Page 87 of A Taste of Trouble

“It's from my father.” Liv looked up and met Brett's kind eyes. She held it out to him and he took it from her, his eyes scanning the words. She heard him curse softly under his breath.

Seeing her father at the book launch had been unbelievable. Almost like an out of body experience. She still couldn't reconcile that the man who looked so happy and sure of himself was the same man she remembered from her childhood. And the words in this letter didn't describe the bastard she had created in her head all those years ago. If these words were true, then her mother never revealed the truth about why he left.

She would need to think long and hard before she even toyed with the idea of giving her father a second chance. That she was even considering it was a sign that she had changed. It was Jake who'd changed her. It was Jake who'd opened her mind and sewn up most of the tear in her heart. But then he'd stomped on it and handed it to the man who had broken it in the first place.

Even if she let go and tried to forgive him, she was reminded of the pain. She needed answers. Maybe a trip home to see her mother was just what she needed to put everything into perspective.

“Are you all right?” Brett rubbed her leg.

“I think I'm going to visit my family.” She needed some motherly advice, and a motherly explanation.

“Are you sure about that? I've heard some pretty interesting things about your family.”

She laughed. “It's been a long time. I should visit.”

“Do you need me to do anything?”

Brett wouldn't be able to solve her problems, and she would never ask. But right now, all she needed was to feel loved. “Do you think you could just let me hug you for a little while longer?”

He opened up his arms and she fell back into his embrace. She sighed against him, letting the world fall away, even if for only a moment.

…

Jake sifted through the drawers of his desk looking for personal items to pack. He'd let the dust settle before re

turning to his office. He also wanted to make sure that his boss wouldn't be there. Luckily, he was away on a business trip.

He was surprised at the lack of personal items in his office. He had a picture of his nephew, a baseball that was autographed by one of Toronto's star players, and an extra shirt and tie. He'd been here for ten years, and this is all he had to show for living and breathing this place twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Pathetic, really. But it worked to his advantage. He didn't want a single memory of this place.

He breathed deeply, thankful for getting out while he still had the opportunity to start over.

And then there was Liv. She wouldn't return his calls. And he'd left a hundred messages. Short of stalking her bakery and condo, Jake had done everything he could to get her to talk to him. He couldn't sleep. He could think of nothing but apologizing, making things right. He loved her. And he needed to make her believe they were meant to be together.

When he looked up, Maggie stood in his doorway, tears in her eyes. “Are you sure you have to quit?”

He nodded. Despite the bad taste in his mouth regarding Weston Communications, Maggie would be the only person he missed and regretted leaving.

“Don't worry, Maggie. You'll have another hotshot publicist in my office in no time.”

She mumbled something under her breath that sounded like, “I don't want another hotshot.”

Jake smiled. At least someone in this place was loyal. He slipped his things into a bag Maggie had given him. He didn't even have enough to fill up the banker's box she'd set out for him earlier. “Good-bye, Maggie. I'm sure we'll see each other again.”

“Of course we will. I still have two nieces you haven't met yet.”

He laughed. “Fair enough.” He leaned in and pulled her into a hug. “Thank you for everything. I couldn't have done my job without you.”

She sniffled, and he was sure she'd rubbed her nose along his shirt.

“You'll be fine, Jacob.” She patted his cheek. “There are great things ahead of you.”

Maggie was right. There were great things ahead of him. He was certain of it.

He drove aimlessly through the city streets. Instead of driving home, he drove uptown toward Liv's bakery. It was time to step up his game. An in-person appearance was in order. One visit couldn't be considered stalking…could it?

Which is what he should have done from the beginning. He should have told her that night and gone to her condo and asked her to trust him. He didn't blame her for storming off. Why should she trust a man who blatantly deceived her in order to get what he thought he wanted?

The corner office. The promotion. He didn't want any of that. And why he thought he needed it to find a job in art was beyond him. Maybe self-doubt. He wanted to make it so that no one could pass him up.

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