Her shoes clacked on the wooden planks as she made her way to the end of the dock and stepped onto the sand. And then she heard a large splash.
Emily swung around, but Levi was no longer standing on the edge of the dock.
For a moment, her heart raced. Was he in trouble?
What was she thinking? He wasan ex-fireman.Levi Cade saved lives. And then she saw his white dress shirt on the bench he’d been standing near, along with his shoes. She looked out at the water and caught sight of long, muscular arms cutting across the obsidian.
Lake Tahoe was gorgeous and pleasant on a hot day, but the water was by no means warm. That didn’t stop Levi from making steady progress toward the center of the lake, which could be as far as ten miles—twenty to the other side. But no sooner did she wonder how far he planned to go when he stopped and floated on his back, looking up at the sky.
Emily slowly turned around and continued walking.
Levi Cade was a complicated man. And he wanted to be alone. She’d help him, then she’d move on.
Lisa was wrong if she thought Emily could break down Levi’s walls. He was out of her league. Some more attractive, charming woman would unlock the door to his heart. Not that Lisa had mentioned anything about getting through to Levi’s heart, but that was what it would take, wouldn’t it? He wasn’t the type of man who opened up to just anyone. And he had four brothers; he didn’t need another friend.
Emily held her head high as she made her way out of the lobby and past the guests entering the hotel. She walked to one of the farther parking lots and unlocked her small hybrid, throwing her bag inside and sinking into the driver’s seat.
She gripped the steering wheel and a shiver racked her body. Then another. Even if she wasn’t the woman to break down Levi’s walls and make him fall in love with her, nothing had changed in the four years since she’d been away.
Because she still wanted to be that woman.
Chapter 7
Emily madesure Esther’s going-away party was as classy as the lady herself. She’d heard enough wonderful things about Ethan Cade’s longtime assistant over the past week to know the woman had been the heart of Club Tahoe. And how would Emily fill those shoes? The truth was, she wouldn’t. Esther had given Levi and his brothers a piece of family they’d needed. The most Emily could do now was help them run Club Tahoe to the best of her ability.
She nudged a lavender rose and poppy centerpiece on one of the tables a touch more to the right. “Is the Dom Pérignon chilling behind the bar?” she asked the serving girl passing at a quick pace.
The girl stopped and faced her. “Yes, ma’am. And the appetizers are ready as well. They’ll be served as soon as our guests arrive.”
Emily checked the time. People should be getting off work and joining them any moment.
They’d planned the party for Friday evening so that employees could attend and not feel rushed. Emily even wore one of the knee-length dresses her sister had brought over. The back of the emerald dress was cut out to just above her rump, but Lisa had assured her it was classy enough for a work party. Emily would have to take Lisa’s word for it, because she felt a distinct draft she wasn’t used to.
Her fingers touched the dark, stretchy lace the same color as the rest of the dress that cut in at her waist and went up to her collarbone, leaving her shoulders and arms sleeveless. At least the front went high, even if her arms and back were bare. She wore the gold bracelet her sister had chosen, but she’d drawn the line on the large hoop earrings. She was already staggering in strappy heels that hurt the balls of her feet. She didn’t need one more uncomfortable accessory.
Emily checked the time again. People should be here. Where were they?
She was considering rounding up employees from their desks, when a warm, masculine hand settled on her lower back.
“You can put that thing away now,” Levi said.
He wore a navy jacket and slacks with a white dress shirt unbuttoned at the top, revealing smooth, lightly tanned skin. His hair, which he seemed to be growing out a bit, was stylishly rumpled. Or he might have rubbed his hand across the top of his head; he wasn’t the type of guy to fuss with his hair.
In any case, that wasn’t what had Emily’s pulse pounding at her throat, or her hands shaking as she tucked her device in her bag.
Levi lifted her workbag off her shoulder and handed it to a passing server carrying a tray of champagne glasses. “Put it behind the bar, please.” He grabbed one of the glasses off the tray before the guy left and handed it to her. He looked around. “You’ve done a great job. Esther will be happy.”
She nodded, but couldn’t speak. Her tongue was stuck to the roof of her mouth. Becausehis handwas still on her back, and her body’s response was to shoot heat rockets throughout her limbs.
She was pathetic. It was aback. Not a breast. Not a thigh.
And by the time she’d recovered her composure, Levi had already dropped his palm and moved on to greet the finance director. He also turned and greeted Ed, the groundskeeper, giving both men equal time and respect.
That was one thing she loved about Levi. He never put on airs. The guy had grown up in a mansion, but you’d never know it. He was as down to earth as they came. Of course, that didn’t stop Emily from getting nervous around him. But that was because he was the sexiest man she’d ever known. And she had way too many womanly hormones coursing through her when he was near.
She gulped down the glass of champagne and squeezed her eyes closed as bubbles tickled the back of her throat. She signaled for another. She’d gone over everything three or four times; the party would run efficiently with or without her complete sobriety. Tonight, in this dress, with Levi looking dashing in his casual suit, she needed something to numb her overactive imagination.
* * *
