But man of action that he was or impelled by a libido that decided it would have no more of this ignominious abstinence, Jake quickly came to his feet and held out his hand. “Let’s sit in the dining room. The view is better.”

His hand was large and strong, Liv thought when she shouldn’t. When, if this was just about a wine order, she wouldn’t have even noticed. As she rose and placed her fingers on his palm, as his hand closed over hers, even had she been concentrating with a laser-sharp focus on business, the seismic tremors that shook her would have been enough to blow any mission statement to kingdom come.

Freaked out, she snatched her hand away. “I’ll get the wine,” she said, enunciating with special care to mitigate her breathiness. “Why don’t you find some glasses and a corkscrew.” Seriously, she didn’t want to be aware of his closeness, his formidable size, his heated gaze. For sure, she didn’t want to yield to her tumultuous desires. Not with a man like Jake, who could compete in the Guinness book of one-night stands. Not that she was necessarily against casual sex. She was just against casual sex with Jake Chambers, celebrity.

Quickly pulling out a bottle of her red and one of white from the cartons, she deliberately preceded him into the dining room. Setting the bottles on a table near the windows, she sat down and gave herself a good talking to.

“You’re right, the view is great,” she said in a normal tone of voice as he approached a few moments later. She was feeling better, more in control. She wasn’t fifteen. She could manage him.

“I’ve had my eye on this place for a while. I’m glad the timing was right for Chaz.” Setting four glasses down, he opened the red wine first with a deftness that bespoke considerable experience. Pouring them each a glass, he sat down across from her and lifted his glass in salute. “To Liv Bell Wines.”

“I confess to a certain prejudice. I hope you like it.”