Love on the Rocks (Hawaii Billionaire Romance)

by Jennifer Youngblood

  “C-call 911,” Liam managed to utter before his eyes closed.

  Chapter 15

  Two months later …

  Maurie and Liam sat side by side on the floor of Liam’s condo, sifting through a stack of his most recent projects in an attempt to find a couple of contenders that could be made into giclees.

  Liam paused at a particular one. “What do you think about this one?”

  Maurie pursed her lips. “Hmm, it’s not quite right. There’s something off about the woman’s proportions. Her head looks a little big for her body, don’t you think?”

  Liam’s face fell. “What?”

  Maurie held a straight face as long as she could. Then she laughed. “Just kidding. Your technique is flawless, as usual. This one might work, but I want to see the others too.”

  A crooked grin stole over his face. “You got me.” He chuckled. “Better enjoy it while you can because it’s not likely to happen again anytime soon.”

  Maurie just shook her head. The upbeat music playing in the background, along with the lighthearted banter, was a healing balm to her frazzled nerves, giving her a glimpse of hope for better days to come. It had been two months since that horrible evening in Cooper’s gallery, and Maurie still didn’t feel completely like herself. The first few weeks were especially brutal because she had a hard time sleeping at night. Every dream that she could remember had Cooper in it, and she could literally see the life draining out of him before his eyes went as vacant as a glass-eyed doll. Then she would hear his last words: “See … you have it.” She still had no idea what he meant but felt there was something significant about those words. Then again, maybe the dreams were her mind’s way of coming to terms with everything that happened. Perhaps, in time, all would go back to normal. Then again, was there really any such thing as normal?

  She still had a hard time conceiving how duped she’d been by Cooper. A small part of her was saddened by Cooper’s death, but the largest part was relieved that it was all over. He was not the man she thought he was, so it had all been a sham from the beginning.

  The biggest shock came when she and Liam learned that Benny Kai, the private investigator Liam hired, had been killed by Rico and his partner. Liam had taken the news especially hard, feeling guilty for dragging Benny into the sordid mess. But Maurie kept reminding him that it wasn’t his fault. He had no way of knowing that those men were going to shoot Benny. The scariest part was—if things had gone slightly different that evening in the gallery, then she and Liam would’ve also been killed. A shiver ran down her spine.

  Kalia’s friend, Detective Ripley, had stopped by several times, questioning her and Liam about Cooper. The detective was looking for the stolen paintings and other valuable pieces Liam saw in the Hau’ula outbuilding. Unfortunately, neither she nor Liam had any beneficial information, leading Maurie to wonder if the whereabouts of the stolen art would forever remain a mystery.

  According to the doctors, Liam was recovering well from the gunshot, but it was hard convincing him of that. Everyday, he threatened to go out and windsurf, which was utterly ridiculous considering his shoulder was still in a sling. Thankfully, the wound was in his right shoulder rather than his left. Had Liam not been able to paint, Maurie suspected he would go out of his mind.

  Almost by unspoken agreement, Maurie and Liam had drifted back into the friend zone, leaving Maurie wondering where they stood. Several times, she’d been tempted to bring it up but didn’t want to add stress to their lives. Liam had not tried to kiss her since that night on the beach. She could tell from the electricity sparking between them that he wanted to, but he hadn’t. Regardless of what happened between them in the future, Maurie knew for certain now that she could never love anyone else the way she loved Liam. That certainty had come in a hard jolt when she was holding Liam in her arms, frantic he was going to die. She could only hope that one day, he would come to love her the same way. She felt Liam’s eyes and realized he was studying her.

  “What?”

  He nudged her. “A penny for your thoughts, love.”

  “Oh, I was just thinking about everything that happened.”

  He nodded in understanding, his eyes taking on a haunted look. “I know what you mean. It’s sometimes hard to banish the demons. Speaking of which, are you sleeping any better?”

  She shrugged. “A little.”

  “Liar.”

  “Moron,” she quipped, then quickly turned her attention back to the paintings so she wouldn’t have to think about the unpleasantness. Every time Maurie looked at one of Liam’s paintings, she felt like she was getting an honest look into the man he really was, deep down inside. His bold, steady strokes were the mark of a confident artist who was comfortable with his own abilities. And yet there was a sense of exploration and playfulness in his work that spoke of worlds yet to be conquered. The mixture was so indicative of Liam and everything she loved about him. They looked through several more paintings, critiquing each one, before she saw it. “It’s me.” Her breath caught as she put a hand over her mouth. It was exquisite. Somehow, in a way Liam could only do, she saw herself as she really was—a mixture of strength and vulnerability as she stood, her copper curls whipping in the wind, her hopeful eyes searching the horizon. Emotion welled in her breast as she turned to him. “When did you paint this?”

  “The night before my wedding to Dani.”

  The room started to spin in one giant kaleidoscope, and then everything suddenly became clear. “Why didn’t you show this to me?”

  “I tucked it away. Because anyone looking at it would know.” He hesitated, his eyes locking with hers. “Anyone would know …”

  “That you love me,” she finished, as the wonderment of what she was saying sank in.

  He smiled. “Yes.”

  Before Maurie came to Hawaii, she met a couple whose life revolved around music. She once asked the man: “How did you know your wife was the one for you?”

  His answer had stuck with her. “I knew it the first time I heard her sing.”

  Looking at this painting, there was no denying that Liam truly loved her. A single tear rolled down her cheek as she touched his jaw. “I love you too.”

  His dark eyes sparkled with mischief. “I know,” he said, winking.

  “What? You really are a conceited jerk.” She shoved him.

  He winced. “Hey, watch the arm.”

  She made a face. “Sorry.”

  He leaned in so close she could feel his breath on her face. Passion ignited when she saw the look of need in his eyes. “Come here,” he murmured before his lips met hers. Brilliant bursts of glorious color swirled around Maurie as she let herself get lost in the feel of him. Then came the thrilling heat that flushed over her skin and circled through her bones, melting away all defenses.

  When the kiss was over, Liam looked into her eyes. “You are amazing.”

  There was such tenderness in his expression that it caused Maurie’s heart to swell two sizes.

  A crooked grin formed over Liam’s lips. “Appropriate song, wouldn’t you say?”

  It took her a second to realize he was referring to the song playing on the radio by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat. It was one of her favorites because of the island flavor.

  Liam began singing along softly to the chorus as he wound a finger around one of her curls. “‘Lucky I’m in love with my best friend. Lucky to have been where I have been. Lucky to be coming home again.’”

  It hit her then. She was coming home to the place where her heart had been all along. “Yes, it’s very appropriate,” she sighed, leaning her forehead against his. She ran her fingers up his neck and linked through the hair on his nape. “It’s crazy to think that we had to go through all of that with Cooper, only to realize what we really knew all along.”

  He caught hold of her hand, a wistful look in his eyes. “Yes, it is. I should’ve fought harder all of those years ago when I first realized I was in love with you.”

  “And
I shouldn’t have pushed you away. No more regrets.”

  “No more regrets,” he repeated. A comfortable silence settled between them until Liam spoke. “You know, I’ve been thinking about Cooper’s last words.”

  “Really? Which part?” A shadow seemed to cover the room.

  “The see … you have it.”

  “Yeah, I think about it too. It was such a strange thing to say.”

  He looked thoughtful. “Maybe not.”

  She sat up straighter. “What do you mean?”

  “Rico, the shorter guy with the beard mentioned a painting called The Concert. Does that ring any bells?”

  She thought for a minute. “No, I don’t think so. Why?”

  An edge of excitement crept into Liam’s voice. “The Concert by Johannes Vermeer was among the group of paintings that were stolen from the Stewart Garner Museum.”

  “Yes, the notorious 1990 Boston theft. I had an art professor in college who was fascinated with the theft. He spoke of it often.”

  “Rico mentioned that Cooper had hired him and his brother to steal two paintings. The Vermeer and the Rembrandt.”

  Was that what he had said? She tried to remember, but pieces of that evening were still a blur.

  “I looked up all the paintings that were stolen in the robbery. There was a Rembrandt called The Storm on the Sea of Galilee.”

  She gulped in air as she realized what Liam was getting at. “Cooper wasn’t saying S-E-E … you have it.”

  Liam interjected before she could finish. “No, he was saying S-E-A … you have it.”

  Her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh my gosh. Do you think he somehow gave me the painting without my knowing?” Even as she asked the question, she remembered the tall man taking apart the paintings. “Do you think it’s hidden beneath the Kilauea painting Cooper gave me?”

  “I think it’s very possible. What better place to hide it? Cooper knew how much you love that painting.”

  “And that I would never part with it.”

  “And if someone ever came looking for it as those men did.”

  “They wouldn’t be able to find it.”

  Liam folded his arms over his chest. “Exactly.”

  A furrow appeared between Maurie’s brows. “When did you figure this out?”

  “Last night. It’s been nagging at me for some time now, but I didn’t connect everything until I remembered Rico talking about The Concert.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Do you really think I have the Rembrandt?”

  He shrugged. “There’s only one way to find out.”

  “Okay. Let’s do it.”

  Maurie held her breath as Liam placed the painting facedown on the kitchen table and removed the canvas from the frame. Then he took a knife and ran it along the edge, much like the tall man had done. A wave of excitement washed over Maurie when the layers separated. Ever so carefully, Liam pulled the top section away, until the Rembrandt was revealed. “It’s magnificent,” Maurie whispered, her eyes taking in the scope of the painting that depicted Christ and his disciples on a ship, amidst the turbulent sea.

  “Truly,” Liam agreed, running a hand through his hair. They both stood there looking at it in awe. “This could be the most important find since Rembrandt’s self portrait that was recovered 2005 in Copenhagen.”

  She looked at Liam, pride shining in her eyes. “And you’re the one who figured it out.”

  Liam shook his head. “Detective Ripley’s going to wet his pants when I tell him what we’ve found.”

  “Yes, he just might.” She put a hand on her hip. “I guess the two of us are making a trip to Boston soon.”

  He chuckled. “Yes indeed.” He hooked his good arm around her waist, drawing her close. “I love you,” he uttered before giving her a long, demanding kiss that made her go weak in the knees. A few minutes later, he pulled back, his voice growing serious. “I’ll go to Boston and return the Rembrandt to the museum under one condition.”

  She lifted an eyebrow. “Oh, and what is that?”

  “The minute we get back, we’re going to buy that sailboat we talked about.”

  A giggle escaped her throat. “Are you serious?”

  “Absolutely. We’re going to sail around the world.”

  “Hold on tiger, don’t get too far ahead of yourself. We still have a business to run. I don’t think our employees could handle us being gone that long.”

  “Okay, I’ll settle for sailing around half the world. How’s that?”

  “How about we start with sailing around the Hawaiian Islands, then we’ll go from there.”

  He thrust out his lower lip. “Party pooper.”

  She ruffled his hair. “Somebody has to keep your feet on the ground.”

  His eyes twinkled with affection. “Always the practical one.”

  “Always the dreamer.”

  “Makes for a great combination, doesn’t it, love?”

  A bubble of sheer joy burst over her as she pulled his head down next to hers for another kiss. “The perfect combination.”

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  The only way MacKenzie would be safe to go home again was when she heard that Solomon Squire had been booked into a maximum security prison where he belonged. She sighed, hoping that day would come soon, but forcing herself to acknowledge it might never come.

  “You keep pulling that face and it’ll stick that way.” The slow drawl of Haley’s older brother, Isaac, from the open doorway made her stomach smolder, and that ticked her off almost as much as the insult, but at least she didn’t jump in fear at a man’s voice.

  “Maybe I like my face this way.” She stood to face him and wished his looks were as off-putting as his sarcastic personality. But no, his face was perfect—olive skin, manly lines, and those green eyes that drew her in. Of course he had to have dark hair with just the right amount of curl and beefy muscles in all the right places.

  Isaac reached up and touched the skin next to her mouth. She tingled and tried to back away, but ran into the shelf. His hand dropped to his side.

  “You look stressed.”

  “Thanks. Such a compliment.”

  “I’m sorry.” He shoved a hand through his curls. “Haley would kick me in the pants if she knew you were unhappy. Take a break. I’ll watch the shop for a while.”

  MacKenzie’s eyebrows rose. “When did you decide to play nice?”

  Isaac scowled. “You still mad at me because I called you one of the gold diggers?”

  “Oh, big surprise that I would take offense to that.” They’d met for the second time in over ten years when Haley had brought MacKenzie into the store to train her. The only downside of this escape plan was she’d been so excited to see Isaac again. He was her first—not to mention most amazing—kiss at the very mature age of fourteen. He hadn’t remembered her or the kiss and that alone had about taken her under. His first line to her was, “Oh, another one of Haley’s gold digger friends looking for a billionaire.” What a jerk. A heartbreaking, much-too-good-looking je
rk.

  “Hey, I’m sorry, all right?” He glanced at the display over her shoulder. “Don’t get all offended.”

  “Don’t get all offended?” MacKenzie pushed around him, but unfortunately brushed against his muscular arm. She felt the connection all the way down to her toes and it frustrated her even more. Why was she always attracted to the Neanderthal idiots? If her body could pick a man to be attracted to who wasn’t a sarcastic loser, she would be grateful. “I think I’ll take that break, not sure if I’ll make it back before closing time,” she tossed over her shoulder.

  Isaac nodded but didn’t answer. She could feel his eyes on her as she left the store.

  **

  Isaac Turnbow pushed all his air out as he watched MacKenzie go. Crap. Apparently he’d said the wrong thing again. She was so breathtakingly beautiful it was like his mind got stuck because his eyes were too busy staring and he had no clue what he was saying until he realized that he’d upset her.

  Isaac had finished feeding the calves early, got cleaned up, and told his dad he was going into town for a parts run.

  “Make sure to check on MacKenzie,” his dad had said with a huge smirk.

  Isaac hadn’t been able to hide his grin, knowing MacKenzie was the only reason he was coming to town. Now he’d messed it all up, again.

  He strode to the front desk and plopped down on the employee’s stool. Did she even remember their kiss? He’d been seventeen and much too full of himself, but she’d taken his breath away even then with her wavy brown hair framing naturally tan skin that was smooth and smelled intoxicating. Her lips were a perfect pink pout, even when she smiled, but his favorite part was her deep brown eyes filled with a mischievous sparkle.

  They’d gone to a dance with Haley and some other friends. After a couple hours he’d convinced her to only dance with him and then he’d taken her down by the creek, away from all the noise and his sister’s watchful eyes. The kiss had been more euphoric than hang gliding. He honestly couldn’t say that another kiss had compared to it since. That definitely wasn’t for lack of trying. He’d dated a lot of fun and interesting women in Crested Butte and when he went to University of Colorado, but he could never get MacKenzie’s fine-boned features, sweet-tasting lips, and easy way of bantering with him, out of his mind. She’d changed in the past ten years. More beautiful, but there was something in her eyes now, the innocence was replaced by a wariness that made him wonder if something traumatic had happened to her.