Page 71 of A Taste of Trouble

“I don't think tonight is about that, hence the nervousness.”

“Don't tell me there won't be any sex. The two of you can barely keep your hands off each other.” He thrust the purse out closer to her. “Take the undies.”

“All right.” Liv grabbed the purse and headed for her front closet. “I'm thinking the black wool coat.”

“Good choice.” Austin held up the coat for her to step into. Turning around, she slipped her arms into the coat. He straightened the fabric as her stomach did flip-flops and her nervousness pooled under her arms.

Austin rubbed his hands along her arms. “Let's take a couple of deep breaths.”

Liv followed his instructions.

“Remember,”—Austin squeezed her bicep—”if all he wanted was your body, he would have crept out of here Saturday morning without saying a word. Personally, anyone who can brave one of your freak attacks is good in my book. And very into you. Not bartender Liv, or slutty Liv, or even crazy Liv.”

“I'm not a slut.”

“Notice how you didn't say you're not crazy.”

She laughed. Austin's sarcasm put her at ease, but she knew the moment she knocked on Jake's door, the terror would set in.

“I think my work here is done. My little girl is all grown up and she's going on a date.” Austin pretended to wipe a tear from his eye.

“Thank you.”

“You're very welcome.” He pulled her in for a hug.

After grabbing her keys from the table, they headed for the elevator, but not before she locked, then re-locked the front door.

…

Liv stood in front of the solid steel door to Jake's condo and contemplated running for her life. She was scared and nervous, not to mention her skin glistened with a sheen of perspiration. Ah, who was she kidding? She was full-on sweating from nervousness.

He knew she was here. He had buzzed her up, but she was terrified to knock. She wanted to get to know Jake. She wanted him to get to know her. But there was still a wall between the two of them, something inside her that stopped her from being fully committed.

Maybe it was the years of being closed off. Maybe she was incapa

ble of letting someone in. Whatever it was, she knew it was going to come between them. Especially since Jake had the amazing ability to throw her off her game.

But she was ready to give this a try. She was ready to give herself over to another person. And that came with emotions, expectations, and, worst of all, accommodations. Her stomach bounced around like a jumping bean. She zeroed in on the thick gray door, the only sound in the hallway the rapid beating of her heart.

She would face her fear head on. As soon as he opened the door, she would be comforted by his bright smile and it would remind her that she was doing the right thing.

Jake is not your father. She repeated her new mantra in her head.

Taking a deep breath, Liv raised her hand to knock on the door, but before she made contact, it swung open. She was greeted by the bright smile she expected and a pair of sparkling eyes.

“There you are.” His shoulders relaxed. “I thought you got lost.”

“Here I am.” There was no way she was going to tell him she had cold feet and had to talk herself into knocking.

“Come in. You're right on time.”

Maybe because she'd been pacing around his block for the last twenty minutes.

He motioned for her to enter, a welcoming smile settling her nerves. She smiled and walked ahead of him into the open space.

“Let me take your coat.”

As he waited for her to hand over the garment, she caught him. He didn't hide his stare, the way his eyes surveyed the length of her body. A shiver ran up her spine at the hunger in his eyes. Her stomach clenched and she was reminded of the tight denim that stuck to her lower half like a second skin. The jeans were too tight.

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