CHAPTER NINETEEN
SCARLETT
I busy myself in the kitchen, cleaning the dishes from earlier thinking about the incident that just occurred in the bathroom.
Shit.
His dark hair damp and pushed back, almost as if he had just run his fingers or his towel through it.
Water that was still clinging to his skin, the tiny beads falling down his muscular torso.
My eyes particularly following one tiny droplet that was tracing his jaw before down the column of his throat, over his Adam's apple.
I feel myself getting hot again just thinking about it.
It’s just ten minutes later, Levi saunters downstairs.
This time wearing clothes. It’s a shame. He’s slightly more tolerable when half naked. That view makes it all the more worth it.
I rush him once he makes it to the bottom of the stairs, grabbing his forearm which makes him jolt back slightly.
“Are you okay?” I ask while searching his eyes.
He looks confused, though I’m not sure why.
“Um… Yeah. Yeah, I’m good.”
“Did you hurt your shoulder?” I ask while feeling around his shoulder for any extra inflammation.
His face flushes red. “No. My shoulder is feeling fine.” He replies, avoiding meeting my eyes.
I narrow my eyes at him, not really believing a thing that comes out of his mouth right now.
I relent eventually. He’s making me soft. I hate it.
I usher him over to the couch in the living room making him sit before I crouch before him making sure he meets my eyes this time.
“You can tell me if something is bothering you, Carter. You know that right?” His face turns a deeper red as he diverts his eyes.
I roll mine in return. Men.
“What do you want for dinner tonight? I’ll cook for you this time, promise.” I wink at him with a wide grin on my face.
What is the matter with him right now? I’ve never known him to be this quiet. It’s almost unnerving.
I speak again. “Earth to Carter.” I snap my fingers in front of his face. “What do you feel like eating?”
He shrugs lightly before mumbling, “I don’t know. Whatever you want.”
I tilt my head to contemplate him.
Fine. Be like that, I guess.
I sigh as I move to sit on the other end of the couch and switch the TV on.
Flicking through the channels, I settle on ‘How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days’. Such a good movie.
His head snaps to me. “Turn that shit off.” He grits out, reaching for the remote.
I turn to meet him. “Oh, so now you want to talk to me?”
He rolls his eyes at that but says nothing.
“No, seriously Levi. You’re not two. Use your fucking words.” I snap, before straightening to lean back on the couch, crossing my arms over my chest.
I hear him shuffle out of the room, feeling him take the heavy mood with him.
…
LEVI
I’m lying on my bed. On my side so I’m staring out across the lake.
I was fucking rude.
I know I was. I didn’t mean to be.
I was feeling awkward after the past couple of hours, and I didn’t know how to deal with that.
She heard me. And even if she didn’t put it all together, I’m embarrassed.
I let out a sigh before deciding I should head down to see Scarlett. Maybe apologise. Depends on if she wants to test me or not, I guess.
Getting out of bed, I walk downstairs expecting her to be in the living room. She’s not.
Fuck. Where did she go? Did I piss her off that much?
I move through the house to the back deck, but the sight through the window makes me pause.
I spot her lean silhouette through the glass and my breath catches. Wearing a tiny black set showing off her toned… well, everything, I guess. Her wavy brown hair highlighted with golden hues from the sunset, flowing down her back sticking slightly to her sweaty skin.
She is glowing.
How am I supposed to live with her for another three weeks? This is torture.
The window frames her perfectly. The slow movements, the lengthening of her body, the control. I might have underestimated Pilates because man is she strong.
She changes her position now. I can’t help but watch. I’m entranced by her.
She starts by lying down on the mat, her six-pack gleaming in the sunlight.
With her arms reaching overhead, she inhales to prepare for movement.
Huh… Look at that, I’ve been learning.
Then with a slow exhale, she begins to rise. Her movements slow and flawless. I mean, perfection, really. She lifts her spine from the mat, her legs floating up simultaneously, her body creating a perfect V shape.
My mind floats to all the things we could do should we give in to this obvious attraction.
I shake that thought away as quickly as it came. It’s too risky to go anywhere with her. I need to get out of here for a bit.
But my feet seem to have a mind of their own.
I watch as she holds the V position before slowly relaxing back down to the mat. She comes up for the next rep. Inhaling to prepare before lifting her spine and legs off the mat into that perfect V shape, though this time, her eyes glance to the window.
I’ve been spotted.
I walk through the doorway to avoid making things awkward.
“Hey, how’s it going?” I say casually. At least, I hope it came out casual, and not like I’m turned on again by the very woman in front of me. The one I shouldn't want. The one that I refuse to let myself want.
She releases, controlled as her body makes its way back down to the mat.
Lying there, her chest heaving, she tilts her head to look at me.
I feel a sensation starting to stir low in my stomach. Her looking like that. I’m in so much trouble.
“What does it look like?” She rolls her eyes, “I’m getting my own work out in.”
We stare at each other for a second before she walks inside. My eyes track her. It’s just a moment later before she comes back outside holding another mat.
My eyes snap to meet hers. “No.”
“Yes.” She retorts as she lays the mat out next to her own.
“Absolutely not. We don’t have a scheduled session today.” There is no way she’s going to get me to do this. I refuse.
“Oh, but that’s where you’re wrong. Now, lay down on the mat beside me like the good boy you are.” She says with a smirk as she pats the mat beside her.
My jaw drops. I feel myself starting to get hard at those words, but I won’t let her get under my skin that much. I can’t let her.
I relent, sighing as I drop down to the mat beside her, laying on my back.
“Time for you to learn how to do a teaser.” She states as she extends her hands up overhead again.
A what?
I squint my eyes looking at her inhaling before she exhales and sweeps up in the perfect V. Which now I know is called a teaser.
I’m an athlete, for God’s sake. This is going to be so fucking easy.
Once her body flattens back down to the mat, she glances over to me again.
“Alright, Carter. You’re up.”
I sigh, knowing she won’t back down until I do it. “Fine. Let’s just get this over with.”
“Good. Now extend your arms up over your head.” I extend my arms. She hums, contemplating me before she continues. “Switch those abs on Levi.” I close my eyes, remembering her words from a week ago. Belly button to spine.
“You ready?” She speaks softly.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” I reply, ready for her to coach me through the next movements.
“Okay. Inhale to prepare,” I breathe in, “As you exhale, float your arms forward and curl your spine up off the mat.”
I breathe out trying to mimic the movement I saw her doing earlier. And, well, let’s just say while she did it with the ease and grace of a swan, I looked like what I assume would be a foldable lawn chair.
Have I always been this uncoordinated?
I hear a snort from beside me making whatever parts of my body were lifted off the mat, crash right back down. I hold for a second before opening my eyes, my cheeks heating slightly.
My eyes meet Scarlett’s to see her with a wide smile on her face. Of course. I shouldn’t expect anything less.
She lifts an eyebrow at me. “Not terrible, Carter. Surely you can do better than that though.”
“Can we not today, Princess?” I know she hates that name; it just fits her so perfectly.
Her face drops at that before she rolls her eyes.
“You’re overthinking it. Try again and this time I’ll guide you.” She says as she moves to kneel beside me.
The close proximity of her is killing me. Though, I’d never admit that.
One hand slides from my shoulder to my upper back, her touch soft and tender sending light sparks shooting down my side.
Shit.
She brings her other hand underneath my ankles, once again keeping her hand light.
“Inhale now, Levi.” She commands. God, she’s so hot when she’s bossy. It’s infuriating.
She waits until I breathe in before continuing. “Perfect. Now, we exhale, and lift. Just think as if I was drawing you forward with a piece of string.”
She supports me as I start to lift. My abs tremble, my tight hamstrings protesting this kind of movement, but my chest comes up, my legs following.
I’m in a V. Not a very good one. But I'm doing it.
A smile breaks out on my face. But I only hold it for maybe half a second before I come crashing down.
She bursts out laughing.
Glancing to meet Scarlett’s eyes, I see her smile matching my own.
“You did it.” She says, still grinning. “You really did it.”
I drag a hand down my face, trying to wipe my smile off.
“You’re enjoying this way too much.” I mumble, turning my head away.
She places her fingers underneath my chin to move me back, so I meet her eyes.
“Really. You killed that, Carter. I’m proud of you.” She says softly.
My heart skips a beat as I look into the depths of those green eyes. I’m starting to forget the reason I’m not supposed to like her, and even more, why giving into her would be such a bad idea.
I feel her warm breath against my skin. Her eyes float down to my lips before back up to meet my eyes.
My eyes start to flutter closed before I hear a sudden sound and her warmth disappears.
I glance back to where she’s now standing at the door, her chest heaving, eyes wild.
She points her thumb to the door.
“Yeah, I… I think I’d just better start dinner.” She mumbles moving back inside.
Being at this lake house with her is going to be harder than I thought.
I’m so screwed.