“And you think pretending to date me is safer?”
I shrug. “You’ve always been good at protecting me.”
The shift in his expression is subtle but seismic. He steps closer. Too close. “Careful,” he murmurs. “You’re flirting with something you already walked away from.”
My throat tightens, but I lift my chin. “It’s fake.”
His mouth curves slowly. “Sure it is.”
Mrs. Dottie claps again. “Oh, this is delightful! A second chance romance! The town will swoon.”
Levi finally tears his eyes from mine.
“We’re not a romance,” he says flatly.
“Speak for yourself. This one has always been so private, gets growly like a grizzly bear at just the hint of town gossip,” I pat him on the shoulder with condescending affection. Dottie chuckles and crosses a line through Levi’s name under thesinglessection on her clipboard.
And when Levi looks back at me, heat crackles between us like it never left.
“Rules,” he says quietly.
“I just gave them.”
“Say them again.”
I swallow, stepping out of Dottie’s earshot. “Public affection only.” His gaze drops to my lips. “No real feelings,” I continue. His hand flexes at his side. “No revisiting the past.” A muscle jumps in his jaw. “And no private lines crossed.”
He steps even closer. “Define private.”
I force a smirk. “Behind closed doors.”
He leans in until I can feel the heat radiating from his chest. His voice lowers so only I can hear.
“You always liked breaking rules.”
“And you always liked catching me.”
His hand extends suddenly. “Deal.”
I stare at it. His palm is broad, scarred, familiar. I place my hand in his. Electricity shoots through me.
It’s ridiculous how much I remember—the weight of his grip, the way his thumb presses against my knuckles like he’s memorizing them.
We shake. But he doesn’t let go.
“Public affection,” he says quietly.
“Right.”
He slides his arm around my waist.
In front of everyone.
My breath stutters.
Mrs. Dottie squeals.
“See?” Levi says smoothly. “Already working.”
