His touch made a strange energy hum through her. Made her mouth go dry.
“So... you think I’m handsome, huh?” Levi said, his tone teasing.
Men. Hadn’t she already told him as much? Mia pursed her lips and went back to work, all nonchalant. “You’re okay, I guess.”
Levi sat back on his heels, giving her a sly grin. “Just okay?”
The scent of his cologne was yummy. She drew in a deep breath of it. Her hands were suddenly shaky under his perusal, and she was glad for the task at hand. He made her nervous. Made her stomach swarm with butterflies.
***
Levi watched Mia unshelving books and tried to remind himself of all the photos he’d seen online last night. Mia, with all those famous men on glamorous dates. Mia, smiling at her celebrity ex-fiancé.
But Molly’s words kept popping into his mind instead.Movie star handsome. Amazing. Very special.
Mia Emerson had said all those things abouthim.It was enough to make a man a little heady. And with her here, sitting close enough to smell her hair, he couldn’t resist thinking about it.
Nor could he resist teasing her, just a little. “So you don’t think I’m... I don’t know... movie star handsome?”
Mia’s gaze darted to Levi. She searched his eyes for a long moment, those moss-green eyes fixed on his.
“And I’m sure you don’t think I’mamazingor anything,” Levi continued, watching her closely. “Definitely not at allspecial.”
Mia’s eyes flickered with realization. Her lips twisted. “Molly.”
Levi couldn’t stop his smug grin. “Don’t be mad at her. She meant well.”
He hoped Mia couldn’t see how hard his heart was pounding beneath his shirt. It had been a bold move, making her own those words. He hoped he didn’t regret it.
Maybe Mia had only been giving Molly lip service. Knowing his sister, she’d probably put Mia on the spot. Shame he hadn’t thought of that till now. He opened his mouth to tell her he’d just been teasing, but she spoke first.
“I’m not mad at Molly.” Mia tilted her head up at him. She was so close, just a breath away. Something in her eyes shifted as they locked onto his. “I would’ve told you myself if you’d just asked.”
His pulse sped. His chest tightened. She was looking at him like...
“Would you now?” His eyes fell to her lips. They’d parted—an invitation? He leaned forward slowly, giving her a chance to back out.
His heart beat up into his throat as their lips met. He brushed them softly, tentatively.
His breath caught at her immediate response. At the way she pressed her hand to his neck. There was no photographer this time. No camera to perform for. It was just Mia and him, alone with their thoughts. With their wishes and wants.
And right now he wanted her more than he could say. He went back for seconds because, suddenly, he needed her kiss more than he needed his next breath.
Her hand moved up on his neck, warm and urgent, making desire course through him. Her fingers delved into the hair at his nape, sending a jolt of pleasure through him. He pulled her to him, both of them rising to their knees in a mutual need for closeness.
Levi put everything he felt for her into the kiss. Feelings he couldn’t quite cop to just yet. Words he couldn’t yet formulate. All of it was there in the way he touched her, the way he kissed her. He couldn’t help himself. He could no sooner have stopped it than he could’ve stopped a ripple on the lake’s surface.
Somewhere in the distance the phone rang. Off duty. Not his problem.
He ran his hands over her back as he took the kiss deeper. Her response made blood rush to his head until he could hear his own heartbeat pulsing in his ears.
The image of those online photos flashed unbidden through his mind like a slideshow. So many men. Famous men. Mia could have anyone she wanted. Why would she want him?
And what was this to her anyway? A diversion? Her life was somewhere else. And his was here in Bluebell for the foreseeable future. Was he getting in too deep? Was he setting himself up for heartbreak?
Reluctantly, he pulled away. The half-lidded look on her face about did him in. Her lips looked bee-stung, ripe and tempting.
His palms were damp. His blood raced through his veins, carrying chemicals that urged him to “fight or flight,” and he wanted to do neither.
