Page 38 of A Taste of Trouble

He thought he had changed, evolved into a person who had a goal, a man who wanted something more out of his life. He always knew he'd find the one woman to spend the rest of his life with, and the more time he spent with Liv, the more he came to realize that it might be her. Pretty ironic that she wanted no part of a serious, lasting relationship.

“This promotion is the key to my success.”

“You'll soon be repping every gallery in this city. Don't let sex cloud your mind, bro.” Tony clapped his hand on his shoulder and paused, but the look in his eye told Jake that he was contemplating something. Finally, he let go of his shoulder and spoke. “Isn't that rule number one?”

It had been one of the rules. It was fine to have fun. Sex was fun. But don't let it cloud your mind when it came to your career.

“But…,” Brian said. “Let me just say this.” The bar wasn't busy, but his friend leaned in and lowered his head. Which could only mean one thing: Brian was about to get sentimental. “If this woman is stuck in your head, there's a reason, and it's not just because she's a mission.”

Jake nodded in acknowledgment. They all did.

Silence fell between them while they sipped on their drinks until Tony muttered something like “I'll be damned” under his breath and slapped the table. “I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm done with this chick talk. Bri, Miles, I think it's time we hit the road, because there is a lovely young lady over there who'd love to talk to Jake.”

Jake groaned. How Tony could possibly think he was interested in hitting on some random woman was baffling, but his mouth nearly dropped to the floor when he spotted a table where Liv sat with her friends.

“She's not supposed to be working here anymore. That's the only reason I agreed to meet you here.”

His stomach danced. It was too soon. He wasn't ready to face her just yet. He needed another few days, maybe a year, to sort out his feelings. But ambition called out to him. He didn't have a year.

Liv laughed at something, her face flushed a rosy pink, and her hundred-watt smile lit up the table. She looked so content. So delectable.

He felt his lips curl, his chest tighten, his heart lighten. She did all of these things to him. But when she placed her hand on the arm of the man sitting next to her and kissed him on the cheek, something tightened inside him. And something simmered. Jealously, hot and raging under the surface at the thought of her with another man.

“He's not looking at her like he wants to have sex with her.” Miles gulped down his drink. “I guarantee it.”

“All of sudden this guy's the relationship whisperer.” Tony laughed. “All those lonely nights playing video games in your basement teach you about girls?” Jake hadn't been friends with Miles in high school, but he had no doubt his weekends were spent playing video games and not dating. Which explained his discomfort with the opposite sex.

“You mean all those nights looking at dirty magazines.” Brian laughed, a little too loudly, at his own joke.

“I know what a man looks like when he wants more than just sex with a woman.” Miles pointed. “He looks just like Jake.” Miles glanced over at Brian and then to the bar where the hot red head waitress filled her tray with drinks. “And some other people we know.”

Brian tensed and tightened his grip around his glass. An interesting observation, but one that could wait to be addressed.

It made Jake feel a little better pretending that he was just Liv's friend. “Don't the three of you have any women to talk about?”

Brian sneered. “I haven't been on a date since before Christmas.”

“I think I went on a date last month,” Miles said. “But maybe it was just a business meeting. I'm not really sure.”

Jake laughed. No matter how many tips, how many evenings of giving advice, Brian and Miles were just…hopeless. They were going to need to find two strong women to help them come out of their shell, because after ten years, Jake sure as hell couldn't. Tony, on the other hand…

“I've had a few dates but nothing serious.” Being in the music industry, Tony had an above average dating life. But most of the women he dated used him as a way to meet musicians. Not that he minded. Tony had been soured by the idea of love and marriage a long time ago. He wasn't looking for a wife. More like a groupie.

Jake wanted much more than a groupie. But pursuing Liv meant his chances of taking his career to the next level were severely diminished. It may be too early to choose between the two, but he wasn't going to give up either without a fight.

Tony placed his bottle on the bar and reached for his wallet. As he searched for some money, he said, “In all the years we've been friends, I've never seen you like this. You've got it bad, my friend.” He grabbed his jacket off the back of the stool.

“Go over there and talk to her. Figure out if this is just a game or if there's something more going on.” Brian slid on his jacket, then rested his hand on Jake's shoulder. “Even though I think you already know the answer to that.”

He did.

His friends left him, his brain battling his cock. His heart battling…everything. He looked over again and, without a doubt, knew what he had to do.

Their two-week hiatus was over, and he was going to convince her to go to that book launch. And whatever happened in between, he'd deal with the consequences later. His overwhelming need to simply be with her outweighed the cost. Somehow, he knew this time with Liv would change his life forever.

…

“Here's to the next generation of small business owners.” Mr. McLean raised his glass in a toast.

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