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L ivvy took her ten days off at the compound, working out, hiking in the desert, and going into Helena. She limited her trips into town, afraid someone would ask her about the job she’d been on. She was pretty sure she’d begin sobbing if anyone told her how much they liked Jake and asked how she and Jake had gotten along.

She ate in the dining room most nights, going into Helena once every few days but choosing restaurants that the Blackhawk Security people didn’t usually go to. She avoided questions by hiding in her apartment and working out during times when she knew everyone else had training.

At lunch and dinner at the compound, she felt eyes watching her but never looked around to see who it was. She was afraid that even a simple glance would open her up to intrusive questions. It was better to keep her head down. The only questions she wanted to answer involved her next job, which couldn’t come along soon enough. She wanted to get out of this compound where everyone was all up in everyone else’s business.

Finally, after catching too many people studying her, she knew she had to get out of the compound. So she went into Helena and ventured into The Trailhead. Fortunately, she was early enough that no one else from Blackhawk Security was there yet. She chose a booth in a corner and sat facing away from the door. If someone recognized her by her back? She’d have to deal with it. But she must have given off strong ‘stay away’ vibes, because no one slid into the other side of her booth.

Until she’d been back for almost a week. She was sitting in that same corner booth, working on a Guinness, when someone slid onto the bench opposite her. Livvy snapped her head up, ready to tell whoever it was that she wasn’t interested in company. Swallowed when she saw that it was her boss, Mel.

“How’re you doing, Livvy?” Mel asked quietly.

Livvy shrugged one shoulder. “I’m good.” Her fingers tightened around the glass of Guinness. “Not looking for company, either.”

Mel tilted her head. “And why is that?”

Livvy took a too-big gulp of Guinness and coughed several times. Finally, she cleared her throat and took another careful sip. “I’m taking my ten-days leave,” she said. “Recharging, you know? Exactly what we’re supposed to do after we finish a job.”

Mel nodded. “That’s good, but most of our operatives don’t take their ten days at the compound. They visit family. Friends. Sit on a beach with a beer in hand. Camp in the wilderness.”

“I’ve never been big on camping,” Livvy said, taking a too-big gulp of beer, then coughing. “I’m more a city girl.”

“Yeah?” Mel put her chin in her hand and studied her, and Livvy wanted to dash out of the bar. But she suspected that Mel would grab her if she tried to flee. “You were in a city -- Washington D.C. You could have stayed there and seen the sights.”

“Wasn’t interested in museums,” Livvy said, hoping her voice was nonchalant but pretty sure it wasn’t. She suspected it wavered. Stumbled over words. But she tried to gut it out. Shrugged her shoulders and said, “Plenty to do in and around Helena.”

“Really?” Mel leaned against the back of the booth, a teasing smile at the corners of her mouth. “Pretty sure Helena isn’t a hotbed of cultural life. Unless you’re into rodeos. They have a lot of rodeos here.”

Livvy flattened her hands on the table. “What do you want, Mel? I’m not working right now, and I want to be left alone.”

Mel tilted her head. “Why is that, Liv?” she asked softly.

Livvy managed what she hoped was a nonchalant shrug. “Not in the mood for company.”

“Any particular reason?” Mel asked.

“Yeah.” Livvy took a big gulp of beer and swallowed the cough that wanted to erupt. “I want to be alone.”

“Okay, Greta Garbo.” Mel propped her chin in her hand and studied her. “You’ve always been very social. What’s changed?”

“Nothing’s changed, Mel. So why don’t you go back to the bar and sit with your husband and let me enjoy my beer in peace.”

“Not gonna happen, Livvy,” Mel said, and her voice was gentle. “Something’s wrong. I can see it. Dev sees it. Hell, every other Blackhawk Security agent sees it.” She leaned across the table and held Livvy’s gaze. “You don’t have to tell me what’s going on. I have a few ideas, but I’m not gonna push you to talk. But you might feel better if you do.”

Livvy stared into the dark beer in her glass. “Not in the mood for chit chat.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Mel nod. “I’ve been there. I think everyone has. But I’ve left you alone for a week. It’s time to spill it to someone who cares about you. Someone who knows what you’re going through.”

Livvy jerked her head up to stare at Mel. “How the hell do you know what I’m going through?”

Mel slid her hand across the table and covered Livvy’s hand. “Because I’m pretty sure I’ve been where you are right now. It’s no fun. Especially without a friendly shoulder to cry on.”

“I’m not crying,” were the only words that came out of Livvy’s mouth.

“Maybe you’d be better off if you were,” Mel said with a sigh. She leaned closer. “Did I ever tell you about Dev and me? How we ended up owning Blackhawk Security?”

Livvy shook her head. “I know you were both in Afghanistan. I assumed you came home and started the company.” The knot in her stomach eased a little. This wasn’t about her. It was about Mel and Dev.

A smile curled one side of Mel’s mouth. “Not exactly. Dev and I were together in Afghanistan. Then one day, out of the blue, he dumped me. I was devastated, and I left the foreign service shortly after that. Came home and decided to drive to Seattle to visit my sister. I was driving through Montana when I saw what’s now the Blackhawk Security compound. It was abandoned, but I could see its potential. I’d had an idea for a security company, and this abandoned piece of land would have been perfect for what I was envisioning.

“So I contacted Dev. I made it clear I didn’t want to get back together with him, but I knew he was the partner I needed to start the company. Long story short, we pooled our money, bought the land and buildings, and rebuilt and repaired them until we had what we thought we needed. And that’s how Blackhawk Security came to be.”

Livvy lifted one shoulder. “Nice story, but it has nothing to do with me.”

“Oh, I think it does,” Mel said. “I’d been hiding my feelings for Dev, because he’d hurt me. Badly. He’d been hiding his feelings for me because I’d bought him out a few years after Blackhawk Security got off the ground. It took a long time, but we finally talked everything out and got back together. Best decision I’ve ever made.”

“With all due respect, Mel, what does that have to do with me?”

Mel tilted her head as she studied Livvy. “I suspect you’re moping around here because either you dumped Jake, or he dumped you.” She raised one eyebrow. “Would I be right?”

This was so not Mel’s business. But Livvy felt trapped. Either she stayed in this booth with Mel, or she’d have to walk past half the staff of Blackhawk Security to get out the door to her car. “Fine,” she finally said. “Yes. I dumped Jake after our job was done.”

“And you’re regretting it,” Mel said in a soft, kind voice.

Livvy lifted one shoulder. “I have had occasional thoughts that maybe I made a mistake.”

“So why don’t you do something about it and call Jake? You still have some time left. You could go to Washington, or he could come here.”

Livvy gripped her glass until her knuckles whitened. “Because I’m pretty sure I’m in love with him, and I swore I’d never do that.”

Mel put her hands on the table, palms down. As if she was restraining herself from reaching for Livvy. “Why not, Liv?”

So Livvy told Mel about her mother, and her endless string of boyfriends who never stuck around more than a month or two, and Livvy’s devastation when her mother fell apart right on schedule. “I swore I’d never be that woman,” she said. “Swore I’d never fall in love every month.”

“Have you ever been in love?” Mel asked.

Livvy drank another gulp of beer to hide her reaction to Mel’s question. But Mel saw through it. When Mel didn’t say anything, waiting patiently for Livvy to answer, she finally spit out, “No. I wouldn’t let myself fall in love.”

Mel frowned. “Not even with someone who loves you and wants to make a life with you?”

“Especially not then,” Livvy muttered.

Mel studied her for what felt like hours but was probably only a few moments. Finally she said, “But you are, aren’t you? You’re in love with Jake Dunbar.” Mel reached across the table and took her hand.

Livvy took a deep breath. Stared at the table. She could either lie to Mel or get it over with and then escape. She nodded. “Yeah. I’m in love with Jake. How could I not be? He’s wonderful.”

“That’s nothing to be ashamed about, Livvy. It’s something to be celebrated. You’re nothing like your mother. You know what she did was reckless and foolish and dangerous. You’re none of those things. Your feet are solidly on the ground, and your head is squarely on your shoulders. But you’ve got a blind spot in your vision so big that you could drive a truck through it. Would it be so awful to give Jake a chance?”

“What if it doesn’t work?” Livvy whispered. “I’d be devastated, and so would he.”

“Then make sure it does work. Talk to him. Find out what he wants. What’s important to him. What matters to him. And tell him the same things about yourself.”

She put her hand over Livvy’s. “If you don’t take a few chances, you’re gonna have a very boring, cold and lonely life.” One side of Mel’s mouth curled up. “Most likely pretty unhappy, too.”

“I’ve never taken a chance in my personal life,” Livvy finally said. “Not sure I even know how to do that.”

“It’s not easy,” Mel said. “But the rewards are worth the risks.” Mel leaned back and smiled at Livvy. “So are you going to be on a plane to Washington tomorrow?”

Livvy took a deep breath. If she said yes, she’d be committed to it. Mel wouldn’t let her back down. Finally she blew out the breath. “Yeah. I’ll go to Washington tomorrow.” She swallowed. “I have five more days of leave, but I may need to take a few vacation days as well.”

“You take whatever you need, Liv. Just fix things with Jake. Figure out how you’re gonna work out your jobs.”

Livvy swallowed hard, trying to dislodge the lump that had taken up residence in her throat when she’d driven away from Jake. “Thank you, Mel, for kicking my ass. I’m gonna go back to my apartment and make arrangements to fly to D.C. as soon as possible.” She frowned. “Jake may not want to see me,” she said. “But I’m going to stick around and change his mind.”

Mel leaned against the back of the booth, and her smile lit up the room. “You go, Liv. And don’t take no for an answer.”

Livvy left ten dollars on the table and scooped up her things. “Thanks, Mel. I needed my ass kicked, and you did a great job. I really appreciate it.”

“I’m available for ass kickings any time.” She slid out of the booth and hugged Livvy. “Your job will still be here when you get back. Good luck, Livvy. And I’ll look forward to hearing the story.”

Livvy felt her face turn red. “Parts of it, anyway. I hope there are other parts that I can’t share.”

“God, I hope there are,” Mel said with a grin. “Now go book that flight to D.C.”