"We can't all have your unwarranted ego," Miles spat in retaliation.

"Sorry if I'm the only one who's taken pointers from our lucky friend here." Tony referred to Jake. "One of us had to take advantage of his skills."

"He's a real Yoda." Brian placed his gla.s.s on the table. "Rule number one: girls are easy, they are."

Despite his preoccupation, even Jake laughed. But he knew his mediocre attempt at denying his troubles wasn't going to suffice. The only question was, how much did he tell them?

"What's with you, man?" Tony asked. He wasn't one for heart-to-heart conversations, so Jake knew something must have been seriously bugging him.

Jake had a bad feeling. Like he'd just walked into his own intervention.

Tony set his beer down on his coaster and looked at Brian and Miles before he spoke again. "You're never around."

"And when you are, it's as if you're somewhere else," Brian said.

"Miles thinks you're cheating on us." Even Jake had to laugh at Tony's comment.

"Hardy, har, har." Miles sneered at Brian and Tony. "You've been distracted. You're not hanging out. Is everything all right with your family?"

His sister had been a distraction. More like a worry in his life. She was the reason he had to leave Liv, naked, wet, and wanting him. But coming clean about his sister would've revealed something far too intimate for a relationship built on selfish ambition.

Briget was in the middle of a nasty divorce. Her jacka.s.s ex-husband was fighting for full custody of their son, Nathan. She was a mess.

"She's having some trouble. j.e.r.k.-.o.f.f. didn't bring Nathan home. I had to drive out to London the other night."

"Is she all right?" Brian asked. Concern fell over all of their faces.

"Not really, but she will be." He hated the predicament Briget was in, and if he were a violent man, her ex-husband would be feeling the effects of his fist. But that would only make things worse for his sister. Instead, he offered his ear, and his time, whenever she needed it.

"So that's why you've been acting weird?" Miles asked, the tone of his voice indicating he didn't quite believe that was the reason.

And he was exactly right.

"I..." How did he tell them? Where did he start? Jake took a sip of his beer for extra courage. "I've been keeping something from you guys."

Tony's face hardened. "Really?"

He knew Tony wouldn't like the fact that Jake had lied. Tony was the most honest person he knew. His parents had screwed him over big when he was a child, and when he finally wised up, it had solidified Tony's belief in honesty. Even if it hurt the people he loved. And Tony expected no less from his friends.

Jake had never lied about the women he dated. He just didn't know how he felt about Liv and wasn't prepared to answer questions, let alone subject her to off-color comments from his friends.

"I'm sorry, dude. I just..." Jake took another sip from his bottle of beer. "She's been a little tough to shake."

"She?" Tony leaned in closer, lowering his voice. "So, you're dating someone?"

"Tough to shake?" Miles asked. "She's, like, stalking you?"

"No, nothing like that." Although it could be said that he was stalking her, but there was no need to get into the pesky details. "I've seen her a few times now."

"You're dating?" Tony questioned. "As in dating?" His eyebrows raised in surprise. "As in dinner and movies and talking?" He wasn't surprised his friend found it so hard to believe. Jake wasn't one for getting in too deep into relationships.

"Not exactly. We're supposed to go on a date, but...she's gotten under my skin." He looked around before he finished his thought. "The worst part is that she's a mission. Shelton is going to give me the Vice President spot if I can get this girl to meet up with him."

"The VP spot?" Brian finally spoke up. "A worthwhile mission." If anyone understood the need to find success in your occupation, it would be Brian. "Why does he want to meet her?"

Despite the tactics being a little shady, Shelton had given a valid reason. It also wasn't in his best interest to argue with the man who could give him exactly what he needed. "He wants her as a client, and she's already rejected an offer." He took another drink then rubbed his hand over his face.

"But..." Tony hung on to the word as if waiting for Jake to finish the sentence for him. He just didn't know if he could admit it. "She's become more than a mission?"

Jake nodded, unable to say the one word that took over his brain: yes. It was more than her good looks and smokin' hot body that grabbed him. Despite their attempts to keep things purely casual, she was different. Special.

"Christ, Jake. You've got a soap opera going on in your life." Miles sat back and crossed his arms over his chest.

"It feels like it." Jake turned and faced straight ahead, unable to look his friends in the eye. "There's something else." If he was being honest, he might as well be completely honest. "The girl is Liv." Recognition hadn't registered in their faces. "Liv? The bartender from here."

"Holy s.h.i.t," Miles muttered.

"How was she?" Tony asked, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

Jake had to get the conversation back on track. "Will you focus?"

Tony raised his hands in defense.

He should have known his friends-namely Tony-would want the s.e.x details first. But surprisingly, he didn't have any details to share. "And we haven't...we didn't...I'm asking for advice."

"The great Jake Miller asking us for advice..." Tony smirked. "The teacher becomes the student."

He didn't have to say anymore. They stared at him, eyes wide, mouths open. If they had been mid-sip, their beer would have leaked out of the sides of their mouths onto the floor.

He thought he had changed, evolved into a person who had a goal, a man who wanted something more out of his life. He always knew he'd find the one woman to spend the rest of his life with, and the more time he spent with Liv, the more he came to realize that it might be her. Pretty ironic that she wanted no part of a serious, lasting relationship.

"This promotion is the key to my success."

"You'll soon be repping every gallery in this city. Don't let s.e.x cloud your mind, bro." Tony clapped his hand on his shoulder and paused, but the look in his eye told Jake that he was contemplating something. Finally, he let go of his shoulder and spoke. "Isn't that rule number one?"

It had been one of the rules. It was fine to have fun. s.e.x was fun. But don't let it cloud your mind when it came to your career.

"But...," Brian said. "Let me just say this." The bar wasn't busy, but his friend leaned in and lowered his head. Which could only mean one thing: Brian was about to get sentimental. "If this woman is stuck in your head, there's a reason, and it's not just because she's a mission."

Jake nodded in acknowledgment. They all did.

Silence fell between them while they sipped on their drinks until Tony muttered something like "I'll be d.a.m.ned" under his breath and slapped the table. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm done with this chick talk. Bri, Miles, I think it's time we hit the road, because there is a lovely young lady over there who'd love to talk to Jake."

Jake groaned. How Tony could possibly think he was interested in hitting on some random woman was baffling, but his mouth nearly dropped to the floor when he spotted a table where Liv sat with her friends.

"She's not supposed to be working here anymore. That's the only reason I agreed to meet you here."

His stomach danced. It was too soon. He wasn't ready to face her just yet. He needed another few days, maybe a year, to sort out his feelings. But ambition called out to him. He didn't have a year.

Liv laughed at something, her face flushed a rosy pink, and her hundred-watt smile lit up the table. She looked so content. So delectable.

He felt his lips curl, his chest tighten, his heart lighten. She did all of these things to him. But when she placed her hand on the arm of the man sitting next to her and kissed him on the cheek, something tightened inside him. And something simmered. Jealously, hot and raging under the surface at the thought of her with another man.

"He's not looking at her like he wants to have s.e.x with her." Miles gulped down his drink. "I guarantee it."

"All of sudden this guy's the relationship whisperer." Tony laughed. "All those lonely nights playing video games in your bas.e.m.e.nt teach you about girls?" Jake hadn't been friends with Miles in high school, but he had no doubt his weekends were spent playing video games and not dating. Which explained his discomfort with the opposite s.e.x.

"You mean all those nights looking at dirty magazines." Brian laughed, a little too loudly, at his own joke.

"I know what a man looks like when he wants more than just s.e.x with a woman." Miles pointed. "He looks just like Jake." Miles glanced over at Brian and then to the bar where the hot red head waitress filled her tray with drinks. "And some other people we know."

Brian tensed and tightened his grip around his gla.s.s. An interesting observation, but one that could wait to be addressed.

It made Jake feel a little better pretending that he was just Liv's friend. "Don't the three of you have any women to talk about?"

Brian sneered. "I haven't been on a date since before Christmas."

"I think I went on a date last month," Miles said. "But maybe it was just a business meeting. I'm not really sure."

Jake laughed. No matter how many tips, how many evenings of giving advice, Brian and Miles were just...hopeless. They were going to need to find two strong women to help them come out of their sh.e.l.l, because after ten years, Jake sure as h.e.l.l couldn't. Tony, on the other hand...

"I've had a few dates but nothing serious." Being in the music industry, Tony had an above average dating life. But most of the women he dated used him as a way to meet musicians. Not that he minded. Tony had been soured by the idea of love and marriage a long time ago. He wasn't looking for a wife. More like a groupie.

Jake wanted much more than a groupie. But pursuing Liv meant his chances of taking his career to the next level were severely diminished. It may be too early to choose between the two, but he wasn't going to give up either without a fight.

Tony placed his bottle on the bar and reached for his wallet. As he searched for some money, he said, "In all the years we've been friends, I've never seen you like this. You've got it bad, my friend." He grabbed his jacket off the back of the stool.

"Go over there and talk to her. Figure out if this is just a game or if there's something more going on." Brian slid on his jacket, then rested his hand on Jake's shoulder. "Even though I think you already know the answer to that."

He did.

His friends left him, his brain battling his c.o.c.k. His heart battling...everything. He looked over again and, without a doubt, knew what he had to do.

Their two-week hiatus was over, and he was going to convince her to go to that book launch. And whatever happened in between, he'd deal with the consequences later. His overwhelming need to simply be with her outweighed the cost. Somehow, he knew this time with Liv would change his life forever.

"Here's to the next generation of small business owners." Mr. McLean raised his gla.s.s in a toast.

Liv's surrogate family had gathered to celebrate her new endeavor. It was Friday night, and after two long weeks, Liv was ready to open the bakery doors Monday morning.

She had rushed to get the items on the conditional pa.s.s fixed. Mr. McLean, the lovely man he was, had shown up first thing that morning with caulking in hand to brave the back door. But she was prepared and ready to face Mr. Cross on Monday morning.

With the inspection items out of the way, only a few minor details were left to take care of. And it seemed as if her run of bad luck had come to an end. She'd finally been approved, and signed on the dotted line, for a small business loan.

Liv took in the smiling faces of her friends. Because of everyone at this table, she was able to pull off her dream.

"If I haven't said it enough already, thank you again. I couldn't have done this without all of you. Especially with all the setbacks."

"Just remember to thank us when you win your first culinary award." Patti took a swig of her beer with a puzzled look on her face. "Do they even exist?"

"Yes, they do, and if I do get the opportunity, I won't forget to thank the little people." Liv raised her bottle of beer in appreciation. "To the most important people in my life. I love you guys."

"Ah, she's getting sentimental. No more drinks for you." Austin reached across the table to grab her bottle.

"Hands off, Oz. You just be happy you get to see the sentimental side."

"I'll drink to that." Austin raised his gla.s.s. Patti was quick to follow his toast.

"Liv," Mr. McLean said. "Everything is going to work out. Your landlord will complete the repairs on time and the bakery will survive and thrive." The short, burly man held up his gla.s.s in a toast and everyone at the table nodded.

"If I had known ten years ago when Patti brought you home that I would be twenty pounds heavier because of your cupcakes..." Mr. McLean smiled even though he was trying to be stern. "...I still would have welcomed you with open arms."

Mrs. McLean, her brown hair swept up in a bun showing off her elegant, almost regal neck, nodded in agreement. "We're so proud of you, dear."

The McLeans didn't stay long at the celebration and, within a few minutes after they left, Brett joined the fun. With the adult supervision now gone, the party quickly became a drink fest. Which was exactly what she needed. She deserved at least one night of not thinking about her scary endeavor, because Monday morning, there was no turning back.

"So, Liv." Patti waved her hand to catch everyone's attention at the table. "What was it you were saying about the important people in your life? That we were all gathered here for you?"

"Hey, I wasn't here." Brett shot Liv a look of disappointment.

"I know, Brett. You were included in spirit. Besides, you're here now." His face lit up, a stark contrast to the dark ink that adorned his collarbone.

Brett's tattoos were beautiful, unique, and Liv knew for a fact they were one of the reasons why Patti was so attracted to him. At least, at first.

"Stop whining, Brett." Patti waved off her boyfriend's interruption. "Besides whiny over here, I think you did forget someone when you gave your little toast."

"Really? Who?" She followed Patti's finger as she pointed toward the bar. Her breath caught at the sight of Jake standing there, beer in his hand.

"Liv's lover boy is here." Austin grinned. "I give him five minutes and he'll be over here."

"I'll take that bet. I say three minutes." Patti and Austin shook hands over the table.

Over the pair of arms shaking across the table, Liv saw the confusion on Brett's face. "Who are we talking about?" Poor guy. He was always behind in the gossip.

"We're talking about that s.e.xy hunk of a man standing at the bar with a bottle of beer," Patti explained.

Brett scanned the crowd. "A little more descriptive, please. My definition of s.e.xy hunk might be lacking."

The three of them chuckled. Brett had learned to loosen up when it came to talking about men. Despite being totally straight and a guy's guy, he'd warmed up to Austin pretty quickly. Lucky for him, because no guy would have ever lasted for Patti if he didn't get along with Austin. That was a deal breaker. Liv would have the same rule, but the men she went for never lasted long enough for her to find out. Which left her wondering if Jake would get along with Austin.

"More descriptive?" Patti tapped her chin with her finger. "Okay, that s.e.xy hunk of a man standing at the bar with a bottle of beer wearing the lavender dress shirt and black pants."

"Purple shirt? Got it." Brett made himself more comfortable in his chair, rolling up the sleeves of his shirt, exposing his heavily inked forearms. "s.e.xy hunk at eleven o'clock. What makes him so special?"

Liv wasn't embarra.s.sed at Brett's inquisition. There were no secrets between her tight group of friends. "He's...I don't even know what he is." Liv sighed. If she had the ability to kick herself she would for being disappointed at the fact that Jake hadn't even glanced in her direction.

"So what do we know about this guy?" Brett fell into protective mode. A role he took on quite naturally since he'd started dating Patti. "Actually, he looks familiar. What's his name?"