3. Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Scarlett
Holy crap. Levi Harrison is a freaking god.
All muscle and brawn. He looks like the guys on social media who women go gaga over, but he has no clue how fucking gorgeous he is, which of course makes him even hotter. I can't stop staring at him.
Is he taller than the last time I saw him? Impressive, because he was already the one man who made me feel small. There were tall guys, of course, but Levi towered over me, which felt good for once.
I've seen pictures over the years. He's Cole's best friend after all, and part of the friend group here. Betty sends a lot of pictures via the group chat, so I knew he had only improved with age. But, no picture could have prepared me for Levi in the flesh.
He's wearing a suit, no tie, and the strain of his coat over his biceps tells me everything I need to know about what's underneath his button-up white shirt. I lick my lips, tracing my tongue over his chest in my mind. I squeeze my thighs together, as I look around the restaurant.
The mirror behind him lets me sneak furtive glances. He's tan and his hair has those natural blond highlights women pay a small fortune to achieve. I'm guessing he still likes to spend a lot of time outdoors.
My childhood with Levi was filled with camping, hiking, and daily forest-bathing. Forest-bathing was something I learned about in grad school. It means spending time connecting with nature to improving mental and physical wellbeing. My strategic marketing professor described the Japanese practice as an analogy to some theory, and I realized I was lucky enough to grow up doing that every single day. Walking down a traffic-polluted street in the city does not recharge my batteries in the same way.
Across the room, Cole's friend Max catches my eye, and gives me a little finger wave. I grin at him and shake my head. He might be even flirtier than Anderson, which isn't saying much these days, since he and Paige got together, but I have no interest in a quick hook-up this weekend.
Well, at least, not with Max , my horny pussy clarifies.
"Here, I snagged you a red one." Miranda holds out a lollipop, interrupting my steamy thoughts. She plops down in the chair next to me, her excited energy contagious. I grin at my best friend, who is marrying the love of her life tomorrow and I could not be happier for her.
I'm not big on candy, leaning more toward chocolate for my sweet tooth, but Miranda knows I've never been able to turn down a red sucker. I rip off the wrapper and turn to her. "Thank you. Are you going to have a candy table at the reception tomorrow, too?" I pop the lollipop in my mouth, closing my eyes to savor the cherry flavor.
"Nope. Tomorrow is all about baked goods. Handheld pies, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, and bowls of chocolate truffles." Miranda sighs. "It will be delicious."
"Can't wait." I lean back and then glance over at Levi's table. He's watching me again. All night I've been catching him looking at me like he wants to either strangle me, or rip my clothes off.
It's hard to tell, and the feeling is mutual.
I'm gearing up to confront him. Find out what his problem is and demand to know why he stopped talking to me when he and Drake fell out. But, every time I get up the nerve, he disappears.
"Scarlett?" Miranda taps my leg to get my attention.
"Sorry. What did you say?" I ask, turning my attention back to the woman of the hour.
Miranda cocks her head at me, glancing over at Levi's table, and then back to me. My cheeks heat and I silently plead she stop herself from whatever comment she is about to make about why I can't stop staring at my brother's ex-best friend.
Bestie telepathy must be working tonight, or she simply decides it's not the right time, because she shakes her head and gives me a huge smile. "Don't forget we have manicures in about an hour. Betty and Grandma are paying for them. They got Zazzle to stay open late for us, and those two are already two-sheets to the wind, so I'm guessing this will be hilarious."
I huff out a laugh, grateful she didn't ask any questions. "Well, I'm not missing that," I assure her.
Right after I confront the smoldering mountain man of my dreams.
Miranda gives me a squeeze and then gets up to mingle with the rest of the guests at the rehearsal dinner.
I look over at Levi, catching his eyes on me yet again, but he glances away. My anger bubbles up, and I stand, ready to demand an explanation, but my phone buzzes and I glance down at my screen.
Rachel
Guess who has an interview next week?
Me. It's me! party emoji
Grinning, I pop the sucker out of my mouth, setting it on the table to respond to my friend.
Congratulations! What company?
Billings Corporation. Eco-conscious research and design.
Oh yes, great company. I've met Barrett Billings through Cora. Would you be working with him? She can put in a good word.
They are one of the few clients she kept on when she went to part-time consulting. She used to stay with me when she came to the city for meetings. I grin at my phone, excited for my roommate as I watch the three dots blink.
It's an Executive Assistant position, so I'm not sure who I'll be interviewing with, but I'm assuming it's for someone in the executive suite.
The corp is run by three brothers - Barrett's one of them. The older brother - CEO - has kind of a reputation for being particular, and the younger brother is the CFO.
Let's hope for the non-particular one fingers crossed emoji
laughing emoji Let's celebrate when I'm back on Sunday. xo
heart emoji
Wedding going okay?
I consider her question, looking up briefly toward Levi's table and I startle. He's gone. Again. Damn it.
Yes. I'm about to confront a big bad wolf and then everything should be peachy.
Good. He has it coming. kiss emoji
I snort because she doesn't even know who I'm talking about, but she's right. He does have it coming.
I storm out of the hotel restaurant and catch a glimpse of Levi heading down a hallway by the elevators. If that asshole slinks into a room, I'm going to knock on every door until I find him. Rushing to the hallway, he glances back and inexplicably picks up speed.
Excuse me? Hell no!
I sprint forward and grab Levi's arm to turn him toward me when I catch up to him. "Are you trying to outrun me? Because I'm in heels, so it's not much of a competition."
Levi clenches his jaw and then visibly relaxes, giving me a look of pure nonchalance. "Did you want something?"
"Yes, I do," I say haughtily, and he looks at me with a bored expression. "Hi."
Levi blinks twice, the only indication he heard me, and then he grimaces. "Hi."
"Why are you looking at me like you hate me?" It's out before I have time to think, but yep, let's cut to the chase.
"I'm not." Levi holds out his hands in a couldn't care less gesture, which is as infuriating as it is hot. Everything about him is sexy. I stare at his large hands wondering if he's any good with them before tearing myself away to focus on his eyes.
"I haven't seen you in years, and you glare at me like I was the one who—" I cut off. I have no idea what happened between him and Drake, but I don't want to let him know that yet.
Staring at his smug face, all the hot and bothered energy from tonight is channeled into anger. This is all wrong. I wanted to sit down and get to the bottom of what happened. Like two mature adults. Maybe find some peace.
"Don't get your panties in a twist over it." Levi gives me a cocky grin, and I have to stop myself from stomping on his foot.
"Panties in a twist?" I assess his eyes and try to tell if he's drunk, but he appears sober as a church mouse. Levi was never a big drinker, and the few times he and Drake raided my parents’ liquor cabinet, his eyes were a dead giveaway. Relaxed eyes that let me peer into his soul. I shake my head and banish the memory to a safer space in my brain.
His eyes look normal. Bored, but sober.
If he's not drunk, I can't imagine why he's acting like such a dick after giving me the other look throughout the entire practice ceremony and dinner.
If he wants to play these games, fine.
"My panties aren't in a twist, Wolf," I say, using my childhood nickname for him.
Levi gives me an infuriating little smirk, like he knows he's riled me up.
Forcing a smile, I lean in. "Because I'm not wearing any," I whisper near his ear, barely brushing my lips against his cheek. The soft hairs from his short beard tickle my lips.
The growl that comes next startles me. I pull back to stare into his hazel eyes and suck in a sharp breath when I see unmistakable lust reflected back at me.
Not sure whether it's good or bad, but I've officially awoken the beast.