Page 50 of A Taste of Trouble

“I knew it. Honey, that man is the finest thing I've ever seen. I'm so proud of you. This is a new beginning for you. First the bakery, and soon your love life will finally be on track.”

Without the background noise of the water, Liv whispered into the phone, “Okay, don't get all sentimental on me. Yes, it was great and he was great and the bakery is going to be great, yada, yada, yada.”

“Why are you whispering?”

“I'm not whispering.” She had to get him off the phone.

“You are so whispering. What's wrong?”

“Nothing. I just have a headache from last night so stop talking so loud.”

“Well excuse me, grumpy. Fine, I will let you off the hook for now. But be prepared to put the events of the evening into sentences eventually.”

“All right.”

“Remember, I want details. I'm talking dirty, uncensored—”

“Hey Liv, did you find us a movie?”

She whipped around to find Jake standing in the living room, his chest glistening, his lower half covered by only a towel. Oh. My. God. She was mesmerized by the sight of him, and so flustered that she dropped the phone.

She quickly picked it up and thrust it back to her ear.

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“Who was that?” Austin asked.

“No one,” Liv choked out.

“Sorry, you're on the phone,” Jake whispered. “I'll take a look.” Walking over to the coffee table, he picked up the remote and started flipping through the movies on demand.

She turned around and lowered her voice. “It's no one. Just the television.”

“Liar! He's still there, isn't he?”

She didn't reply.

“He is!”

Liv casually laughed, making light of the situation. Austin was so dead.

“I thought he didn't stay the night? What is he doing there? Are you guys on a date? This is unbelievable.”

“Okay, Ozzie. I'll do that. I have to go now. I'll call you later.” Austin's yammering continued even as she put down the receiver.

“That was Austin. He was just calling to…uh—”

“Get details.” Tilting his head back, he shot her a wide grin.

“Pretty much.” She had to give him credit. Despite the awkwardness of this situation, he really was trying his best to make this normal. Not many men could make channel surfing sexy, but standing there in just a towel, Jake definitely brought out the sexy.

“Isn't it fantastic that you don't even have to leave the house to rent a movie anymore?” Jake said.

Who really cared about a movie when she had the Hollywood equivalent of a leading man right here in her living room?

“It looks like we have a few to choose from,” he continued. “We have funny, action, or chick flicks. What do you think?”

“Definitely funny.”

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