If anyone looked amazing, it was Logan. The playboy billionaire knew how to dress. He wore a dark suit with strong lines that accented his broad shoulders and muscular build. His usually messy hair was combed neatly back, making his jaw appear strong and chiseled. His friendly brown eyes were warmly set in a smiling, suntanned face. The only thing that kept him from airbrushed GQ magazine perfection was the red sunburn across the bridge of his nose.
“Blue is wonderful on you,” he mused, reminding me that he was watching me. The thought sent warmth through my core, which just made me blush harder. The last thing I wanted was any sort of attraction to a man like him. He was a snake in a very good-looking suit.
“Thank you.” I smoothed the front of my dress, suddenly feeling self-conscious under his intense gaze. The corners of his eyes crinkled with amusement at my discomfort, which only further raised my temperature. He had to know the effect he had on women—even women who were actively trying not to be flustered by him. “I was just on my way to go get Tyler. I take it you're staying at the resort as well?”
“I am. I was invited here just like you were.” He stood tall, unconsciously holding a handsome pose. I wished he wasn't so damn easy on the eyes. I couldn't stop looking at him in that suit and thinking of what was underneath it.
“I would think a billionaire playboy wouldn't need to take free vacations,” I said, hoping he couldn't see the effect his suit was having on me. His shoulders were just so deliciously broad and tapered down to a tight V that made me ache for his masculine touch. It just wasn't fair that he was so gorgeous and evil at the same time.
He shrugged, drawing my attention back up to his muscular shoulders. “I do actually look into places that my company promotes from time to time.”
“And the fact that the owner just happens to be one of your good college buddies certainly doesn't hurt either, I suppose.” I smoothed my hair back again and resumed my walk to the elevators. Logan fell into step beside me.
“You mean Noah Black?” He asked as we faced the silver elevator doors and waited for them to arrive. The stairs were available, but after the day's events, I didn't want to risk them in heels. Unfortunately, that meant I had to stand there and wait with Logan.
“As if there were another Noah Black?” I wished the elevator would hurry up. The door chimed softly, and I dashed inside. Logan hit the lobby button, but I hit the floor below us.
“Noah is always happy to help me with my travel arrangements. I certainly bring him enough business.” Logan definitely did give Noah Black and his hotel company, Diamond Hotels, enough business. Diamond Hotels was the preferred provider on Travel, Inc.'s website. The two men had made each other very rich.
The elevator rang as we reached the second floor. I quickly stepped out. I was about to let him continue on down to the lobby, but there was something I needed to know first. I turned and thrust my arm out to hold the door open.
“Did you or Tyler save me?” I asked, watching his face intently.
“Tyler,” he answered without hesitation. I couldn't detect any hints of deception in his face, but then again, I knew he was an expert liar. Especially when it came to me.
“That's not what he said.” The elevator chirped for the doors to close, but I kept them open. Logan looked thoughtful for a moment before answering.
“Tyler wasn't strong enough to keep you above the surface by himself. The waves were rough. I helped. He deserves the praise, though, not me.” Logan took a step closer to me but still within the confines of the elevator. “Tyler was the hero, and I'll stand by that.”
With that, he gently pushed my arm out of the way so the doors would close, and he continued down toward the lobby without me. I stared at my open-mouthed reflection in the shiny metal door. Tyler had said as much, but Logan's lack of desire for praise made no sense. He was the type of person who relished these kinds of opportunities, and carrying the hero's mantle seemed like something he would enjoy.
“Aunt Liv!” Tyler called out, yanking me from my thoughts. He hurried toward me as I turned from the elevator to see him and Maddy coming down the hallway. Tyler looked uncomfortable in his dress shirt and crisp pants; he was all awkward limbs and gawky angles that made the clothes look too small and too large at the same time. His nose and mouth were too big for his face, and his light brown hair was falling in his eyes.
He was totally geeky and graceless right now, but there was a handsome promise underneath his awkwardness. But, as he tripped on his oversized feet down the hallway, he was just a pre-teen boy with no grace. He was stuck being the ugly duckling for right now.
Perhaps that's what Logan saw, and that was why he was giving him this moment of glory. There weren't exactly a lot of paparazzi on the island. The media gain from this would be small without pictures, but making Tyler feel important would be huge. It was common knowledge that I considered him a part of my family and that he was Maddy's world. Perhaps Logan was going to use this as some sort of bargaining maneuver.
“You look really pretty, Aunt Liv,” Tyler said once he got to me. His hair was gelled and messy in an apparent attempt to mimic Logan's easy bed-head look. Unfortunately, without Logan's team of hairdresser's, it wasn't having quite the same effect. He still looked cute, though.
“You look very handsome yourself,” I complimented him. He grinned and stood up a little taller.
“What about me?” Maddy asked, finally catching up to her son. She wore a long, dark blue halter dress that hung in beautiful swoops. Maddy was curvy, and this dress hugged her in all the right places. She was always joking that she was trying to lose Tyler’s baby weight and that it would come off any month now. The dress was perfect on her, and it even managed to disguise her walking boot.
“Red-carpet-ready!” I told her as she struck a model pose.
“You're always pretty, Mom,” Tyler praised. She grinned at him and then kissed his cheek.
“You're just trying to get me on your good side,” she teased, but I knew she treasured his compliment. She turned to me and gave me a once over. “How are you feeling?”
“For the millionth time, I'm fine, Mom.” I rolled my eyes. She frowned and took my chin in her hand so she could look closer at the cut on my head. It didn't even hurt anymore. “Seriously, Maddy, I'm fine. Tyler did a great job of rescuing me, and the doctor says I'm going to live.”
Maddy frowned as she let me go, but as she looked at Tyler, the frown transitioned to a proud smile. He looked back and forth between the two of us and then rolled his eyes. He hit the button for the elevator, which arrived more quickly this time.
Tyler held his mother's arm, providing the support she needed with her walking boot as we came out into the lobby. She was a good six inches shorter than I was, so he was much more supportive for her than he was for me after the jet-ski accident. He looked incredibly pleased with himself as we stepped out of the building and into the night air. We walked quietly for a moment, enjoying the warm, tropical evening.
“This has been a much needed vacation,” she said, giving Tyler a gentle squeeze.
“You deserve it,” I told her. “You're the main reason we're able to be here. I never could have done this without you. The business never would have gotten off th