Nate and Tristan stayed for the entire party—most of which they surprisingly spent on the dance floor—then returned to the Ariana with Liv. There was nothing quite like feeling her naked body pressed between them, their legs tangled and her moans of pleasure filling the room. Unfortunately, she slipped out first thing in the morning, citing the need to run through the checklist of wedding chores with Sylvia as they hit the homestretch. Nate and Tristan were departing early anyway for a trip up to Seattle, with a few stops along the way—the last of their big meet-and-greets.

Over the course of the past week, they’d managed to solidify their plans and come to terms with Dagney Presley on a building in the Embarcadero, with a view of the Bay Bridge. In so many ways, it seemed to Nate as though all the meticulous plotting and timing out of their chessboard moves was fully paying off.

With the exception of one critical piece blocking their checkmate. Liv was leaving town.

Apparently Tristan’s thoughts traveled the same path. Over Denver omelets on deck, Tristan said, “Last night was a hell of a lot fun.”

“Every minute with Liv is a hell of a lot of fun.” Nate sipped his coffee, then added, “And exciting. And spontaneous . . .” He could have gone on and on. He knew it wasn’t necessary, though.

Tristan swallowed down a bite before telling him, “She has a point about it all just being in snippets. When we were growing up, it didn’t seem that way, even when she was working. We still ended up with plenty of time with her. This past decade, though, has been a lot different.”

“We’ve all had other things to focus on, but our friendship with her hasn’t changed a bit. Even after that first night we’d shared her, she found an immediate opportunity to call us. And we make it a regular habit to phone her.” Nate sat back in his chair, lifted his arms, and laced his fingers at the back of his head. “Distance was such an impediment while we were all trying to get our feet beneath us. The problem is, since we’ve been back, we’ve had the luxury of knowing she’s going to be in her Towers condo. For another week. Maybe two, three, four . . . But eventually, she will be gone again.”

Tristan’s jaw clenched for a moment. He said, “The more we’re with her, the more difficult it’ll be when she’s away from us.”

“Precisely.”

“So . . .” Tristan mused inconclusively.

“Yeah. So.” Nate unlaced his fingers and reached for his fork, then took a few bites and washed them down with more coffee as his thoughts remained on Liv. “The fact of the matter is, we’ve always been in love with a woman who comes and goes at her own intervals, because that’s all she’s ever known and it’s how she exists. We’ve never wanted her to change, would never ask her to change. It’s up to us, Tristan, to bend and flex with her.”

“We couldn’t do that and start our company.”

“Things are different now. We’re not strapped to anything. Except this desire to be with Liv.”

“What are we supposed to do?” Tristan replied quietly. “Scrap everything we’ve put into motion on the West Coast and move to New York?”

Nate sat back in his chair again, his gaze locked with Tristan’s, consternation churning in his gut. “I don’t know the answer. But given the breakthrough we’ve had with her lately, do we really want to backburner the progress we’ve all made? Or do we keep charging forward with something the three of us obviously want?”

* * *

Liv traveled the long corridors of the yacht club toward the formal dining room. She was starving and planned to have lunch, to hell with it being an hour before her final fitting with Ruby.

She spotted Fallon coming from the opposite direction and waved. When they met midway, Liv asked, “Have you eaten yet? I’m about to pass out.”

“You really did give up sugar, didn’t you?”

“Bread, Fallon. I gave up bread. That is just . . . inhumane.”

With a laugh, Fallon said, “You give up carbs all the time for your roles. Especially when you have to be in a bikini or tight pants.”

“Sure, but I’m usually singularly focused on the movie and can therefore channel every gnawing sensation in the pit of my stomach into my role. I have no serious channeling outlet at the moment. I mean, I’d gladly channel my cravings into sex but Nate and Tristan are working and not currently in town.”

Fallon frowned. “Honestly, you’d give the producers of The Bachelorette a run for their money in hooking you up if you were ever on their show.”

“I don’t need to be on The Bachelorette. I already know who I want—as you forced me to face at the party. So you know, too.”

“Why, yes, I do. Therefore, perhaps it’s my destiny to work a little magic and make sure it happens for the three of you.”

“This isn’t your normal retro Love Connection episode, Fallon.”

“Very true. But don’t forget that I have the unique experience of being in your shoes—and Nate and Tristan’s. I had my own evolution to contend with, Liv. It was difficult. Painful, even. But I knew exactly what I wanted. Dev and Morgan. And I was willing to do anything to land them. Especially when I discovered they were as deeply into me.”

“I can make the correlation, but—”

“No buts,” she said. “No more talking. It’s time for action.”

Liv sighed. “All good in theory. But here’s the reality I have yet to share with you. Nate and Tristan are staying in Cali. I’m moving to New York.”

Fallon’s face fell. “New York! Another Broadway show?”

“No. Something totally different.”

Liv explained about her change in career direction. She would have done it excitedly were it not for the agonizing awareness in the back of her head that she just couldn’t get geography to work in her favor when it came to matters of the heart.

“So you want to be a singer,” Fallon said. “I think that’s perfect.”

“Professionally, maybe. Total romance homicide, though.”

“I don’t know . . .” Fallon perked up, the corners of her mouth twitching as she tried to contain a smile. “How thrilled are you over the prospect of being in New York for a few years?”

“Already homesick and I haven’t even left. But it’s the price I have to pay.”

Fallon gripped Liv’s hand. “What if it’s not?”

“Fallon, understand that in order to—”

“Achieve one’s goals, you have to make sacrifices. I’m fully onboard with the concept. However, there could actually be perfect solutions right under your nose without you even realizing it. Come with me.”

“I seriously have to eat,” Liv insisted. “Too much caffeine and rabbit food does not a happy girl make.”

“Give me five minutes. I swear I just might have the ultimate surprise for you.”

“Oh, goddamn it, Fallon. You know I can’t resist a surprise.”

“You’re going to love this one!” She pulled on Liv’s hand, practically dragging her down the hallway toward the still-closed lounge. She punched in a code on the keypad alongside the doors and the locks released.

Over her shoulder, she told Liv, “Everything is done in here and ready for our weekend grand reopening.”

They stepped inside. Liv gasped.

“Holy hell. This is incredible!”

Liv took in the massive space. Stylish low-backed, tufted booths in a medium-gray, luxe suede upholstery. The walls were covered with square, textured, cultured stone in varying gray and blue hues and trimmed with gleaming wood at waist height and along the massive columns.

Fallon slid on the glowing uplighting in fiery colors that accented the decor. It was all very modern and chic, yet extremely intimate, despite the spaciousness. Booths were strategically clustered in the center and lined the nearest wall. Tables were scattered against the far wall of windows and doors overlooking the patio and the marina beyond. A gorgeous bar ran the length of one wall, glass shelves and fancy wine racks behind it.

Fallon clasped Liv’s shoulders and turned her to the opposite end of the facility. “What do you think of that?” she asked.

Liv’s jaw dropped.

Fallon grinned. “Pretty spectacular, right?”

“Jesus Christ,” Liv muttered. “That is one hell of a stage.”

It was L-shaped and filled the entire space on that side of the room. And sprawled before it was a huge dance floor. All perfectly polished and gleaming, as was the stage.

Fallon said, “My original plans called for half of that size for the stage and the dance floor. I wanted to put a second, smaller bar with some sofas around there. But the sofas and matching chairs will go outside to accompany the fire pits. I realized this whole area needed to be dedicated to live entertainment. Liv . . . this whole area could be dedicated to you.”

Liv’s gaze flashed to her. “What?”

“You can perform here whenever you’d like and we’ll pay you. A lot.” Her eyes widened for emphasis. “You can build your singing career here. In Bayfront, where you love being. Where Nate and Tristan are. Where your biggest fans are.”

“I’m—I—”

“You are the most talented person I know,” Fallon said with conviction and awe. “And the way you sparkled the other night . . . My God, Liv. It was so amazing to see you perform like that. I can’t remember the last time I saw you so happy—so electrifying! And you had everyone entranced, under your spell. It was so fucking fantastic to experience. So now I’m thinking . . . you really ought to be doing this every night.”

Tears suddenly sprang to Liv’s eyes. “Damn, Fallon . . . This is incredible.”

“I was streaming Ally McBeal when the idea of an in-house performer hit me—you know, like Vonda Shepherd’s character. Had I known you were giving up movies to join a band, I would have shared my vision with you sooner.”

“Unbelievable,” Liv muttered. “But . . . I don’t know, Fallon. My management team has laid so much groundwork on the east coast and I have to make a decision on a band by next Monday. I’ve been gearing up for this for some time. I can’t afford a break in momentum to—”

“Why don’t you just give it a try on Friday night? The rehearsal dinner is here. You can invite and Ev and Defiant to perform with you. Get a feel for the stage and the crowd so you can take into consideration what you might be leaving behind.”

Fallon’s imploring look tightened Liv’s throat.

Fallon wasn’t just urging her to think of her Bayfront fans, but also her friends and how her absence always affected them.

Most importantly, she knew Fallon was beseeching her not to walk away from Nate and Tristan . . .