Page 69 of A Taste of Trouble

Liv hated how Austin loved to play the back and forth game.

“If you don't give it a try, you're going to end up alone. And personally, I don't know if the man of my dreams will enjoy you living above our garage when we move to the suburbs.”

Liv let out a humph.

“I would say Jake is a pretty good first attempt at a relationship, don't you?”

“I'm scared, Ozzie.” Not that she needed to say it. He knew full well that she was scared to death. But if she was going to do this, she had to say it out loud and face her fears head on. That was what she had done with the bakery, and that was what she was going to do with Jake.

“I know you're scared. But no matter what happens, you'll always have me, Patti, Brett, and of course your family, no matter how kooky they are.” He stepped forward and flung his arm over her shoulder, the bags in his hand slapping against her. “Now let's get my princess ready for the ball.”

They walked to the bathroom fused together, Liv drawing all the strength she could from her best friend.

“T-minus ninety minutes until the big date.” He rushed through the hall and deposited the bags on her bed. “All this freaking out has caused me to lose focus. “I brought surprises.” He turned and cocked his hip. “Ones that are sure to make Mr. Miller drool.”

Giddy with excitement, she went to rummage through them, but Austin held her in place. “All in good time, my love. First we need to fix your hair and get rid of the redness all over your body. If redness isn't from spanking then it's not kosher.” He stepped into the tiny bathroom. “Take a seat.” Motioning her to the toilet, he proceeded to beautify her.

Half an hour later, her hai

r was straight as a pin and her makeup was subtle. Looking in the mirror, she had to admit she did look pretty good.

“Where are those jeans we bought last month?” he asked.

“The tight ones?”

“Yes, the tight ones. Where are they?”

Liv groaned. “I can't wear those.” Buying those jeans was Austin's attempt at forcing her to be trendy. But she so couldn't pull it off.

“Yes, you can. And you will. You didn't spend two hundred dollars on designer jeans to let them collect dust in your closet.”

“I'll be uncomfortable.” She grabbed at her stomach. “They're really tight.”

“Liv, those jeans fit like they were made for you. They hug your curves and lift your ass.” Austin headed for the closet, knowing exactly where she would have stashed them. He grunted when he pulled them out. “You didn't even take them out of the bag.”

She shrugged. “I had no occasion to wear them.”

“You do now. Put them on.”

She struggled, but she managed to stuff her body into the dark denim while Austin scoured her closet.

“Make sure you have good underwear on,” he yelled from inside the closet.

“I think we're way past that stage.”

“You're trying to attract this man. Men love ladies in sexy underwear.” He paused and turned to face her. “I think.”

They both giggled.

He pulled out a black scoop-neck sweater with three-quarter-length sleeves and handed it to her.

“And now for the best part.” Austin headed to the bed where the shopping bags waited.

Liv knew he had raided the fashion room at the magazine where he freelanced as a writer. She couldn't wait to find out what he brought.

He rustled inside the biggest bag. “Now, don't take offense, but there was no way you were going to fit into the sample sizes sitting in the magazine's closet. So I brought the next best thing—shoes and accessories.”

Austin was right. Liv wasn't plus size, but there was no way her size eight body was going to squeeze into a size two. “I scoured the racks, found the perfect items, and voila. This is my gift to you. Think of it as congratulations for finally turning your life upside down.”

---