Chapter 6
Arizona
Guilt was a powerful motivator.
Okay, that wasn’t the full truth.
Austin had been in the process of wearing me down with a mixture of emotional manipulation—citing that kids made fun of him for wearing clothing with holes—and pointing out that debt collectors had begun calling the house when a pipe burst underneath the kitchen sink.
With no commissions in close to two months now, my account was drained after paying Mom’s care facility bill, and I didn’t have enough cash to pay a plumber.
It was out of pure desperation that I dialed up Levi Nixon and agreed to his demand.
His smug voice on the other end of the line, as if he’d always known I would cave, made me want to scream. But I was out of options; compromising my principles seemed like the only choice. I could suffer through one night with the insufferable man if it meant digging out of this hole.
At least, that’s what I was telling myself, anyway.
Levi was so eager to take me out that he let me set the terms. And through the phone, I could almost hear the moment he realized he’d fucked up in doing so, because I chose a movie date.
Two hours in the dark, not speaking. It was the perfect loophole that would allow me to fulfill my end of the bargain while cutting off his attempts to charm me into giving him more.
But so help me God, if he got handsy, all bets were off. I’d likely end up in jail for aggravated assault, leaving Austin to be placed in the foster system.
There was no maybe about it. This was a terrible idea.
Yet I found myself driving to the movie theater anyway, even as my stomach churned, knowing if my bosses ever found out about this, I’d be fired in a heartbeat.
I wasn’t just toeing the line of what was appropriate when dealing with a client; I’d crossed over it. And I hated myself for sinking this low to make a sale.
Take a deep breath. You’re not doing this for yourself. You’re doing it so Mom can continue to have access to the best medical care available, Austin can get the new glasses he needs, and to keep the run-down house you live in from falling down around your ears.
Parking in the attached lot, I walked inside to find Levi already waiting, his eyes flaring with hunger when they landed on me.
It took a Herculean effort to force my feet to move closer, because all I wanted to do was turn around and walk right back out the door.
An easy grin curved on the playboy’s face. “You look incredible.”
I barely managed to keep from rolling my eyes. “I’m in jeans and a T-shirt.” Hardly anything sexy, which was by design. I didn’t want him getting any ideas.
He dragged a thumb over his plush lower lip. “Yes, but you wear them so well.”
Not in the mood for games, I asked, “Can we skip the pleasantries and get this over with?”
Levi chuckled. “You’re allowed to enjoy a night out.”
Folding both arms over my chest, I leveled him with a glare. “Maybe I’d be able to enjoy myself if I weren’t being strong-armed into a date with a guy who could snap his fingers and have any woman in this city fall at his feet.”
Humming, he remarked, “Every one of them except you.”
Sarcastic laughter burst past my lips. “Is that what this is? You throwing a fit over something you can’t have?”
“I wouldn’t call it a fit, per se. But I’m competitive by nature, and I can’t say no to a challenge.”
“Pro tip: Setting a challenge that’s achievable helps you avoid disappointment,” I retorted.
His smile only grew. “You have a sharp tongue. Never knew how much I liked that until now.”
Under my breath, I muttered, “Give me a break.”
“What was that?”
I gestured toward the concession stand. “Snacks?”
Amusement sparkled in his brown eyes, betraying that he’d definitely heard my sarcastic remark. “Sure. Are you a popcorn kinda gal, or do you gravitate toward the sweets?”
Together, we got in line. “Definitely popcorn.”
“Me too. Is it too presumptuous to get a bucket to share?”
In my head, I could picture him moving it at the last second so my hand landed in his lap. He was that kind of guy.
Instead of outright accusing him of being the sleazeball I presumed him to be, I joked, “That’s an awful big commitment for a first date. Best to keep them separate.”
Levi rocked back on his heels, beaming. “Does that mean there will be a second date?”
“Let’s not get carried away,” I cautioned.
“Fair.” His head bobbed on a nod. There was a beat of silence before he spoke again. “So, there’s a big age gap between you and your brother.”
“Seventeen years.”
“And he lives with you?” I cut him a side-eye, to which he held up both hands in surrender. “What? I’m just doing the whole get-to-know-you thing people do on dates.”
Except this wasn’t a real date, but I refrained from pointing that out.
“Yes, he lives with me. Our mom has early-onset Alzheimer’s.”
He sucked in a breath. “Damn, that’s tough. I’m sorry.”
Not half as sorry as I am.
That familiar regret curled through my insides.
“She hid it well. So well, in fact, that I only learned of her diagnosis because Austin got sick at school a few years ago, and when they couldn’t reach her, they called me.
I brought him to her house and took care of him.
She didn’t show up for three days. Completely forgot that she had a kid at home to take care of and went to Palm Springs for a spa retreat.
Within weeks, I had legal guardianship of Austin, and we were shopping for memory care facilities. ”
Levi’s brows were drawn down. “And your dad?”
“Mine was a naval aviator, killed in action when I was fourteen. Austin’s was never in the picture.”
“So you’re kinda all the other one has,” he concluded.
My eyes slid shut. “Pretty much.”
Losing Dad had ripped my heart out—he’d been my hero—but Mom getting sick altered the course of my future.
We had a plan, and I’d been working my ass off to hold up my end of the bargain we’d struck nearly a decade prior.
Now, I spent every day living with the paralyzing fear that she might unknowingly disclose my deepest, darkest secrets to the wrong person, and life as I knew it would come crashing down.
“Next!” The shout of the concession stand attendant jarred me back to reality.
Levi stepped forward. “We’ll take two medium popcorns, a bottle of water, and—” He turned to me. “What would you like to drink?”
With my mind stuck in a past I wished I could forget, my dazed reply sounded distant. “Water’s good for me too.”
“Make that two bottled waters.” He relayed my order to the kid behind the counter, then tapped his card to pay when the total came up on the electronic screen.
Grateful to have something to do with my trembling hands, I accepted my popcorn and water, falling into step with Levi as we made our way toward the employee checking tickets.
Voice low, he asked, “You good?”
I flashed him a too-bright smile. “As good as anyone can be attending a date under duress.” Though the words were uttered sarcastically, they lacked their usual bite.
Levi eyed me critically, his searching gaze seemingly penetrating past my defenses, and I prayed he wouldn’t be able to see what I was desperately trying to hide.
He opened his mouth to say something, but must’ve thought better of it, because he shook his head, holding an arm out for me to precede him down the hallway to our designated screen. “Better get moving. Can’t miss those trailers.”
I hadn’t realized how tightly my muscles were locked until they sagged in unison.
Two hours fixated on other people’s drama instead of my own sounded like a damn vacation.
The most shocking part of the movie wasn’t the jaw-dropping twist that came at the end; it was that Levi hadn’t attempted to cop a feel under the cover of darkness.
I’d thought for sure he would try something after the unethical methods used to get me alone.
But to my ultimate surprise, he didn’t encroach on my personal space once, keeping to his power-reclining seat, and even going so far as to use the cupholder on his left armrest instead of the one that sat between us.
Doubt crept in that maybe I’d been too quick to judge him.
Sure, it was wrong to use money to manipulate me into a date, but I couldn’t deny that he’d provided an outlet for Austin.
At first, I was livid that they’d exchanged contact information, viewing it as another one of the hockey hotshot’s underhanded tactics to get to me.
But then I noticed how the typically surly teen lit up whenever a text from Levi came in, and I hated him a little less.
Levi had no idea, but those smiles he elicited from Austin were a gift, and I cherished each one.
The unexpected kindness he’d shown Austin softened me, and I found myself wanting to repay him for his good deed.
As the lights came on and those around us rose to their feet, I suggested, “Maybe we can grab dessert somewhere?”
Levi’s head swung in my direction. The expression of pure shock on his face was fleeting, though, quickly transitioning into that charming facade he often wore.
He checked his watch and hummed. “You know, I would love to, but it’s late, and the only thing I allow myself to eat after 10 PM is pussy.”
And just like that, any goodwill I might’ve felt toward the man went up in flames.
A disgusted noise was pulled from the back of my throat as I recoiled. “Jesus, does that actually work on women?”
Still reclined in his seat, he clasped both hands behind his head and smirked. “You tell me.”
Needing to flee this disaster of a non-date, I grabbed my purse. “Clearly, I’m not your target audience.” I was halfway to the exit when a thought struck, and I spun around so suddenly that I stumbled. Levi jumped up, extending a hand to help steady me when I cut him off with a gritted “Don’t.”
The man had no ability to read a room because cockiness seeped into his tone when he asked, “Change your mind?”
My hands curled into fists at my sides. “Definitely not.”
“Shame. I have this trick I do with my tongue that will make you see God.”
I snorted. This guy was the type to have no clue when a woman was faking an orgasm when he went down on them.
Tone clipped, I said, “We had a deal. If it’s all the same to you, I’d prefer to handle all further communication electronically, legal documents to be sent back and forth via courier.”
“If that’s what you want.”
“It is,” I confirmed. “Tomorrow, I will send over the listings that are still available of the ones we’ve toured, and you can let me know which one you’d like to make an offer on.”
Levi waved a dismissive hand. “No need. They were all phenomenal. Pick whichever one you like best.”
My jaw hit the floor, and I sputtered, “Th-that’s not how this works.”
He looked me dead in the eye. “You want to make the sale or not, Arizona?”
I barely managed to contain the frustrated scream that threatened to claw up my throat.
“Fine. Have it your way.”
Those were my parting words before I stormed off.
With any luck, I would never lay eyes on Levi Nixon again.