” she breathed.

He nodded. “Caroline swore she’d never let Liam touch her again after she found him in bed with me.”

Chapter 17

Peyton sat on the floor, clutching her middle. She was in danger of losing all four courses. Matthias sat next to her, pressing against her side.

“It’s going to be okay, Peyton.”

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