Chapter 4
As I stretched out beneath the comforter, a smile spread over my face as I awoke to the delightful aroma of freshly brewed coffee.
I gave Carlisle a drowsy smile as he gave a gentle laugh. "What's on the agenda for today?" I asked.
"I wish it was you." With a delicate motion, he removed the quilt off of me, and his intense stare traced my every curve. There was a prickling sensation in my nipples and a warm sensation all over my body.
"You are a beautiful woman, Tallulah," he sighed, covering me back up. "I have to keep pretending that all is not well between us. You have no idea how much I wish I could climb back into your bed and stay there with you."
I curl my legs under me and lean into him. "When everything is over, I'll let you climb into my bed." I smirk. "I can't promise I'll let you out of it, though."
"I'd be down with that."
He gave me a tight hug and said, "Riley is in your living room." He shrugged, clearly not happy with that idea. "He says he doesn't want you alone." He paused. "I think he likes you."
"Of course he does. I'm very likable."
He snorted. "That's not the kind of like I meant."
"I know." I smirked.
"I have to go. Regardless, I trust you, and I trust him to keep you out of mischief."
I scoffed and shoved him away so I could climb out of bed.
"I prefer,” I tiptoed over and pressed a kiss to his cheek, "shenanigans.” I grabbed today's clothes and scurried into the bathroom.
Ten minutes later, when I came out, Carlisle had left. My heart sank. I hated him being anywhere near Jane. She didn't know he was helping the police, and she would be all over him if she had the chance.
The moment I stepped out of the bedroom, I picked up Levi's thoughts loud and clear. I went bright red at the image I caught in his head, so I coughed to announce my presence. He immediately shut down his thoughts—to my relief.
But it didn't matter because I now had an X-rated image of Scott, Bernie's son. Carlisle had been so wrong about Levi's feelings toward me.
I couldn't bring myself to meet Levi's gaze when we crossed paths in the kitchen. I caught a glimpse of his red cheeks.
"Oh, hell," I muttered. "I don't care if you're into men, okay? It's no big deal. Just please don't think about Scott naked. Picture him in jeans and a T-shirt. That would work. He's Bernie's son. I can't see him, nor can you—"
"Talla, stop! I get it. No naked Scott thoughts." Levi cleared his throat. "So, Carlisle filled you in?"
"He did." I snickered. "We stayed clothed, in case you were wondering." I peered at him over the mug of coffee Carlisle had made. "What's the plan for today?" I sighed. "I asked Carlisle that, and he said it was more about Jane. I'm not happy with that."
"Other than you staying indoors, there's no plan. I also have some work to do on my laptop."
"Well, I have a business to run." I grimaced.
"Which business would that be—Coffee Bean or Tallulah James, PI?"
"Hardy-har-har!" I smirked. "Poor Bernie. I always leave her to handle everything."
"I thought Bernie was your manager."
"She is. I still feel guilty, though." I shook my head. "I can't investigate anything without Penelope by my side." I frowned. "Do you know if she's okay?"
Levi blushed to the tips of his ears. "I believe she is just fine."
My brows shot up. "No way! Already? That was quick." I wondered if she had told Jessop about his impending fatherhood.
Levi paused mid-drink.
"You caught that?"
"You were rather loud, Tallulah. I won't repeat it, and I have no idea if Pen told Jessop that he's going to be a dad."
"What the fuck!"
Levi and I quickly turned our heads to face the doorway, where Jessop Hallen stood, going paler by the second.
I gasped and ran toward him and, with a gentle hand on his arm, pulled him into the apartment. "I wasn't expecting you?"
"No shit," he croaked.
Without giving him a choice, I shoved him into the armchair by the window. "I'm so sorry you overheard that." I grimaced. "I honestly didn't want you to find out like you did. Pen is going to flip out. She plans on telling you."
"Ask him to pretend he doesn't know." Levi silently suggested.
I shot him a dark look before turning to Jessop, whose color had returned.
I winced because he was so angry. "Jessop, I promise you Pen intended to tell you.
She was waiting for the right moment." I exhaled.
"She was afraid you would only want her for the baby, not her as a person. She was scared after being with Aiden."
His shoulders sagged. "If I hadn't been a jerk to her, she would've told me by now."
"Yes."
Jessop was a complete blank to me. I tried to pick up a stray thought, but there was nothing. It bothered me that I could communicate with Levi but not with anyone else. So far, at least. Well, I don't think Lionel counted. I haven't heard anything from him since that one time.
"She knows now," Jessop murmured, his eyes on me. "We cleared up the misunderstanding, and I admitted things." Color rushed into his cheekbones.
My mouth formed a huge grin, and a bubble of laughter burst out. I wrapped my arms around him as soon as he stood up. "Don't mess it up again."
He huffed a laugh.
"Why are you here anyway?"
I stepped away from him, and he followed me into the kitchen while Levi stayed in the living room. "This will warm you up. It's gotten very cold outside."
"It's supposed to snow." He drank. "I'm going to be a dad." He gave me a lopsided smile. "I never saw that one coming."
"I don't think Pen did either." I squeezed his hand. "How is she?"
"She's not too happy about having Rosie and Dodge babysit her." He shrugged. "I don't care, as long as she's safe from that asshole."
"Have you seen him?"
He shook his head. "Jane told Carlisle that she hadn't heard from him. He doesn't believe her." Paused. "As for me being in town, I wanted to get some supplies. Neither Carlisle nor I have slept at the house for over a week, so we're low on basics."
"I wish this was over with, Jessop. I don't like Carlisle being in the middle of this." I rubbed my arms as a chill slithered down my spine. "You're not angry with Pen, are you?"
He placed his empty mug down and ran his hands over his head. "I was shocked and then angry when I heard you talking about it." I didn't miss his eyes straying to the living room where Levi waited. "I'm not angry now. I'll talk to her when I get back. Don't worry."
"Oh, fiddlesticks! She's not going to be happy with me."
He chuckled. "She'll probably be relieved I already know."
He's right too. Not that I plan on telling him that. "Well, I'm heading downstairs while my babysitter drinks free coffee and does some work."
"That's not a good idea," Levi sent the words my way.
"You weren't supposed to be listening."
"You know your apartment is open plan, right?"
I turned my attention to Jessop and asked, "Do you have your supplies?"
"Yeah, I wanted to check in with you before heading back."
"Then let me make you some food and drinks to take with you." I smiled and gave him a quick hug as I passed.
Levi cleared his throat. "How am I going to keep you safe if you're out in public?"
"Look, I'll mostly stay in the back. I can't be shut up here. Besides, I can take care of myself."
"She's awesome with a pool stick."
I burst out laughing and smacked Jessop in the stomach. "That isn't funny." My cheeks burned.
"It's a little funny. At least, it is now.”
I rolled my eyes.
"Okay, seriously, Talla. You have to do what Levi tells you. Carlisle and Pen will be angry if anything happens to you. So will I."