Page 4 of A Taste of Trouble

It was the sound of the beer pouring onto the floor that brought Liv back to earth. She cursed and quickly pushed back the tap.

She needed to get her head in the game. He was just a man. One hot, sexy, hunk of a man.

She approached the group and placed the pitcher on the bar, avoiding eye contact, and spun around to grab four glasses from the shelf. She stupidly glanced into the mirror that spread across the back of the bar and locked eyes with the stranger.

The intense heat from Jake's stare burned its way down her back, only to settle in the pit of her stomach, a brush fire of desire smoldering in her belly. Heat licked through her body at the thought of his strong hands caressing up and down her arm, across the swell of her breasts, down to the moist juncture between—

The bang of the washroom door made her jump and brought her out of her trance. What the hell?

She shook her head to stop the lustful images, but failed. Liv struggled with the glasses but one got away from her, shattering into a thousand pieces on the floor. Her cheeks burned as the heat that had taken over her body turned from desire to embarrassment.

She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, the sound of the glass crunching under her. With a quick breath, she bent to clean up the mess—and retreated from nervousness.

“Is the glass okay? It took a pretty good beating.” Jake's smooth, mellow drone surrounded her, covering her skin with gooseflesh.

“I'm fine.” She stood and threw the bigger pieces into the garbage, realizing that he'd asked about the glass and not her. “We have others. I'll…get you another one.” Damn! She couldn't even form a coherent thought and her words came out in a stutter.

“No need. I'll take a bottle of Budweiser.” His cheeks were rosy from being out in the cold. He had a crooked nose and a tiny scar near his hairline on the right side. And his eyelashes—they were the longest eyelashes she'd ever seen on a man.

“Not a problem. I'll—”

“It's okay, really.” He raised his hand to frame his mouth, as if wanting to tell her a secret. He licked his bottom lip before he spoke. “I don't really like draft.”

Why did he have to draw attention to his lips? Liv imagined them kissing every inch of her body.

She needed to get a grip. Where was the cool, confident Liv? She'd been so wrapped up with her bakery that she'd neglected any type of participation in certain bedroom activities. This was just a typical reaction to a sexual dry spell.

She grabbed a Bud from the fridge, then placed a coaster on the bar, followed by the bottle, twisting it until the label faced her. Despite being flustered by this man, her serving ritual hadn't disappeared. She glanced up. Jake was giving her a curious stare.

“We're going to take this down to the pool table.” Dress shirt guy interrupted before Jake had the chance to comment. He stared between them. “Are you still able to serve us?”

“Of course.” It might be better that way. Then maybe she wouldn't be so distracted with Jake sitting right in front of her.

The men grabbed their coats and drinks and walked around the bar to the lower level. Jake was the last to walk away, but before he did, his eyes settled on her. His stare left a trail of heat that started from her toes and made its way to her cheeks. When their eyes met, she struggled for air, and quickly turned away.

“Why are you so flushed?” Austin was just finishing off the last few crumbs of a cupcake. The Tupperware container now sat on the bar instead of the counter behind her.

“I'm not flushed.” The bang of the bathroom door made Liv jump, and Patti's slim figure made its way back to the bar.

“Yes you are…and jumpy,” Austin said.

Patti took her seat, her eyes darting from Liv to Austin, then back to Liv. “Why is she so flushed?”

Austin's laugh was drowned out by a group of customers who'd walked in the back door. They forgot to use inside voices as they scoped out a table on the restaurant floor.

“I'm not flushed,” Liv yelled over the crowd.

“All right.” Patti lifted her hands in surrender and leaned back on her stool. “Don't get your panties in a twist.” She might have thought her conveniently timed sip of beer hid her smirk but it was visible in her brown eyes.

“I think Liv's panties are being affected by that delicious man over there.” Austin shoved the last of his cupcake into his mouth.

“He may be delicious, but he has no effect on my panties.” Liv cursed under her breath. Her response was a little too quick, a little too animated. And as for her panties, she'd gladly hand them over if it meant further interaction with Jake. But Austin didn't need to know that.

“So you know exactly who I'm referring to.” Austin was too pleased with himself and too smart for his own good.

She couldn't be that obvious…could she?

The small printer behind them screeched out an order. She poured two drafts and placed them on the service counter, then returned to her friends, where she poured two well drinks.

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