u' re doing, Ava? This isn' t a game. You have a responsibility

se him to believe a woman' s only value is in serving her husband," sh

support women having careers. Look at Chloe. I

"You supported Chloe because her success reflects well on you. You wa

ng. It was her father, David Miller

rk already?" His voice was wheedling, laced with disappointment. "T

am had become his primary investor, his lifeline. David' s concern wasn' t for her or

decide it is, Dad," s

a beautiful home. Liam is a very important man. You n

ant. He meant the easy money he

quiet. "Your restaurant? Are you afraid Liam will pull his

r end of the line. "How can you say that?

orried about yourself. You have been my whole life. So let me be very clear. My

up to see Liam watching her, a smug, knowing look on his face. He

ecause his apathetic demeanor shifted. He gave her a ca

gesture of surrender. "If you really want to do this, I

ly out of character. What was his angle? She didn' t tr

lecture about the demands of the job but offered her a chance to get back in th

se. The familiar weight of a knife in her hand, the smell of garlic and herbs, the heat of the stove

xhilarated, Liam was in the kitc

he asked, hi

" she said, n

e counter. "I remember when you won that award under his guida

rised. He had never men

the judging panel. As a food critic, her opinion carries a lot of weight. She got her start because I believe

ss he had personally engineered. He was telling her, in his own way, that Chloe' s place in this world was one he had built, while Ava' s w