Page 89 of A Taste of Trouble

He did. And that was the main thing. Not his art. His love of art was secondary. His goal was to raise as much money as he could, because one day there would be a cure for Alzheimer's.

“You should think about doing more fundraisers. I'd be happy to donate some pieces, and I know a lot of people who'd be willing to donate as well.”

“I do get a lot of guests with money to burn.”

“I don't mind donating, it's just the appearances I don't like. All that champagne and small talk.”

“My bread and butter.” Jake smiled. It used to be. He had no idea where he was going career-wise. But maybe Brett had a point. Maybe there was more he could do. Art for charity? He had only been thinking about himself and his fundraiser. The PR machine churned in his brain.

“What picture are we talking about?” Patti asked. By the tone of her voice, she obviously didn't enjoy being left out of the conversation.

“A picture of Liv,” Brett answered.

“I don't doubt her photo would be beautiful. She's always been photogenic.” Patti slipped off the edge of the couch and into the end seat. She turned to face Jake, her hate-on diminished. “Jake, what happened?”

Brett shot her a distasteful look. “None of our business, Pats.”

“Yes it is.” She raised her voice now. “He knows how we are.”

How was it that they didn't know what had happened? He was there that night at McLean's when they all agreed that there were no secrets between them. “She didn't tell you?”

“She told Brett of all people…” Patti shot Brett an annoyed look. “But she didn't tell me. Then she took off. Hasn't talked to anyone. She's not answering her phone.”

“I've been calling, too, but I didn't expect her to answer.” Was it pathetic to hope that she hadn't returned his calls because she didn't get them? That she was out of cell phone range?

“You don't know where she is?”

“She went home to see her family,” Patti said. “I called her mom an hour ago. At least we know she's safe.”

“Is she coming back?”

“Eventually.” Patti curled up tighter on the couch. “She'll never stay there permanently. They drive her crazy.”

She had fled. He couldn't take all of the credit for her disappearance. The burned building was evidence enough that things hadn't gone well for her since the book launch.

“I screwed up.” Jake placed his beer on the table beside him then sat back against the couch. “I lied. I pursued her for all the wrong reasons.” He looked over at Patti. She had to know how sorry he was. She had to understand why he did it. “But, I didn't know my boss was her father… I never would have taken her to meet him… You have to believe that. I never expected to fall in love with her, either.”

Patti let out a long, slow breath. Her eyes darted over to Brett on the chair, then she pulled at her brown hair that was tied up on top of her

head. “Does she know that you love her?”

Jake shook his head. In hindsight, it should have been the first thing out of his mouth when he chased after her in the ballroom. But he didn't, because he was a jerk-off.

He needed a plan. He needed help. He needed Liv back in his life, because now that he'd found her, he couldn't live with the possibility of never feeling complete.

“With all the lies flying around, I guess we should be as honest as possible,” Patti said. “I think I speak for Brett and Austin as well when I say, there's only one thing we have to say to you.”

Her eyes were blank. No longer sympathetic or filled with anger. He looked over at Brett, who held the same indifferent expression. Jake braced himself for the inevitable. The get-the-hell-out-and-never-call-our-friend-again speech. He rubbed his sweaty palms along his pant leg. If Patti said don't bother, he would have to listen. What kind of woman would date a man her best friends hated?

Jake tensed in anticipation of Patti's words. But they weren't the words he was expecting.

She leaned in and smiled. “How are you going to get Liv back?”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Liv stepped up to the doorway of her childhood home. The black paint was chipped and the stained glass had faded years ago. She hadn't been home in at least a few months. She should make more of an effort to visit, especially given the age of her grandparents. They wouldn't be around forever.

Apparently, her mother arranged for the entire family to visit during her stay, which was exactly what she didn't need after having her heart and soul ripped from her body.

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