Levi’s chest bumps with a quiet laugh. “That’s right. We’re riding the high lifeandeach other behind closeddoors.”
I press my lips tight, holding back a laugh. My gaze seals over his, and for a moment it feels as if we have something real. There’s a warmth in his eyes. Something about the way Levi Masterson looks at me makes me feel as if I’m the most important person in the world. Then, like a slap to the face, I see Raven vaguely staring back at me, and I recoil in the event she decides to morph to life and deck me for having indecent bedpost-inspired thoughts about herbrother.
The baby starts to fuss, and Meredith is quick to hand her off to Chip. “Tag, you’re it. I think it needs a diaper change and maybe it should be put to bed.” She sneers at Levi. “There’s just so much to do with a baby. I’m the milkmaid, and Chip’s everything else.” She hacks out a laugh that sounds as if someone just set a cat on fire. Geez, for that chortling offense alone, I’d say Levi can count his lucky stars. And referring to your beautiful baby girl asitqualifies her to have her mommy card revoked inmybook.
Chip takes off, and a stunned silence takes over as Meredith moves in close to me with her never-endingscowl.
“I think we’re going to take off, too.” Levi rubs his thick fingers over my back and sends a tingle right down tomytoes.
I scratch that scruff along his cheek once again because, face it, touching Levi is like crack. One hit can never be enough. “We’ve got a lot to do ourselves.” I give a cheesy wink toward his skank of an ex. “I’d better put this one to bed, if you know whatImean.”
An unintelligible choking sound emits from Mer’s throat as Bonnie comes over and lands an arm around hershoulder.
“We’re taking off.” Levi gives his motherakiss.
“Oh, dear, say it isn’t so! You just got here.” She offers me a forlorn look that I’ve seen Raven give me a thousand times before. “We’re serving cake in five minutes. It’s bad enough you missed the buffet. Please stay. I’ll make sure you’re served first.” She takes off with her hands in the air shouting for the waitstaff tomove it,moveit!
Chip comes back and tries his best to hand the pretty little princess to her mother, but Meredith cringes like she mightbesick.
“Oh, hon, I’ve done my duty for the next eighteenyears.”
“Wow, and you think I’m the peach,” I whisper to Levi, and we share a privatelaugh.
“What was that?” Mer squints over at me with a death stare, and personally I’m thrilled to have achieved such a level of disdain in her. It’s most likely a compliment. Miserable people gravitate toward miserable people, thus the spontaneous departure from Levi. Although Chip doesn’t seem all that miserable—at least not what I knowofhim.
“Dude.” Chip shakes his head at his brother. “What are you doing with this chick? Everyone knows it’s afarce.”
My mouthfallsopen.
Levi’s chest thumps, and I’m hoping that means he’s good and pissed on my behalf. If he’s not, he’s so getting cake intheface.
“This chick has a name—Ester.”
“Evie,” I’m quick tocorrect.
“Peaches.” He looks down at me and winks, his lips curving into a warm smile. Levi Masterson has a calm about him that I have never seen in another person before. Certainly not in his spaz of a sister. I’m guessing this apple rolled far away from the twisted family tree. “And she happens to be the love of my life.” His eyes dig into mine, and for a moment I believeeveryword.
“Please,” Meredith huffs with her voice registering so low she manages to sound like a demon. What a shocker, showing her true colors right here at her daughter’s christening. Ten bucks says she morphs into a bat at midnight and flies thehellaway.
“He’s right.” I offer an impish grin, but it quickly fades. The moment grows serious, and I can feel myself drawn to him like fire to oxygen. “There isn’t one fake thing about us.” I wrap my hand around the back of his neck and pull him down. His eyes round out before his lids grow heavy with lust, and just like that, I crash my lipsoverhis.
Okay. Perhaps kissing Levi Masterson in front of God, his soon-to-be ex-wife, and his two-timing twin brother wasn’t the best scenario for our first kiss, but I couldn’t hold out one secondlonger.
His lips linger over mine, pillow soft and yet commanding. His chest expands beneath me and takes my body for the ride. I’ve kissed my fair share of male suitors. I’ve kissed a helluva lot of frogs, too, but this kiss, this magical, warm, inviting lip-lock for two is by far the best action I’ve received in alifetime.
I pull back, my heart racing into my throat, my face burning bright and hot as the sun. A waitress shoves a cake plate into each of our hands, and I giggle as if it were the funniest thing in theworld.
Meredith and Chip have long taken off, and I’m glad. It’s just Leviandme.
“Would you like a bite?” I carefully offer him a forkful of white fluffygoodness.
“From you or the cake?” His brows do the worm, and, honest to God, my sweet spot just tingled at thesight.
“If you play your cards right, I can arrange for you to have both at once.” GAH! I just formally propositioned Raven’s brother at his childhood home. I’m pretty sure that beat down Raven promised is just around thecorner.
His head ticks to the side with a slightly puzzled look on his face. “You are aware we’re alone,right?”
“You are aware I’m a living, breathing woman who’s been swept up in your brute charm and caveman-likequalities.”
