Levi put his hand over mine. “Your drinks have already been covered.”
“All of them?” I asked.
“Aw, thanks, Levi.” Peyton slung her arm over his shoulder. “You’re the best.”
“A true gentleman,” Lily gave him a huge smile.
“My pleasure.” Levi ducked out from under Peyton’s arm and helped me scoot my barstool back. I had to grab onto his hand to steady myself as my feet hit the floor.
“I’ll see you at work tomorrow,” I told Lily as I gave her a quick hug.
“I’m so glad you came out with us.” Peyton wrapped her arms around me next.
A weird feeling bubbled up in my chest. It had been so long since I’d felt it, I had trouble identifying it at first.
Happiness.
For the first time in a very long time, I felt like I truly belonged somewhere.
CHAPTER 7
LEVI
I’d been tryingto figure out how to handle myself around Brooklyn since that kiss the other night. At that moment, I’d wanted to be the man she needed. But with a little time and distance, I wasn’t sure I had it in me. As much as I wanted her, I was pissed at myself for giving in. Watching her have a good time with Lily and Peyton at the bar last night, I’d been jealous as hell. I wanted to be the one to make her laugh and put a smile on her face. I also wanted to take her home and make all kinds of promises that would bind her to me forever.
Frustrated and feeling like my life was spinning out of control, I tightened the fitting underneath the bunkhouse sink I’d been working on. When my phone pinged with a text, I almost didn’t look at it. But then I worried Brooklyn might need me, so I sat up and pulled it out of my pocket.
Fuck. The potential client I’d been talking to about a whole house remodel decided to go with someone else. I texted back to ask why, but he wouldn’t give me a solid reason. I’d worked my ass off on that proposal. It was supposed to be my first big solo project and help me get set up on my own instead of busting my ass for someone else like I had been for the past twelve years.
Dammit.
I sat back on my heels and looked around the bunkhouse. Thankfully Shane had hired me to fix up the bathroom, but it was almost finished, and I’d given notice to my boss that I was starting my own business. As soon as I wrapped up the old bank building remodel he had me working on downtown, I’d be done. If I didn’t schedule something on my own soon, I’d have to beg him for my job back.
But the referral for the whole house remodel had come from Kyle. My gut told me something else was at play. It was time to confront my brother. He’d been avoiding me long enough.
I loaded up my truck and headed into town. Kyle had made himself pretty scarce lately, but he never missed his weekly staff meeting. When I pulled into a spot in front of the downtown building where his office was located, I saw his car. He was in.
Despite looking like I’d just walked off a job site, I brushed off the receptionist and stalked straight into the conference room where Kyle held court.
He stood at the head of a long table, impeccably dressed in one of his custom-tailored suits. “Levi, what a surprise.”
“What the hell are you up to?” I growled at him from the doorway.
“I need a few minutes with my brother. We can pick this up later.” Kyle crossed his arms and waited for everyone to scurry out of the room. Once we were alone, he closed the door and gestured to a nearby chair. “Want to have a seat and talk about this?”
“No. I want to break your fucking face for what you did to Brooklyn.” I narrowed my eyes and made a move toward him, relishing the way he flinched. He wasn’t so tough when he was taking on someone his own size, or in my case, someone who’d been beating his ass since we were kids.
“I don’t know what she told you, but it was an accident.” He put his hands out like he was trying to calm down a pissed offgrizzly bear. He’d be better off playing dead or trying to make a run for it than thinking he’d be able to talk his way out of this one.
“You’re a piece of shit and a liar.” Brooklyn still hadn’t told me a goddamn thing, but it didn’t take a genius to know he was responsible for hurting her.
“We had an argument. She tripped on the edge of the rug and banged her head against the coffee table. I told her I didn’t think we should see each other anymore. She got mad and is trying to turn the whole town against me, letting them think I’d ever lay a hand on her. You know me better than that.”
His performance deserved a fucking Oscar, but he didn’t fool me. “Touch her again, and you won’t be able to talk your way out of it because I’ll break your fucking jaw.”
“I see she’s already worked her witchy magic on you, little brother.” Kyle shook his head. “I’m just saying, don’t believe everything she says. How do you think we hooked up in the first place? She was between jobs and needed a place to stay. Her ex had thrown her out and she played my heartstrings like a pro. I’m better off without her, but I’d hate to see you get tangled up in her web.”
My eyes narrowed. No fucking way was he telling the truth. Brooklyn couldn’t be playing me. The feelings I had for her were legit. I’d bet my life on it. Still, Kyle made me question myself. He’d always had a knack for fucking with peoples’ heads.
