He barks out a laugh. “Now for that Iapologize.”
“How about we forgo the apology this time and hit the road instead. I think we have a few more rules we should hammer out to our littlearrangement.”
His arms ride up and down my back freely, and we feel every bit like an official couple. My heart sayssteer clear, this is your bestie’s big bro, but all of those tingling bits and pieces down south screambang him until he’s dead or blind. What Raven doesn’t know won’t kill her—but if she ever did find out, she might kill me. Oh hell, what’s a little homicide between friends? One night with Levi might be well worth a satin-linedcasket.
Levi Masterson scours every inch of my face with a look of stoned lust inhiseyes.
“Let’s get the hell out of here.” He marches me straight through that overgrown palace, and we do just that—we get thehellout.
The house is litup a cheery peach before we ever get out of the car. Levi has his tiny house—and honest to God, after being in that mausoleum of his mother’s, I’d swear this place shrank a good thousand square feet—anyway, he has the place hot-wired to an app on his phone, and the house obeys his every command from whatever locale he chooses. He proudly showed off the feature not long after I moved in and screamed my head off because I was sure the place was haunted. He was quick to assure me of the fact that the reason the lights were flickering on and off for an hour straight was something that amounted to a butt dial on his part, and he apologizedprofusely.
No sooner do we get inside than I pull out the brownies I made earlier and plate them for us to share. I hurry back to the living room, where Levi points a remote at the fireplace, and soon a blaze roars out of it, licking up the side of the walls. Even his fireplace is hot-wired for flame-licking success. Gotta love a boy who’s a techie nerd atheart.
For the most part, Levi’s décor is on point—stained wood floors, enough marble, and top-of-the-line appliances in his kitchen to assure any master chef would be happy—and this amateur baker is pretty psyched herself. Nevertheless, there is one decorating faux pas that Levi here has committed, and it’s a level one offense. On the mantel, seated in a place of honor, dead center for all to see, is a ceramic monkey with five arms—yes, you read that right—fivearms and in each tiny primate little hand is a knife-sharp sword. Seriously, it’s a weaponanda mindfuck. Sure, it does double duty in that respect, but really? Does any home need a monkey wielding five swords? Ithinknot.
He turns the volume up, and flames come shooting out of that fiery orifice, threatening both the monkey and me. “Slow down there, cowboy. I’d hate to be the barbeque special of the week at ThePelican.”
He frowns, and his dimples go off like two sharp little darts. I’ve always thought Raven’s dimples were the best, but after seeing them on her brother, I’ve relegated her to second place. Everything about Levi is next level compared to Raven, and I feel a little bad about even having the thought. For so long I worshipped my roommate, but after meeting her brother, well, let’s just say there’s a new deityintown.
He leans in, his lids fall heavy, and oh my God, he’s going to do it! Levi Masterson is going to give his little sister the big FU and kiss me right here in his home—lips first, body to follow. My body trembles to have him as I scoot in close. The heat from his skin sears over mine, and he lets out a deep resonant groan that brings me to the brink. My thighs shake. My panting picks up, and it feels as if I actually might faint. Now that would totally suck, and I’ll throat punch myself once I come to should thathappen.
He leans back and clears his throat with a startled look in his eyes. “Let’s talk about ThePelican.”
“The what?” I squawk so loud you’d think my head was on fire. Something is on fire, all right, but it’s down a little farther south than myprimeapex.
“The menu.” He clears his throat again and leans so far back you’d think his mission was to push through the wall. “You were working onrevisions.”
“Oh, right.” I glance down at my purse. “Actually, I printed out a list for you to share with Axel and Brody. I dig through it and hand it over to him. My phone gives an obnoxious burp, and it’s a text from Raven. While Levi pretends to busy himself with my many upgrades that will undoubtedly save his restaurant from the ranks of all things humdrum—and thus Chapter 11, I steal a quick moment to see what my bestie isupto.
Who the hell is Evie Slater? And why in God’s name is her skank ass all over mybrother?
I suck in a quick breath and pull the phone close to my chest. Levi actually seems to be embroiled in that silly list I gave him, so I take a moment to textrightback.
No clue.I shoot it over to her quickly.What gives? Is shetextingyou?
That’s my way of sayingwho the hell rattedmeout?
Meredith—his ex, let me know. They christened my beautiful niece tonight, and I feel like a sack of crap for missing it. I swear, one of these days I’m going to quit my job. Trust me, I’d much rather be in Hollow Brook right now than inMilan.
I can’t help but rollmyeyes.
Levi looks up. “Everythingokay?”
“It’s great. This will just takeasec.”
Milan, huh? Wow, I really feel sorry for you. Never mind who your brother is dating. Maybe this Evie chick can finally get him to stop stomping around town like he’s out to eviscerate everybody. BTW, word on the Italian street says Milan is a hub of butter soft handbags. Any brand will do! Hint hint!IhitSend.
Okay, so that’s a mild exaggeration regarding Levi’s somber stomping ways, but only a mild one. Then in a moment of devilish delight, I pull the big kahunaonher.
Maybe if he finally gets L-A-I-D it will be for the best. Nine months and counting is a pretty long time for a dryspell.
Okay, so my own dry spell makes that look like a hop and a skip, which only goes to show that jumping in the sack would totally do the both of us a worldofgood.
She texts right back.I guess. I just hate the thought of some dumb twat jumping in the sack with him just so she can get her rocks off. There is no way in hell they’re in love, and if my brother deserves anything, it’s to be in love with the right personforever.
And just like that, she’s managed to defuse my lady boner. My pink parts protest like a three-year-old who just had her suckerrevoked.
Feeling sleepy. Better go! TTYL!I drop my phone back into the bowels of my purse and kick it to the side for good measure.Who knew my bestie could be such a killjoy? I bet if I texted Lex she’d cheer me on from the sidelines while decked out in couture from head to toe. Her sense of style is ridiculously on point at alltimes.
