“Gee, thanks,” Adam said. “Glad that’s the only reason you can trust me. Couldn’t be because I’myour brother.”
Levi rolled his neck, hearing it pop. He was itching to pop something—a weaselly lawyer would do. “We lost three of our major accounts to Blue Casino since Dad died.”
Adam glanced at the man in question. “You think Miller had something to do with it?”
“I’d bet my life on it.”
* * *
Levi madeit home around one a.m. and fell into bed. This business with the lawyer was infuriating, but that wasn’t what kept him awake. He’d done the right thing by telling Emily the truth earlier. So why did he feel like such shit?
He couldn’t imagine a future with Emily, given his messed-up past with her sister. Trying like hell to present a put-together front for Club Tahoe was all he could handle right now. What he should do is sayfuck it,roll over, and slake his lust with a different woman tomorrow night. One who didn’t mind keeping things casual. There’d been plenty of attractive females at Blue’s club this evening. It wouldn’t be hard.
Except he’d barely noticed other women. Because the only woman on his mind was Emily.
Chapter 23
Emily was on autopilot, walking up and down the halls of the offices, dropping off paperwork here, scheduling meetings there. Levi was never going to want her. History proved she wasn’t the woman men cherished. Maybe it was absent daddy issues that had put that thought in her head, but it was a valid one. Yet somewhere down the line—without even admitting it to herself—she had thought there was something special between her and Levi. Until he’d told her he only wanted sex. Not specifically, but he’d said he didn’t want anything serious.
That had hurt. Badly.
Now, for argument’s sake, it was an amazing compliment. Emily was no sex kitten. That a man—any man—would be so drawn to her as to go against his better judgment was flattering. But shit, his words had dug out a chunk of her heart. She didn’t want casual sex with Levi. She wanted the dream. She wanted all of him.
Emily stopped and braced her hand on the desk in front of her, closing her eyes.
“Everything okay?” The receptionist whose desk Emily held on to stared with obvious concern in her eyes.
“Yes, fine. Do you know if Mr. Cade is in his office?” Levi was the last person she wanted to see right now. She had some pride. But paperwork didn’t go away, and she had forms for him to sign that wouldn’t take an electronic signature. The show must go on. Unless she quit. Which was looking more and more appealing. She’d promised Levi’s father she would work at Club Tahoe for at least a year to help with the transition, but she doubted even Ethan Cade would make her stay, given the situation between her and his son.
“He has a meeting in about half an hour, but he should still be at his desk.”
Emily nodded her thanks and moved stiffly toward Levi’s office. She could do this. Act like she hadn’t been rejected in the most embarrassing way.Sex kitten,she reminded herself. It wasn’t like he didn’t want her. He just didn’t want her for the long haul.
This self-talk wasn’t helping.
She shook her head and entered the doorway to Levi’s office, which was partially open. But Levi wasn’t there.
Two men hovered over Levi’s computer. One sat in the chair—Paul, the computer admin—and the other man Emily recognized right away because of his red hair. “Oh, excuse me, Samuel. I was looking for Levi.”
The Club Tahoe lawyer swung around, blocking Paul, who glanced over nervously but continued working at the computer. “He stepped out. I’ll be sure to let him know you came by.” He gave her a tight smile.
Something seemed off and she walked over. “What are you working on?”
“Just routine updates.”
She glanced past him to the screen he was trying to prevent her from seeing with his wiry frame. “If it’s routine, why are you here?”
He crossed his arms in front of him, squaring his back. “Nothing for you to worry about.”
Emily nodded, but she wasn’t buying it. She walked around him and glimpsed the computer before the admin minimized the page. “Levi’s client notes? What are you doing with those?”
He turned to Paul. “Finish the updates and leave.”
The admin clicked a few pages and promptly left, convincing Emily that there were no such updates and that Samuel was hiding something. Updates on a computer took time, and it wasn’t something the company lawyer needed to be present for.
Was he snooping? Why?
Samuel inched around her. “If you’ll excuse me. I’d better be going. I have other meetings this afternoon.”
