6. Brooklyn
CHAPTER 6
brOOKLYN
It had been hours since Levi and I had kissed last night, and my heart still pounded every time I thought about it. If his phone hadn’t rung, no telling where we might have ended up. I skimmed my fingertip over my lips, unwilling to let my thoughts go there.
“Are you doing okay?” Lily asked as she passed behind me.
“Oh, yeah. I’m fine.” I refocused my attention on the buttercream frosting in the mixing bowl in front of me. No matter how much I wanted to daydream about what might have been, I needed this job and couldn’t afford to mess up.
“Are you sure you’re available to help me set this up on Friday? I can have Mack come with me if you have plans.” Lily pulled another layer of the huge cake we were working on out of the refrigerator and set it down on the steel countertop in front of her. “I could probably even do it by myself but time’s going to be tight, and I’ve never actually set up a cake this big before.”
“Yeah, I can help. It’s not like I have anything else on my calendar.” Besides, it would be nice to get out of Mustang Mountain for a little bit, and I couldn’t wait to see the finished cake. Lily’s company had been contracted to do the catering for the grand opening of a garden center outside of town, including a huge, spring-themed cake. She’d trusted me to make the base layer of frosting but had been handcrafting every type of flower known to mankind all week.
“You think Levi will actually let you out of his sight that long?” She smiled and nodded toward the front window. I caught a glimpse of him right before he pushed through the front door.
“I’ll handle this.” I shut down the mixer before I made my way to the front counter. He must have been in the area. Him stopping by couldn’t have anything to do with that kiss. “Hey, do you need something?”
He slid a paper cup across the counter. “I stopped in at the Merc and grabbed you a cup of coffee since you didn’t get your fix this morning.”
My hand shook as I reached for it. I’d been too nervous to face him after that kiss last night, so I’d waited until the last possible second before leaving the bedroom this morning. Except for a few awkward exchanges on the way into town, we hadn’t really talked since last night.
“Thanks.” I lifted my gaze to meet his.
He didn’t look away. Instead, his lips curled up just slightly at the edges. “You’re welcome.”
“That was really sweet of you. Can I get you a pastry? My treat?” I moved over to stand behind the pastry case. I’d already had a cherry danish. Working at Lily’s was going to have a negative effect on my figure.
“I’m good. Just headed over to meet with a potential client about a new job. You’ve got plans tonight, right?” He seemed the same as he’d been yesterday, pre-kiss, but also a tiny bit different. A little softer around the edges, maybe? Or it might have just been me reading something into the situation that wasn’t even there. Levi got around. A kiss probably meant nothing to him.
“Yes,” Lily called out. “It’s girls’ night at my place. She can catch a ride home with me after work.”
Levi nodded but didn’t take his eyes off me. “Call me when you’re done, and I’ll come pick you up.”
“Mack can take her back to your place after if that’s easier,” Lily said. “Or she can even spend the night.”
“I don’t mind at all.” Levi tapped his cup against mine and his lips widened. “And I think Gus would miss you if you didn’t come home. Have fun and I’ll see you later tonight.”
I waited until the front door closed behind him before trusting myself to take a sip of my coffee and head back to the mixer.
“What was that all about?” Lily asked without taking her eyes off the pink rose she was creating.
“I guess he had some time before an appointment and wanted to check in.” No need to make it out to be more than it was. Levi had a break in his schedule and stopped by. There wasn’t anything weird about that. He was probably making sure I still had plans tonight and was looking forward to having the cabin to himself for a few hours. And that bit about Gus missing me… I’d grown pretty fond of his dog over the past several days and we had a nighttime routine involving tea and the shortbread cookies I picked up at the Merc. That’s all it was, nothing more.
“No man stops by with a cup of coffee to check in unless he’s interested.” Lily looked over and arched her brows. “Is there something going on between the two of you?”
Heat spread over my chest and up my neck. It had been a long time since I’d shared something personal. I tried to decide whether to put my trust in Lily and let her in on what happened between me and Levi last night. While I ran through the pros and cons in my head, she shook her head and smiled.
“There must be. Your cheeks are almost as pink as this frosting.” Lily let out a laugh. “You don’t have to tell me anything. I can already see what’s happening.”
“What do you mean?” I swallowed hard and waited for her to pass judgment.
“He likes you, and based on your reaction, you like him right back. I remember when Mack and I first started dating. The butterflies in my stomach were so strong, I thought they were going to lift me off the ground and carry me away.”
I shook my head, refusing to admit just how much I could identify with that statement. “It’s not like that. He’s just helping me out until I can get back on my feet again.”
“Yeah.” Lily turned her attention back to her roses. “Because he likes you.”
Flipping the mixer back on, I stood back and watched the bowl spin around and around. I might not be ready to admit it to anyone but myself yet, but I was pretty sure I liked him too.
Several hours and two whiskey lemonades later, I’d started rethinking my plans to leave Mustang Mountain. We’d spent the evening at Mack and Lily’s place. Over the best homemade birria tacos I’d ever had, Lily and Peyton filled me in on everything that had been happening in Mustang Mountain. I’d tried not to be too obvious when asking a question or two about Levi, but Lily wouldn’t let me get away with anything.
“You like him. I knew it!” She smacked her hand down on the high-top table we’d claimed at Ace’s. One of the Pike brothers had called Mack and said a bunch of them were getting together for a beer, so Peyton, Lily, and I had decided to tag along after dinner.
“Quiet! He’ll hear you,” I whispered.
“Would that be so bad?” Peyton slung her arm over my shoulders. “You deserve to have some fun after Kyle.”
I looked over to where Levi stood by the pool table. He glanced up, his gaze colliding with mine. My breath caught in my chest. He’d totally seen me checking him out. Fire blazed over my chest as I shifted my attention back to Peyton.
“I’m not sure I’d know how to just have fun with a guy.” When I liked someone, I went all in. I’d never had a one-night stand. Wouldn’t even know how to handle myself without letting my feelings trip all over themselves and interfere.
“It’s easy,” Peyton said. “You just have to make sure you don’t have any expectations except to have a good time. And if anyone knows how to show a girl a good time, it’s Levi.”
The bottom dropped out of my belly at that comment, but she was right. Levi had a reputation as a playboy. Kyle used to say his younger brother would never settle down. He’d had a bad breakup in high school and hadn’t committed to a woman since then. If only he wasn’t my ex’s brother, that might make him the perfect guy for an attempt at a no-strings fling.
I felt his gaze on me again and looked up to see him leaning against the pool table, cue in hand. The way shadows danced over his face in the low light made him look mysterious and so freaking hot. I pulled my shirt away from my skin in an attempt to cool off.
Peyton followed my line of vision and let out a low whistle. “Oh, hon. I think it’s too late for you to use Levi as your boy toy. The two of you have got it bad for each other.”
I tore my gaze away. “No. It’s nothing like that. He’s just helping me out. As soon as I get enough money saved up, I’ll be out of here.”
“You can’t leave.” Lily set her hand on top of mine. The gesture caught me off guard, and I forced myself not to pull back. “Not when we’re finally getting to know you. Do you really want to start over somewhere else?”
She and Peyton shot me the same exaggerated pouty lips. They were just being sweet, but the question made me think. Except for Kyle being in Mustang Mountain, it would be the perfect place to settle down. I loved being in the mountains. And as much as I liked the idea of disappearing into a big city where no one would know me, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to handle being around so many people. And I’d miss being able to look out my window and see the gorgeous views of Montana.
“Just think about it, okay?” Peyton said.
“Think about what?” Levi’s voice came from behind me, and I spun around on my stool to face him.
“We’re trying to convince Brooklyn to stay in Mustang Mountain,” Lily said.
“You’re planning on leaving?” For half a heartbeat his mouth turned down and he looked like I’d just told him to kick a puppy.
“I’m not sure yet. That’s been my plan, but Peyton and Lily are pretty convincing.” I gave him a quick grin, hoping to avoid talk about the future. For someone who didn’t even know where she’d be sleeping next week, I didn’t want to get way ahead of myself.
“You’ve got to do what’s best for you.” Levi shifted his weight and his whole demeanor changed to something much more casual. “Some of the guys are heading out. If you’re ready to go, I can drive you home. If not, I don’t mind waiting.”
“No one’s waiting for me,” Peyton said. “I’m up for staying out.”
Lily glanced over Peyton’s shoulder to check on Mack. “My guy doesn’t appear to be in a hurry. What do you think, Brooklyn? Are you up for another round?”
The clock behind the bar showed it was almost eleven o’clock. I didn’t want Levi to have to stick around to drive me back to the cabin, not when he had to get up early to head to a work site, so I pulled some cash out of my purse to settle my tab.
“It’s getting pretty late. I’m ready to head out,” I said.
Levi put his hand over mine. “Your drinks have already been covered.”
“All of them?” I asked.
“Aw, thanks, Levi.” Peyton slung her arm over his shoulder. “You’re the best.”
“A true gentleman,” Lily gave him a huge smile.
“My pleasure.” Levi ducked out from under Peyton’s arm and helped me scoot my barstool back. I had to grab onto his hand to steady myself as my feet hit the floor.
“I’ll see you at work tomorrow,” I told Lily as I gave her a quick hug.
“I’m so glad you came out with us.” Peyton wrapped her arms around me next.
A weird feeling bubbled up in my chest. It had been so long since I’d felt it, I had trouble identifying it at first.
Happiness.
For the first time in a very long time, I felt like I truly belonged somewhere.