Page 79 of A Taste of Trouble

She would never be able to forgive him for that. She'd never be able to forgive herself for letting down her guard and believing a man she should have kept at a distance from the beginning.

He clenched his fists. “We fit. You can't deny that.”

The high-pitched blare of a car horn turned their attention to the street. Two men yelled from their cars, profanities that Liv wished she could throw back at Jake.

She sighed. “We fit in bed. I think we can both agree that's the extent of this relationship.”

His foot kicked at the sidewalk and, tucked his hands tightly inside his pockets. He seemed to have calmed down, the sadness returning to his face. “What could I say to make it any better?”

“Good-bye, Jake.” She admired him one more time before she turned and walked away.

She didn't look back. Instead, she continued to the end of the street and turned the corner. He didn't run after her. He didn't call her name. And it broke her heart.

Liv slumped against the brick wall of the building, trying desperately to catch her breath. It caught in her throat, unable to reach her lungs.

She shivered, realizing that she'd left without her coat. The rough brick scraped at her bare back. She wrapped her arms around her body, pulled away from the wall, and settled her mind.

This was all a bad dream. It had to be. She'd wake up with Jake beside her. She'd tell him and they would laugh. There was no way Jake knew her father. There was no way her father would use another person to try and get close to her. He was a coward when she was ten years old, leaving without a good-bye or an explanation. And he was still a coward.

But even more debilitating than the events that had just unfolded was the fact that she wanted Jake beside her. What a time to finally realize that. Right after she never wanted to look him the eye again.

Her BlackBerry chirped from inside her purse and she groaned. She wasn't in the mood to handle Jake. But curiosity got the best of her and she rummaged through her purse to find her phone. An unexpected name appeared on the call display.

Liv answered. “Corey? What's the matter?”

The teenager's voice was frantic on the other end. “She did it. She did it,” Corey blubbered. “The bank, newspaper ad, all of it…”

“Corey? Corey, what are you talking about?”

“My mom. She did it.” The young girl sobbed. She was hysterical.

“Nancy?” So her suspicions were valid. “She did what, Corey?”

“I heard her talking to some man. She arranged with him to make sure you didn't pass the health inspection. She said that she couldn't have you working on your own. That you would put her out of business.”

Liv's head spun. Jesus, the kid had horrific timing. This was so not the phone call she needed right now.

That feeling of dread crept back into her body, only this time, she was right. This time, she had a reason to fear that things were going to take a turn for the worse, because they already had. In her personal life. And now in her professional life.

Liv listened to Corey's labored breathing on the other end of the phone.

“Corey? Are you sure this is what you heard?”

“I swear, Liv. I heard her say all of those things. I'm so angry!” she screamed.

“It's okay.” It wasn't, but this was a lot for a teenager to take in. Especially a teenager who had learned that her mother wasn't the person she thought she was. Liv knew exactly how she felt. “Corey, I have to go. I'll talk with you later. There's…I need to go.”

So far, the day was shaping up to be the worst one of her life. She'd trusted Jake. Despite the nagging in her brain that said she needed to keep her distance. She'd trusted Nancy as a teacher and friend. A wave of nausea spread through her stomach, causing the hors d'oeuvres she'd wolfed at the party to make another appearance. When problems surfaced, she regrouped and moved on. She was a fighter. She wouldn't let them get the best of her. Not her father. Not Nancy. Especially not Jake Miller. She needed him least of all.

Five in the morning came very early. And Liv had a new day to start. When she walked into her bakery tomorrow, she'd begin the life she planned on from the beginning.

On her own.

Liv hailed a cab and made her way home. She didn't remember the ride—she didn't even remember walking into her building. But when the elevator dinged, she stepped out. The whoosh of the doors sounded behind her as she hesitated, unsure of her final destination.

She eyed the door to her left. Patti and Brett would likely be home, and it was early enough to knock. Her entire world was falling apart. She could use the comfort of friends right now.

Turning to the right, Liv looked toward her own door. On the ground, leaning against the gray corridor wall, was an object wrapped in brown paper. A red ribbon was tied around its width, then again lengthwise, as the ends met to form a bow in the top left corner.

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