“Okay, first of all, I don’t know why you just happen to have that statistic in your back pocket. Second of all, we’re talking about sexual harassment, not domestic violence.”
“We’re talking about men in positions of power using their authority, whether it’s professional or personal, to manipulate through fear and intimidation. It’s the same damn thing. It’s all one big cultural continuum.” Mack threw his napkin onto his plate.
He was right. And she hated him for it. Maybe even more than she hated herself for being so ignorant. “Wow,” she snarked, because she was cranky at herself. “Did you learn all that in a romance novel?”
“Believe it or not,” he said, wadding up his trash, “I did. You should give them a try. I can recommend some books to get you started.”
“I’ll pass.”
He winked. “I’m a lot less messy than when I was sixteen.”
She fake gagged. “And to think I was actually starting to like you.”
“No reason to fight it, Liv. Everyone eventually gives in to the Mack charm.”
And now she was cranky because she was afraid he might be right.
He leaned back in his chair. “There is one silver lining in all this.”
“Which is?”
He flashed the magic Mack grin. “The longer this takes, the longer you get to partner up with me.”
Liv wrapped her hands loosely around her throat. “Kill me now.”
“You’ll see,” he said, standing. “By the time we’re through, you’re going to love me.”
Sonia poked her head in the office. “You’re wanted at the bar.”
Mack dropped his trash in the wastebasket. “What’s up?”
Sonia put her hand to her forehead and adopted a breezy tone. “Another lonely wife.”
Liv stood up. “Do I even want to know what this is about?”
“Mack has a superpower,” Sonia said, rolling her eyes.
“Convincing women to embrace celibacy?”
Sonia grinned at Mack. “I like her.”
Mack snorted. “Give it time.”
Liv flipped him off, and Sonia clutched her heart. “Dear God, we’re soul mates.”
Liv stretched a fist out, and Sonia bumped it with one of hers. Mack shook his head and muttered something that sounded like for fuck’s sake under his breath.
“Make any progress today?” Sonia asked.
Mack shook his head rapidly, and Liv’s mouth dropped open. “Did he tell you?”
“Yep.”
Mack groaned. “Dammit, Sonia.”
She shrugged. “I can’t lie. It breaks the girl code.”
“Are you kidding me?” Mack said. “She’s here all of ten minutes, and you already have a girl code?” He looked at Liv. “I didn’t tell her everything.”
“Your secret is safe with me,” Sonia told Liv.
Mack snorted. “I wouldn’t believe that if I were you.”
Liv laughed and then stopped herself.
Mack pointed. “I heard that.”
“You heard nothing.”
“You laughed at me.”
“Nope.”
“I told you. You’re going to end up loving me. Everyone does.”
Liv rolled her eyes. “It’s really sad how you need that kind of adoration.”
“It’s really sad how you pretend you don’t.”
Liv shrugged. “I’m not pretending. I hate people, and they hate me. It’s a perfectly healthy relationship.”
“That’s not a relationship. That’s an excuse. You’re just afraid people won’t like you, so you put on this act.”
“I’m sorry, is this coming from the guy who bought a thousand-dollar cupcake to impress a woman?”
“Yeah, until another woman walked in and screwed that up for me.”
“I had help dropping that cupcake, douchebag.”
“How long do I have to keep apologizing for that?”
“Keep going. I’ll tell you when it’s enough.”
Mack felt the weight of someone staring. He glanced up to find Sonia leaning in the doorway, watching them with way too much interest. “What?” he asked, irritated for no apparent reason.
She shrugged. “Are you coming to the bar or not?” Sonia prodded.
Against her better judgement, Liv followed.
Mack could spot an unhappy wife from a mile away.
Tight smile. Annoyed yet wistful gaze. Mournful stare at hands twisted in her lap. All while an oblivious husband stood just a few feet away, having the time of his life with his buddies, no idea that the woman he’d promised to love and cherish was one glass of wine away from walking away forever.
Christ, men were stupid.
She sat at the far end of the bar, alone, looking over her shoulder every couple of minutes to a group of men at a nearby table who were working on their fourth pitcher of beer.
Mack caught the bartender’s eye and nodded toward the woman. His bartender laughed at him and nodded. Yep, this one was all his.
Mack glanced back at Liv and smiled. “Watch and learn,” he said.
She flipped him off.
Mack wandered to where the woman stood, leaned on the bar in