Page 78 of A Taste of Trouble

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Shelton's voice brought Jake back to the action. “I heard you have your own business.” He gave a half smile. He wavered. Just like his conversation. “You look wonderful.” And now he was resorting to compliments.

Tears now ran down her face. Jake wanted to wipe them away, but she bolted from the room. His gaze followed her out the doors, then settled on Shelton. Shame darkened his face. The man who was always so boisterous was now at a loss for words.

He had so many questions. For Liv, and for Shelton. Looking at the terror on Liv's face made him feel even more awful. He was responsible for that look. If he hadn't agreed to Shelton's terms, if he hadn't believed in the man so whole-heartedly, this meeting would never have taken place.

He had been betrayed by a man he trusted for the last ten years. But he'd deal with Shelton later. This meeting was no longer about him. Concern for his employment status just didn't matter anymore.

Without another thought, he took off through the ballroom, hoping he could catch up to Liv before she got away.

…

Liv burst through the revolving door of the hotel into the darkness. The light from the streetlamps was blinding. Harsh sounds from the street traffic whizzed inside her head. She frantically searched for a place to hide, turning her head from one end of the street to the other.

The moment grabbed her, overwhelming her to the point of dizziness, and she stumbled into a cement plant holder.

Could it be him? Most of the memories she had left of him were from staring at old photos—photos that her mother didn't know were hidden in the basement. Despite the gray hair that peppered the sides and his clean-shaven face, he looked just as she remembered.

All these years, Liv could never figure out why he looked so unhappy in every single picture. But seeing him tonight, her father, she'd finally figured it out. They made him unhappy. Liv and her mother. Tonight, he had been confident, sure of himself, and the smile that was initially on his face had been bright and sincere. She could never remember a time when he looked that way.

She bent over the edge of the cement, trying to catch her breath, her thoughts spinning out of control. Jake knew her father. He knew all along. It all made sense now, why he wanted her at this book launch so badly. But, he had looked genuinely confused during the encounter. As if he had no idea of the gravity of the situation.

No matter. How could he lead her into the lion's den knowing how much she hated her father? The man who'd left her mother high and dry. The reason why she refrained from intimate relationships her entire life.

She hadn't noticed her fingernails digging into the frozen dirt in the planter until warm, strong hands encased hers and pulled them out. Jake.

“Liv?” Just the sound of his voice calmed her jumping nerves, but she pushed it aside. She was too angry. “Are you all right?”

Her strength was diminished, so she allowed him to take hold of her, and fell limp into his embrace. Her handbag that rested on her arm squished between their bodies.

“Liv, talk to me. What's going on?”

Like he didn't know. “You brought me here on purpose, didn't you?” Her anger gave her a second wind and she pushed out of his arms. “What's in it for you?”

He hung his head in shame and mumbled, “Vice President.”

She'd give him credit for being honest. But the betrayal stung too deep.

“I can't do this.” Tears continued to spill down her cheeks as she hugged herself, trying to avoid the feel of curious stares from passersby.

“What are you talking about? What do you mean you can't do this?” His eyes were frantic, lined with confusion. He stepped forward and grabbed her elbows, as if trying to shake out an answer. “Please tell—”

“I can't!” She ripped free of his grip. “I can't be with you. Every time I look at you, I'll see him.”

“Are you breaking up with me?” His eyes narrowed and he pierced her with a stone-cold glare.

“You can't break up with someone you aren't actually in a relationship with.” It was still early in the game. He would get over her soon enough and find someone else who would love him. Not that he deserved it. He had betrayed her. Anger consumed her. “I've been kidding myself this whole time, but tonight just proved to me that I was right all along.”

She took a step to leave, but he blocked her path. “I don't want to lose you, Liv.”

“There's no point. You're too close to him and I can't be a part of that.”

This time, when she walked away, he didn't stop her. With her back to him, Liv tried to catch her breath. She needed to get away from this place, as far away as her feet would take her.

“We're the same, you and I,” he called. “We both want something more for ourselves. We're both intent on following our dreams.”

She whirled around. “That may be, but at least I'm not following mine at someone else's expense.”

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