His shoulder hitched slightly and he peered halfway back before his gaze returned to the water. “It’s fine. This isn’t about you. Hunt knows how to get under my skin, and he does it every chance he gets.”
This was the part that had bothered her since she first met Hunt. “That’s the thing; he seems to be trying to shock you. He didn’t want to kiss me.”
Levi looked back fully this time, with a mocking smile. “You truly believe that?”
“I’m not saying Huntregretskissing any woman, but he wasn’t doing it for himself. He was doing it to get your attention. Think about it, Levi. He didn’t come to you with a great idea—because he knew you’d shoot him down. You’d shoot down any idea that came from him.”
“Because everything out of his mouth is repulsive and juvenile.”
“Everything?”
Levi turned back to the water, as though he didn’t want to hear it. But that was the problem. Heneededto hear it.
“Hunt was sincere when he came to me with the idea for the children’s program—almost shy about it. What you saw tonight was him angry and trying to get your attention.”
“He shouldn’t have touched you. Shouldn’t use any woman to get to me.”
“You’re right. But sometimes when people are desperate, they do foolish things. It’s what my sister did when she slept with your brother. She wasn’t happy in the relationship and she ruined it. But I think Hunt genuinely cared for her. I don’t believe he slept with her to hurt you.”
“Why are we even talking about the past?” he growled. “It’s done. I can never forgive him for what he did. Not back then, and not after he touched you.”
“Why not? Everyone deserves forgiveness, particularly a brother who loves you. You’ll never be happy and move on until you do.”
He snorted. “Hunt doesn’t know what love is.”
“He knows more about love than you.”
Levi swung around, eyes flashing in the dim light. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Her chest turned to fire. “I can’t possibly be the only one feelingthis.” She gestured between them forcefully. “You called me yours tonight. You’ve kissed me. Repeatedly. I felt those kisses in every cell of my body.”
He looked away, chin lifted.
“Darn it, Levi!” She let out a harsh sigh. “I get it that some people screw around for the fun of it, but that’s not you. Especially not after your history with my sister. You wouldn’t choose me for something casual. There has to be more. And for the record, I don’t believe what we have is wrong. It’s the rightest thing I’ve ever felt.”
Levi’s jaw tightened and he looked back. “That’s the problem. I didn’t choose you. This wasn’t planned. I’m not ready for a relationship.”
Emily looked up and growled. “You are a stubborn, stubborn man. Some of your best-laid plans—to become a firefighter, to marry my sister and produce the perfect family—they haven’t worked out. You even admitted it on the golf course when you were being playful and relaxed for once. Now you’re reverting, trying to control everything. As though that will make us all safe. Make you safe. Well, I have news for you. It won’t. We have something special and you’re throwing it away. Why? Because you didn’t expect it.
“What will it take to chip away at that wall you’ve built around yourself? I’ve laid myself bare to you. Told you how I feel.” She reached around her back and started unzipping her dress.
His gaze fixed on her arms. “What are you doing?”
“What does it look like I’m doing? I’ve seen you jump in the lake.” She slid her dress down to her waist, her breasts on full display in her pretty lingerie. “Do you find the answers to your problems there?”
Levi’s gaze dropped, his eyes darkening more than they already were in this light.
Lisa hadn’t only outfitted Emily with attractive work clothes; she’d given her proper lingerie too. Somewhat modest, given Emily’s natural tastes, but the pretty scarlet pieces were still sexy.
She slipped the dress off entirely, clothed only in her bra and panties.
Levi swallowed, his eyes fixed below her chin. “Emily, if you’re thinking about jumping in the lake to prove a point, don’t. You’ll regret it.” He said this while staring at her chest and waist…her legs.
She walked past him to the edge of the dock. “I want to see what you find out here in the middle of the night. Is this where you’re finally honest with yourself?”
She glanced at the dark water. It wasreallydark. But Levi swam in the lake at night all the time. And she was sick of being kept at a distance. She’d never gone out on a limb like this for a man. But there was a lot she’d risk for Levi.
Not knowing how deep the water was at the end of the dock, she sat on the edge and pushed off, feet first.
