He slicked the dark hair away from his forehead with a smile as he glided toward where I sat. “You’re home.”
Despite my best efforts, I found it impossible not to track the rivulets of water cascading down his broad shoulders. His bare chest glistened with moisture, and my gaze dipped to the trail of hair that started just below his navel and disappeared beneath the waistband of his swim trunks.
“Arizona?” There was a smug undertone to Levi’s voice. He’d definitely caught me ogling him.
Focus, dammit!
It took a full minute before I remembered why I’d come out here in the first place.
“You gave the kids credit cards,” I accused.
“Aw, babe,” he cooed. “Don’t worry. I got you one too.”
I placed the sole of my foot on his chest and gave a firm shove before saying through gritted teeth, “That’s not why I’m upset.”
He floated a foot away from where I sat. “All right, how about we skip the guessing game, and you just tell me what’s got you all riled up.”
“They’re too young to understand the value of money, and they never will if you make it so they can swipe a card anytime theywant and buy whatever their little hearts desire. You might be willing to support Maisie forever, but Austin will only be here for a year. It’s already going to be difficult returning to the life we had before you barged your way into it. I’m begging you not to make it any harder.”
Smile slipping, Levi moved close enough that he could fold his arms atop the pool’s edge. Staring straight ahead, he said, “If I tell you something, do you promise to keep it between us?”
Cautiously, I leaned closer. “What’s going on?”
His eyes snapped up to meet mine. “I need you to promise me, Arizona.” The stern tone of his voice set alarm bells off in my brain.
“Okay, I promise.”
Levi sighed heavily. “Austin was getting bullied at his last school.”
A familiar guilt twisted in my gut. “Yeah, I know.”
His eyebrows rose. “You do?”
I hummed. “Where we lived wasn’t nearly as nice as this area, but we were still stretched. I’m good at my job, don’t get me wrong, but Mom’s medical care costs a small fortune, draining my bank account at the end of each month. All too often, Austin is forced to wear clothes that have seen better days or put off getting new glasses when his prescription changes, and those things don’t go unnoticed by his peers. It eats away at me that in taking care of one of them, the other suffers.”
Hanging his head, Levi confessed, “Maisie got all worked up after physical therapy the other day. Austin convinced her to keep their pricey supply list a secret, citing concern that I would change my mind about allowing her a permanent place in my life.” He let out a stuttered exhale. “Like I would carelessly toss her aside over fucking money.”
Heart in my throat, I rasped, “I had no idea.”
“You’re right about one thing, Arizona. They’re kids. They shouldn’t be worried about money; that’s our job. My parents were hardworking Americans, and there were plenty of times when I went without things I wanted, but I always had what I needed. That’s all I was trying to do for Maisie and Austin when I got them those cards. I figured they could order those supplies and anything else theyneededwhen we aren’t around, which is a lot, given we both have demanding careers.”
My eyes slammed shut in an effort to keep the tears burning behind them at bay.
I felt like a total bitch, coming in hot to ream him for overstepping, when the truth was, he had the best of intentions.
Voice thick, I apologized. “I’m sorry for jumping down your throat when I should have been thanking you for looking out for Austin.”
His touch on my knee had my lashes lifting. “All of this is new for me, and I’m doing my best to learn on the fly, but I should have asked before making a decision that involved Austin. I promise to do better next time.”
“With all of us under the same roof, there can’t be separate rules for Maisie and Austin. We need to work together, so I’d like to propose a compromise.”
Levi’s ears perked up. “I’m listening.”
“How about we trade in the cards you got them for ones that we can reload with a certain amount? That way, we can ensure they have access to funds when they need them, but they can’t go crazy racking up charges.”
He pursed his lips, nodding as if impressed. “Yeah, that’s actually a great idea. It teaches them to be responsible with what we give them.”
“See? Two heads are better than one,” I teased, the tense mood from earlier having lifted.
