Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88889 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88889 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
“Kelcie?” Levi’s hand brushes up my back in a comforting way and settles against the side of my neck as he leans down a little to catch my eyes. “Are you okay?”
“I just remembered something my mom said.”
“Want to share it with me?”
Lifting my arm, I take hold of his wrist. “Before that night, I had no interest in dating because I was so happy with my life. My mom said one day I’d meet someone who would make me feel differently.” An emotional smile wavers around my mouth. “She was right.”
Levi’s eyes narrow slightly, and he tilts his head. “Have you dated before?”
Glancing to the side, I shake my head. “Not really. After I was done with school, I had my first kiss. It was with one of Jordan’s friends, but nothing ever came of it, because my brother would’ve lost his shit if he found out.”
Levi’s expression remains serious as he asks, “And sex?”
I pull a disgruntled face and roll my eyes. “Promise you won’t laugh.”
“Promise.” The word bursts from him, his focus solely on me.
“I lost my virginity in a field to a guy who was working at a carnival passing through town. It’s the most irresponsible thing I’ve ever done. When I woke up alone and saw they packed up and left during the night, I felt disgusted with myself.” My shoulders lift as I shrug. “And that sums up my entire experience with dating.”
Levi shakes his head. “I hate that for you.”
Curious as heck, I ask, “What was your first kiss and losing your virginity like?”
I place each plate in the microwave for a couple of minutes, and Levi waits until we’re seated at the table before he answers, “Margo, my ex-wife, was my first everything. I was drawn to her gentle nature. She tried to be patient with me, but in the end, she had to think of herself. Honestly, I was relieved when she divorced me.” Levi pauses to take a sip of water. “The first time I kissed her, there was no tongue, and it wasn’t too bad. No fireworks, but bearable, you know?”
He scoops some pasta onto his fork and brings it to his mouth. While he eats, I wait patiently for him to continue.
Resting his left forearm on the table, his pointer finger brushes along the rim of his plate.
“She initiated the first time we had sex.” He lets out an embarrassed chuckle. “Fuck knows why she married me. I just laid still and let her do all the work.”
“Me too,” I admit. “I had no idea what to do, so I kept my arms crossed over my chest and kinda prayed for it to be over as quickly as possible.”
His gaze softens on me. “Two peas in a pod.”
As I spear a strip of steak, I say, “I’m sure that won’t be the case if we . . . do the deed.”
“Yeah?” Levi’s lashes lower, and his features tighten with hunger, his eyes dilating. Then the man’s teeth tug at his bottom lip.
Heat flushes my core, and my abdomen clenches hard. The fork clatters against my plate as it slips from my fingers.
“Yep.” My voice is hoarse, and I clear my throat before continuing, “I’m willing to bet everything I have that things will be pretty explosive.”
Levi keeps looking at me as if he prefers to have me for a meal instead of the plate of pasta. “I think you’re right.”
Chapter 15
Levi
After showering, I pull my brush through my damp hair before I walk to my study. It’s Thanksgiving, but I’ll only see Kelcie later this afternoon.
Sitting down behind my desk, I turn on my laptop. While I wait, I check my emails on my phone and see one from my agent, checking in with me.
I type out a quick reply, telling him to relax and that I’m halfway done with the book. Just as I set the device down, another email pops up. The subject heading has my eyes narrowing.
One and only warning.
I open the email and stare at the two words.
Leave Verona.
My author email is on my website, and this message can be from anybody, but my initial thought is that it’s from Colby or someone in his family.
Kelcie said Colby is more bark than fight, and this is probably him barking.
Anger simmers in my chest as I read the words again before blocking the sender’s email.
Letting out a sigh, I roll my shoulders, then opening my manuscript, I read the last piece I wrote and get to work.
The words struggle to come, and after trying for an hour, I lean back in my chair and glare at my laptop.
Lick lifts her head and wags her tail.
I quickly save the little work I’ve managed to get done and shut my laptop. When I climb to my feet, Lick darts up and pads to the kitchen, impatiently waiting by the door for me to open it.