“About you telling Emily that you’d take her to Paris without even discussing it with me first.”
“But she loves history. She’ll love it there. So much old stuff.”
“Old stuff?”She eyed him.
“You know, museums and buildings and stuff. History.”
“She doesn’t even have a passport.”
“We’ll get her one.”He set down his beer.“So, what’s the problem?”
“A big decision like this…traveling halfway around the world. It should be discussed. Considered. You can’t tell her you’re taking her without asking me first.”
He leaned forward.“So, tell me, Livs…would you have asked me if you decided to take Emily to Paris?”
“I—”She frowned.“No. But that’s different. I’ve raised her. I’ve been there every step of the way with her. You’ve been…”She stared directly at him.“Not there.”
“I want to be there for her now.”
“But you can’t just take her away.”She refused to see his point. Even if he’d been right that she wouldn’t have asked him. Heck, she and Emily might have gone to Paris and back and nevermentionedit to him.
“I’m her parent, too. I want to take her to Paris. And you should come with us. We’d all have a great time. As a family.”
She set her beer down carefully and stared across the table at him. What in the world was he suggesting?
Austin walkedinto Jimmy’s planning on grabbing a quick beer. He’d been restless today. Wanting to call Livy and talk to her. But unsure. Uncertain. Maybe she wanted to try again with that Brett guy.
Anyway, a cold beer might soothe his nerves. He threaded his way through the crowd, sat at the bar outside, and ordered his now favorite beer—Livy’s favorite local craft beer. So much had changed so quickly for him. He thought about her all the time. Which kind of annoyed him. But her laugh and her twinkling eyes and that smile of hers…He couldn’t quit thinking about all of that.
Nor could he forget their kiss…
He grabbed the beer the bartender handed him, swept his gaze around the restaurant, and froze.
There sat Livy and Brett at the far side of the deck. Talking intently. He pulled his gaze away but then couldn’t help himself, and he looked over again.
Livy had leaned forward, an earnest look on her face. And Brett looked…enraptured. Sure of himself.
Just then Brett leaned forward and took Livy’s hands in his.
Austin had enough. He threw some bills down on the bar, took one more swig of his beer, setting it down on the bar with more force than intended. He spun around, not wanting to see anymore, and stalked off the deck in the opposite direction.
He’d had enough. He knew what he had to do.
It was time to leave Moonbeam.
Chapter 27
Livy’s eyes widened as Brett reached out and grasped her hands across the table. She jerked her hands out of his grasp.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m trying to get you to listen to reason.”
“I have been listening. Have you?”
“Come on, Livs.”He gave her another of his famous boyish grins. It did nothing for her. She was way too angry at this point.
How had she ever fallen for this man all those years ago? Oh, she’d been young and foolish. But now her life was forever entwined with him because of Emily, whether she liked it or not.
