Page 179 of The Broken Keys

It probably was a memory, Livianna. You just need to remember.

“Tell me about this dream you had. What was going on?”

Her entire demeanor goes into a submissive stance, shoulders inward, eye contact minimal, with her hands cupped together near her waist. “You were in it, Jax. It was?—”

“Jax?” I lean closer to her, willing her to have a breakthrough.

“Um…sorry. That’s the name I called you in my dream. I know you hate being called that.”

“Where did you get that idea?”

“I called you that the day you were over here talking to my dad about buying a new place. You hurt my feelings, and I told you?—”

“I know why you called me that. And yes, you call me Jax.” I set my glass down and whisper in her ear, “But only in private. It was our little inside joke.”

She steps away, creating distance. Her eyes dart around my face, and I wait. I won’t push her for her mental well-being, but I won’t give her an out if she’s ready to hear the truth.

She blinks a few times. “What do you mean?”

“Specifics, Livianna.” My voice drops to a low, rich texture. I’m going to throw in a nudge, telling her it’s safe to ask. “What is it you want to know, firecracker?”

Her eyes widen, her cheeks flush, and her breathing speeds up. “Firecracker?”

“That’s the name I would call you sometimes. Like I said, we had an inside joke.”

“So…we were…close?”

My pulse quickens. “I’ve always told you we were.”

“Lily.” Cash’s voice cuts in behind me. “Your pops wants us to meet him outside near the pool. He’s gathering everyone now.”

She holds my longing gaze before she shakes off a thoughtand faces Cash. “Can it wait for just a minute or two? I’m in the middle of an important conversation.”

He slips his arm around her waist. “You know you’re pops. When he asks us to do something, he expects us to do it.”

“Why can’t it wait?” She slides out of Cash’s embrace.

He glances between us, suspicion growing into lines etched in his brow. “Jaxon, I didn’t expect you to join us tonight.”

“It was a last-minute thing.” I shrug.

He nods, then turns his attention back to Livianna. “Your pops has an announcement he’d like to make. Let’s do what he asked of us, and then you and Jaxon can finish your talk.”

“But—”

“Livianna, where are you?” Greg hollers from somewhere outside. “You’re being summoned, darling.”

“Be right there, Daddy.” She gestures to the server. “Can I get another glass of champagne, please?”

“Yes, of course.” The server pours her another glass while the three of us stand in an awkward silence.

It’s like a game of chess. We’re all waiting to see what move the other makes.

Once Livianna has her drink, Cash takes her other hand and addresses me. “We shouldn’t keep her pops waiting.”

“No, we wouldn’t want that.” My gaze stays on her.

She fidgets a bit, then peeks up at Cash. “We’d better go see what he wants.”