CHAPTER FIFTEEN

KAYLEE

––––––––

“Richard is coming to Thanksgiving.” Stephanie grins like an idiot over her margarita.

Whatevs.

I don’t want to be jealous but I am. Especially considering Richard, which I say in my head with a posh English accent, is in fact a dick.

I knew he was the moment I saw his photo.

He uses Stephanie as his sex kitten and ignores her when he doesn’t want her. I’m sure he has about five other women.

But she is obsessed.

Exactly how is that different from what Levi and I are doing?

Levi isn’t seeing anyone else. I know that. If he is, he’s being very secretive and should work for the CIA after his football career is over.

We’re having so much sex that I can’t imagine him needing or wanting more.

My promise to myself that I’d walk away completely vanished and seems to vanish every day when I renew that vow.

So for months we’ve just fucked and kept our relationship a secret.

I mean, there is no possible way I could take him home to Dad. His health is improving, but I keep playing out the scenario in my head.

“Hi, Levi, if you want to see my daughter again, you have some apologizing to do,” Dad would say.

“You mean apologizing for catching her cheating on me?”

Then Dad would turn his face to me, and I’d have to meet his disgusted look head on.

“You cheated? Then lied about it?”

I can’t do it.

And because I’m almost certain Levi isn’t serious about us—I mean, why is he keeping us from his family? It’s not worth thinking about.

I figure one of us will end things eventually.

My feelings are growing for him exponentially and it’s messing me up right now. After that moment in the kitchen when I swore I saw deep into his heart, we’ve just gone back to banging one another.

It’s time to accept that I’ve fallen head over stupid heels in love with him. And no one knows.

I can’t tell Steph.

I can’t talk to Mom.

I definitely can’t tell Dad. I’m grateful he’s still with us, especially this time of year, so I will not upset him. Not when Levi isn’t speaking up...except to invite me to his house for a mind-blowing orgasm or three.

These last few weeks, hearing everyone making plans for Thanksgiving with their partners, and reminding myself that Levi is not my boyfriend, has been hard.

He hasn’t brought it up at all.

Like last time, he’s excluding me from family events, and it hurts.

I toss back my drink.

“That’s awesome.” I lie and lift my hand to the bartender, ordering another round. “You should marry him.”

Steph is silent.

“You okay?” she finally asks.

I rear back way too dramatically. “Totally. Just saying. Richard sounds awwesssome.”

Okay, so I might be a little drunk tonight. I’m on my third, no fourth drink, and they are sliding down just nicely.

Steph sips her drink and watches me.

“I could be your bridesmaid. Oh wait. Would you marry here or in Eng Land?”

“England. It’s pronounced England.” She frowns.

“Oh sorry. I speak American.” I shrug.

“What is wrong with you?” She pushes her drink away.

“Nothing. I’m planning your wedding.” I pick up my freshly delivered drink and as the glass touches my lips, Stephanie grabs my hand, and it splashes everywhere. “Hey!”

“You’ve had enough. Since when are you a mean drunk?”

Since I fell in love with Levi Montgomery.

My phone rings and I grab at it, forcing it to go bouncing along the bar. Stephanie snatches it and stares at the screen. Then holds it up.

“Really, Kaylee? Levi Montgomery!?”

Oops. The cat is out of the bag I guess.

“We’re just fucking.” I shrug and slump in my seat. Before I realize what’s happening, Stephanie swipes the phone, answering it.

I sit up straight, wobble, and the guy behind me steadies me.

“Woah, darling.”

Ugh.

Stupid men.

I wriggle out of his hands and focus on getting my phone back.

“Hello Levi,” Steph says to Levi as the world wobbles. Maybe it was five margaritas... “Yes, it’s Steph. It appears my best friend has been keeping a secret.”

She frowns at me.

Oops. But to be fair...I can’t remember why it was a secret. Ooh, this is my favorite song.

I try to climb off the stool, catch my heel in it and end up back in the arms of the guy behind me again.

“This is becoming a habit.” He smirks.

“Take your hands off me.” I growl.

“What? Oh, that’s your girl, shit-faced and being manhandled by drunk guys.” Steph shakes her head at me, then says, “I bet you will be. Goodbye.”

I reach out my hand, but she slaps the phone down on the bar.

“Your not -boyfriend will be here in a few minutes.”

“He isn’t my bowyfwrend.” I shake my head. “Just fucking. I told choo.”

Internally, I start making choo-choo train noises and force back my giggle.

Then fail.

I snort laugh and make a little train with my hand and move it between us. Although mine is a flying train.

Anyway...that’s not important, I think.

What were we talking about?

Oh, Levi.

Steph lifts her brows, and I can see she wants to laugh, but instead shakes her head

“Is this why you’ve been drinking like you just returned from a month in the desert?” she asks. “Let me guess, he hasn’t invited you to Thanksgiving.”

I slump in the seat.

“He can’t. I can’t. Dad would...” I can’t get that damn choo-choo train out of my head, which I’m certain Dad would think it hilarious.

“Kaylee!”

I snap my eyes back to her.

“Dad is too delicate. I can’t...and anyway, Levi’s just sex.”

“Am I?” I hear his sexy masculine voice behind me.

My eyes widen as I stare at Stephanie. She looks between us and then climbs off her stool.

“This is my cue to leave. Make sure she gets home safe,” she says to Levi.

“Will do,” he says, walking around me and sitting in the seat she just vacated. He’s got a cap and black jacket on.

“Hiii,” I say, fluttering my eyes, but I probably look like I have brain damage.

Levi stands immediately. “Jesus Christ, Kaylee. You are trashed. Let’s go.” He slaps a few big notes on the bar and meets the bartender in the eye. “Neither of us were here. Got it?”

Momentarily, I remember that Levi is a professional football player and public figure, so this is probably not a great situation for him.

Why did he come?

Steph’s conversation with him flashes back.

Oh, that’s your girl, shit-faced and being manhandled by drunk guys.

I bet you will be.

I blink and smile. I know exactly what he said. Levi cares. He...oh my god. He loves me.

I grin up at him as he lifts me off the stool and get a strange look back from him.

“You came.” I reach for his hand but miss because he has it in his pocket.

“Let’s go.”

The door is opened for us, and I feel his hand in the small of my back as he guides me into the passenger seat of his car.

Levi loves me....

He climbs in and I grin at him, sitting sideways in the seat.

“Seatbelt.” He orders and starts the engine, then turns back. “You going to chuck?”

No way. I’m feeling the best I ever have. The man I love loves me back, and he’s going to tell me.

I know it.

We’ll go back to his house, make love while I sober up, and then he’ll gaze into my eyes and tell me how he finally feels.

He came for me.

Not wanting other men to be manhandling me.

When I’m sober, I’ll work out a way to tell Mom and Dad that I won’t be able to spend all Thanksgiving with them. My cousin Ash and his wife will be flying in so they can have lunch, and I’ll join them later for dinner.

Then I’ll ease them into me being with Levi now, we are making it official.

“No, I’m fine. Just mead some water.”

“Need.”

“What?”

“Need...not mead. Christ. Just buckle up. Then I’ll get you home.”

I smile.

Home. I love how he thinks of his place as our home.

Turning up the music, I sing along, putting on a bit of a sexy car seat dance show for him. He smirks at me a few times and I don’t remember feeling so happy in my life. When a slower paced song comes on, I lean back in the seat and turn my head, singing softly to him.

I do love Levi.

He’s so pretty.

My hand lifts and I run my finger down his neck. He grabs it and places a kiss on the end of it. Then puts my hand back in my lap.

“Don’t fall asleep.” He rumbles, dropping down a gear and turning into a road. “We’re nearly there.”

I wriggle in my seat and take in the neighborhood.

This is all wrong.

No.

This isn’t right.

This is not at all how it’s supposed to go.

“Why are we at my house?” I ask, an icy feeling prickling my skin.

“I have practice early and you need to sleep,” Levi says, reaching out his hand. “Give me your keys, sexy, and I’ll tuck you in.”

When I just sit there, he climbs out and rounds the car, opening my door.

No.

We are supposed to go home. To Levi’s. To make love.

I watch him take my handbag, tug out the keys and reach out his hand. “Come on Kaylee. I really need to get to bed.”

Without me.

I give him my hand and when I’m steady on my feet, follow him along the path. He unlocks the door and drops my keys in the wicker bowl on the table.

“Shower or straight to bed?”

My eyes lift to his in question. Oh, maybe I was too quick to judge. He really needs to get me into bed.

I sway on my feet and cross the distance, trying to do a model walk, while Levi grabs my arms.

Then leans down and scoops me up.

I start kissing his neck and smile as he lets out an aroused moan.

When he lays me down on the bed and brushes my hair from my forehead, I flop into a sexy—I think—submissive pose and wait for him to eat me up.

I love it when he does that.

Tonight Levi Montgomery is going to tell me he loves me.

Swwoooon.

He removes my shoes and pulls off my black slim pants. Then stands staring down at me.

I wish I wasn’t so drunk because I want to remember this.

Then he pulls the covers over me.

Wait, what’s he doing?

“Go to sleep, Kaylee.” He kisses my forehead. “I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”

Then he turns off my light.

And.

Leaves.

If ads affect your reading experience, click here to remove ads on this page.