Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
I shake my head. He grins. “I’ll be back in a minute or two.”
I’m tempted to lean forward and kiss him, but I don’t want to cause any issues with his friends.
As soon as he’s gone, I pull my legs into my chest and relax against the chair. The fire warms my face, and while it isn’t a cold night, it feels good. The slamming of doors has me counting the seconds until Levi is back. He calls out my name before he appears and takes the seat next to me.
“I’m sorry about my friends.”
“It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not,” he says. “They weren’t very nice to you, and it’s because of Holly.”
“Girlfriend?”
Levi gives me a sideways look and shakes his head. “No, definitely not. I only met her when they showed up tonight. I knew they were up to something though because they rarely bring people over.”
“They’re your friends. They’re looking out for you.”
He laughs. “Maylene likes to meddle. She used to be friends with Iris. . . it’s a long story, but the four of us have been friends since high school.”
“They didn’t seem too upset that Iris had died.” Levi looks at me quickly and turns away. “I’m sorry that was out of line. I just thought. . . well, I don’t know.”
“You’re not out of line, Zara. Maylene came out to LA for the funeral, but relationships were strained, and they’ve been trying to get me to move on since Iris walked out. They were likely here to cheer me up. Not that I need it,” he says, giving me a wink.
“Do you need cheering up?” I hedge.
“No, but I need to apologize for earlier,” he tells me while shaking his head. “I got a little lost in my head.”
“Why?”
Levi picks up my hand, interlocking our fingers. He holds them up so that they glow next to the fire.
“I like you, Zara. I can’t explain it, but when I think about how different our worlds are I wonder—”
“Wonder if we’d survive?”
“Something like that.” He sighs.
Changing the way I’m sitting, I turn to face him but do so in a way that we’re still holding hands. “I like you, too, Levi. None of it makes sense. You’re not my type. I’m not sure we have anything in common. Our jobs, while they are the same, are completely different. And I’m damaged. I don’t know if I can trust anyone, and yet all I could think about today was how I wanted to kiss you.”
“I’m glad that you did.” He smiles and brings the back of my hand to his mouth where he presses a kiss.
“I am too, except for what happened when we came back here. That had me thinking I’d made a mistake, that because we’re so different, maybe it’s a turn off to you.”
“There isn’t a single thing about you that is a turn-off, Zara.”
Everything in me is screaming that I hop over the arms of the chair and climb into his lap, but I did that today and didn’t like the aftermath. Not that I expected Levi to drop his pants and go to town, but I expected. . . something, anything like the tour he promised me that could’ve ended up in his bedroom for a sweet make-out session. Levi watches me, waiting for me to crack or run. I don’t want to. I may not be thinking clearly most of the time, but I do know this. I like Levi Austin and want to see where things can go between us.
Before I can make up my mind on what to do, he slowly pulls my beanie off and runs his fingers through my hair. “How about that tour I promised you earlier?”
“I’d like that,” I tell him right before his lips touch mine.
levi
Twenty
The desire I have been feeling for Zara increases each and every time she’s near. Never mind the reaction I have when we’re holding hands, or I’m lucky enough to steal a kiss or two from her. I’m torn with the idea of staying outside by the fire or finally giving the tour that I have promised her. Both have potential rewards of getting closer to her, along with the nagging fear that neither of us is in a position to pursue anything. I do not relish the thought that I’m a rebound, but I’d be a fool to think otherwise, which makes the idea of sitting by the fire more appealing because nothing can happen here. Inside, everything can happen, and that’s what I want.
I want to know Zara, to learn what turns her on, and find out what makes her happy or mad. I should know what makes her smile so that when I see her down, I know how to make her day better. Not that I plan to ever piss her off, but I’d make a conscious effort to avoid those situations.