“When—oh. Right. I just . . .” Liv bit her lip. “I just want to make sure you and I are good. We haven’t really talked since the last time I was here, and we left things weird.”
Alexis let out a relieved breath. “That was my fault. I overreacted.”
“So did I.”
Alexis picked up the cat carrier and nodded for Liv to follow her into the back. “Were you busy tonight?”
“Not too bad. Steady but manageable.”
Alexis set Beefcake on the floor again. “Any progress on the job front?”
“None.”
“Not even with the Parkway? I called the head chef myself.”
“And they responded. I had an interview set up for next week—”
“That’s great!”
“—but they canceled it for no reason.”
Alexis deflated. “You think Royce had something to do with it?”
Liv shrugged. “It’s the only thing that makes sense. He threatened to ruin me, and he’s doing it.” She sat down on a stool along the wall with a frustrated sigh. “I don’t know what to do. Jessica refuses to leave. Mack even offered her a job. Any job. She won’t take it.”
Alexis put a bowl of water in front of Beefcake. “Maybe you should just stop.”
“I can’t. There has to be a way to stop him. We’re trying to get a list of women who worked there before me and might have left under weird circumstances.”
Alexis’s hands paused. “Why?”
“So I can go talk to them. See if they know anything or if they want to come forward.” Liv bit her lip as the warring voices in her head battled over whether she should shut up or plow forward. Plow forward won. “Do you—do you know anyone?”
Alexis stood slowly. Shook her head.
“I just need names, Alexis. That’s it.”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t.”
God, were they really back to this? “Why? I don’t understand—”
“If someone hasn’t come forward by now, I’m sure they have a valid reason.”
“Do you know someone?”
Alexis winced. “I can’t give you her name.”
Liv shot to her feet. “You do know someone!”
Alexis’s face turned stony. “You need to leave well enough alone, Liv. Didn’t you learn anything from what happened with your sister’s marriage?”
Liv felt the burn of her words like a giant splash of hot oil against her cheek. Wow. Liv hadn’t known Alexis had it in her to go for the jugular like that. It was always the sweet and quiet ones that could surprise you the most.
Alexis sighed and apologized. “I’m sorry. That was unkind of me.”
“No, you’re right. I didn’t help matters when Thea and Gavin were split up. I convinced Thea that Gavin couldn’t be trusted because I don’t believe any man can be, and it nearly ruined their chances to get back together. That was a mistake I will have to live with.”
Alexis walked over and hugged her. “I still shouldn’t have said it.”
Liv squeezed her friend and backed away. “I should go.”
Alexis gripped her hands. “Please don’t go away mad.”
“I’m not.” Liv looked at her feet and opted for honest. “I’m disappointed and confused. I’m trying to stop a predator. I don’t know why you would try to stop me from doing that.”
“Because some fights can’t be won.”
Disappointment burned hot and angry down her throat as Liv walked out to her car. Alexis’s words bounced around her brain the entire drive back to the farm. Some fights can’t be won. Liv refused to believe that.
A half hour later, her headlights illuminated the back of Mack’s car when she pulled into the driveway, and disappointment faded into anticipation. The window facing the driveway glowed in alternating shades of blue and white as if the only light inside her apartment was from the TV. Liv climbed the stairs, found the door unlocked, and pushed it open softly. She didn’t want to wake the girls. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust, but what she saw when she walked in sent her heart into overdrive.
Mack was on the couch, the girls curled up on either side of him, their feet in his lap. His head rested against the back of the couch, one arm stretched wide across the back of the cushions and the other resting on his chest, his fingers splayed wide. He was sound asleep.
Her apartment was clean too. The dirty coffee mug and oatmeal dishes that she’d left in the sink were gone. The girls’ toys had been picked up and lined against the table that held the TV. He’d even straightened up the pile of shoes by the front door.