Chapter 49
FORTY-NINE
ALLIE
SUPERHERO?
Unless we could become a pastry chef in the next hour we were screwed.
Kristina groaned. “There has to be a way out of this.”
We walked around to the backside of the building and could see the balcony just two stories up of the possible Super Saver Serial Killer.
Lexi eyed me for a long moment. I did not like it.
“Levi, there’s a fire escape.”
He looked up. “Yeah?”
She cleared her throat. “We all know you did some shady shit back in high school. The only one here with a mug shot.”
He put his hand out. “That was way back. I’ve been an upstanding citizen for a long time now.”
“I hear you, and, uh, that’s good. A real good thing. But I’m about to ask you to return to the dark side for a hot minute.”
His head shook. “Won’t do it.”
Rachel pointed at the balcony above us. “You can’t climb up there and get our shit from the freezer before the detectives arrive?”
A sarcastic laugh. “Of course I could. But I won’t.”
Lexi stepped toward him. “This is our best friend, Emily. We can’t show up without her wedding desserts or she’ll kill us.”
He grinned at me. “Maybe you need more understanding friends.”
Allie held my eyes and Rachel stepped between us.
“You stop looking at each other that way! Stop it right now.”
He looked at Lexi. “I will not do this for you.” His eyes walked back over to me. “But I’ll do anything Allie asks me to.”
His words tickled my tummy and then I suddenly wanted to tickle him. “Do you want me to do it?”
I nodded as a swirl of heat circled the back of my neck when Rachel waved her hand in front of my eyes. “Stop looking at each other. Right now!”
“I’ll go if Allie comes with me.” He wore that flirty, dirty grin that always made me crazy.
Kristina squinted at him. “She can’t climb a fire escape and break in that place!”
“She’s done it before.”
All eyes shot to me, and I shrugged, maybe feeling a little badassy.
Rachel’s voice was filled with irritation. “Allison, you did not break and enter. I don’t believe it for a second.”
Levi’s brows raised. “It’s true. Allie told me she wanted Dairy Queen ice cream one night at midnight. I made it happen.”
Rachel’s eyes cut Levi. “You made a lot of shit happen that shouldn’t of.”
He leaned his back against the building and crossed his arms over that muscly chest. “I don’t get your wedding food if she isn’t with me.” He looked at his watch. “Tick tock. The Po-po will be inside any second.”
His green eyes lit up something in me I knew nobody else ever would.
“Fine!” Rachel spoke through gritted teeth. “Go get our damn food.”
Levi walked over and stood in front of me. “You ready pretty girl?”
Lexi whisper-yelled, “You stop talking to her like that Levi!” She punched my arm. “You keep your eyes to yourself, Allison!”
I didn’t listen.
His hands touched my waist and every nerve in me jumped. “I’m going to lift you and grab the fire escape. Then step on my shoulder to get up there. Okay?”
I nodded and a second later pulled myself up on the fire escape. I looked down to see Levi jump and get a hold of the ladder and pull himself up. Hot and strong. Be still my horny heart.
I climbed up and felt him behind me.
“Have I told you that you still have the sweetest ass in the history of the world, Allison?”
I looked down at him. “I don’t think so.”
“My bad then.”
Lexi whisper yelled up at us. “I see you looking at him! Stop it right now!”
We made it to the balcony and climbed over. Once at the door we looked through the glass door to see it empty. Levi knelt down and examined the lock.
“This is good. It’s old.”
He pulled out his keys and flipped through and held up his little screwdriver tool.
“Is that the same one?”
“Yup. While breaking and entering isn’t my jam anymore, it’s nice to know it’s here to help in sticky situations.”
He went to work as I leaned over the rail and flipped off the girls below. Did I mention it still felt good to be bad?
A few minutes later Levi pulled open the door and whispered. “You stay here. Let me check out the place real quick.”
I nodded feeling a weird sense of calm considering our predicament.
A moment later he waved me into the apartment and down a hall. I followed his fine ass to a bedroom, and there it was. The ginormous deep freeze the crazy neighbor lady had filled us in on. We approached and my pulse spiked. We stood for a second.
“Well, here we are.”
“I don’t think I can look in there.”
“Okay, you stand with your arms out, I’ll pile on the boxes, and you just keep your eyes away. Are you ready?”
“I don’t think so. I’m about ready to just stick a fork in the outlet and call it a day.”
“We got this.”
The freezer top was lifted and Levi piled boxes onto my arms without a word.
“Levi, do you see anything?”
“I’m focusing on the boxes. I’m not looking at anything else.”
“Good move.”
I kept my eyes up high until I heard the freezer close. “We’re good?”
He took two boxes from my arms. “I believe so.”
We scurried through the patio door and onto the balcony. Below us were the girls jumping up and down at the sight of us and the boxes.
I climbed down one story on the fire escape and Levi handed me the boxes. I dropped to my stomach and passed the boxes to the girls below. Levi then climbed down to the balcony I was on. But before I started down the ladder, he caught my wrist and pulled me to him.
“Do you want to freak them out?”
“Always.”
With that he gently kissed my lips. Whisper-yelling came from below as a rock hit the building before I pulled away. “You’re still so good at pissing off my friends.”
He popped a brow. “It’s a gift.”
We climbed down and as soon as Levi’s feet hit the snowy concrete Lexi slapped his arm. “You stop this shit right now!”
With that we all grabbed boxes, jumped into the van, and got the hell out of there.
“What is happening today?” Rachel laughed as she sped down the block.
Kristina clapped. “We did it! Levi you were amazing!”
“I'm here to serve.”
Rachel met my eyes in the rear-view mirror. “This is killing me but thank you.”
I looked up. “And not a single flying pig?”
“But if I see you two talking or having sticky eyes, I will kill you, Levi Dawson. I've been washing bloodstains from my clothing for decades so I have enough knowledge to pull it off.”
“Wow.”
Kristina turned to me. “Forget her Levi, you saved the day.”
Allie punched her arm. “What about me?”
Lexi turned around in her seat. “The smart girl can break and enter.”
Allie pointed. "Say it!”
Lexi threw her head back and laughed. “No!”
“You say I'm a badass right this minute or I'll throw you from the freaking car!” She flexed. “We all know I can do it!”
To see her laughing, those pink cheeks, and wild curls everywhere shined a blinding spotlight on how much I adored her.
I freaking adored this woman. The thought of next week and every week without her was suffocating me.
I'd lived a hell being without her, and I couldn't do it anymore.
I didn't want to scare her off, but I needed to work fast as time was not on my side. And Clint. Fuck.