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“No, I’m staying with Mac and Libby for a couple days.”
“We need to talk,” he murmurs, heading for his door, but I refuse to budge—unlike Muffin, who is attached to Levi’s side, willing to follow him anywhere.
“No talk necessary,” I say, quickly stomping toward him. With an annoyed tug, I pull my bag from his grasp. “I’m sorry about this morning. I don’t know what I was thinking, but believe me, I regret it and it will never happen again.” Okay, that was easier than I thought it would be.
“That’s too bad.” I hear the smile in his voice, and my eyes fly up to meet his. “I sure as fuck don’t regret what happened this morning, and I definitely want more of that, but, babe, seriously, we were two feet from my couch, where in my head I had already stripped us down. Neither of us had time for what I wanted to do to you, and you are not even close to ready to go there with me.”
“Ex . . . excuse me?” I stammer, staring at him with wide eyes.
“I like you, I like that you’re a little bit crazy and a whole lot blind, but until I know you understand exactly what’s happening between us, there is no way I’ll take you to my bed.” Blinking at him, I try to understand exactly what the hell he’s saying, but all I can focus on is the fact that he called me crazy and blind. “I’m not crazy or blind.”
“Gorgeous, you’re so fucking stuck in your own head, you can’t see straight.”
“I am not,” I growl, resting my hands on my hips as his eyes move over me and his lips twitch.
“I’m not going to argue with you about this.”
“Well, it’s not even true,” I huff, then step back when he takes a step toward me.
“Oh, it’s true, but that’s okay. I’m enjoying this game we’re playing,” he murmurs, taking another step closer.
“Game?” I breathe as he reaches out, rubbing his thumb over my bottom lip.
“You’re cute when you get flustered, and I like that you don’t know how much you affect me and my self-control.” Okay, what the hell is going on?
“What are you doing?” I whisper, pressing my hands to his chest when his head lowers toward mine.
“Kissing you.”
“Why?”
“To prove a point.” His lips brush over mine, and I know instantly that I wasn’t in trouble before, but I’m in so much trouble now.
Chapter 6
JUST ADD THAT TO THE LIST
FAWN
“Hey, mamacita,” I greet my mom as soon as I open the door to my apartment. Throwing my arms around her, I hug her tightly while she rocks me back and forth. Pushing me away while holding my arms, she searches my face and smiles, then pulls me close again.
“I’ve missed you, honey,” she whispers, petting my head the way she always does.
“I missed you, too.” I breathe in her scent that hasn’t changed since I was little, taking comfort in its familiarity before she lets me go.
Hearing my dad clear his throat behind me, I turn to find him with his arms open wide. “Daddio.” I grin, his laughter deep as he tugs me into him.
“Kiddo,” he mutters, kissing the side of my head. “It’s been too long.”
“I know,” and it really has been too long. I haven’t seen my parents since school started back up, and I miss them both like crazy. Talking on the phone every couple of days is not even close to the same as seeing them in person. Letting Dad go after a few seconds, I step back, bumping into something, and look behind me to see two small suitcases side by side. My dad must have brought them inside when I was hugging my mom.
“Um . . .” I look between my parents, who haven’t changed much over the years. My mom still has the same short bob she’s always had, which fits her round pixielike face and small stature. And my dad is still intimidating looking, with wide shoulders, red hair, and a scruffy beard. “Do you still need to check in to your hotel room?” I ask, and my dad looks at my mom, who grins at me.
“We’re staying with you. Won’t that be fun?” she asks excitedly.
Um, what? Did she just say they were staying with me and the word fun in the same sentence? Yes, I love my mom and dad, and yes, I miss them, but I moved out of their house for a reason. The first one being that they do not understand the meaning of personal space or boundaries.
“All the hotels we looked into were a little too expensive, so we figured we’d save a few bucks and stay with you,” Dad says, and I press my lips together. My parents are not broke—no, they’re not rich, either—but they can definitely afford to stay at a hotel. This isn’t about them saving a few dollars. I know this is about my stupid sisters opening their big dumb mouths about Levi. Levi, who two nights ago insisted on giving me a ride to my sisters’ place after he kissed me stupid in the hall. Levi, who laughed his ass off when they asked him about the building we both reside in being fumigated. I didn’t think it was as funny as he did, and my sisters had no clue why he thought it was hilarious, but they did find it very entertaining when he kissed me in front of them before leaving.
“All I have is the couch,” I mutter as Muffin finally pulls herself off said couch to come over and greet everyone.
“We figured we’d take your bed and you could have the pullout, unless there is somewhere else you wanted to stay—you know, somewhere close by?” Mom smiles knowingly, and I feel my eye twitch.
Oh.
My.
God.
I’m going to kill them. I’m going to be on the eleven o’clock news tonight, because I’m going to murder both of my sisters.
“I’ll sleep on the couch,” I grit out, trying to make it look like I’m smiling at the idea.
“Well, good, that’s all settled.” Dad grins, picking up both suitcases and taking them to my room.
“Are you ready to go?” Mom asks, and I pull my eyes off my dad’s retreating back to look at her petting Muffin.
“Yep, all ready,” I grumble, walking across the room to grab the black wool coat I laid on the edge of the couch earlier. Putting it on, I do up the four toggle buttons, then slip on my deep-red hat, scarf, and mittens set. Once I’m done, I pat Muffin’s head, mumbling, “Be good, girl,” as I head past my mom for the door.
The last time Levi sent me a text message, he said he would be working most of the weekend, but I still want to check to make sure the coast is clear. All I need is for my parents to run into him, and god help me if that happens.
“Honey, if we’re going to leave, you’re going to have to open the door,” Mom says from behind me, laughing, and I groan inwardly.
“I know.” I open the door and step out into the hall with them following me. As soon as we are all out of my apartment, I watch my dad turn to check the knob to make sure it’s locked before we all head toward the stairs.
“So did you get a new neighbor?” Mom asks, sounding far too innocent, as we pass Levi’s door.
“Yep.” Maybe if I keep my answers short and sweet they will give up.
“Oh, that’s nice. What are they like?”
“You know, just a person.” Just a person—seriously, like, what could he be, an alien? I’m never going to make it through this weekend at this rate.
“What kind of person?” Dad asks, and my shoulders sag.
Damn with that. I know they are not going to give up until I give them something. “Fine,” I sigh. “Let’s get this over with.” I spin around to face them on the stairs, and they both stop two steps above me. “His name is Levi, he’s a detective. Yes, he kissed me, and yes, I may like him, but it’s too early to tell if I do or not. So right now he’s just a nice guy that I kissed . . . that’s all.” I pause, then add, “Well, that and he’s my neighbor. So, please, can we not talk about him while you guys are here?” I ask, and their eyes are wide, but neither of them is looking at me. No, they are both looking past my shoulder. “There’s someone behind me, isn’t there?” I whisper, and they both nod. Lowering my head, I shake it from side to side, then turn around hoping it’s not who I think it
is—but of course it is.
“Please tell me you didn’t hear any of that,” I plead to Levi, who’s standing at the bottom of the stairs near the front door with a smile on his face.
“Baby.” He chuckles, and I hear my mom whisper baby behind me.
“Great.” My eyes slide closed as my cheeks heat. One more thing to add to the ever-growing list of embarrassing things I have done in front of him.
