Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
LEVI
Holy. Fucking. Shit.
The universe clearly has a sick sense of humor.
Of all the things I thought could happen tonight, this—running into Arthur Lockwood and him thinking Piper is my girlfriend—was not one of them.
Arthur watches Piper as he shakes her hand, and there’s a softness to him I’ve never seen before. Like he’s kept his guard up with me the entire time I’ve known him, only to drop it now that he sees my little lady is real.
Except she’s not.
But my gracious butterfly is playing along, smiling away as she gives him a firm handshake.
She’s not even hesitating, or throwing me under the bus when she easily could.
I owe her big time.
This is a fucking nightmare. And Arthur couldn’t have shown up at a worse time.
Piper was sharing something important about her ex. Her hands were shaking. And her eyes…
That was fear.
I knew it the second I saw it. I always know fear when I see it. The monstrous woman who gave birth to me weaponized it.
This girl has only been in my life a few days, but something about her is already settling in deeper than it should.
And now there’s this.
I keep my gaze on Piper and Arthur, reading his reaction to her.
The old goat approves.
“The pleasure’s all mine, Miss Piper Andrews, and might I add, you’re prettier than a summer peach.” Arthur taps her knuckles before releasing her hand. “Levi certainly did well.”
God, he really, really approves.
Arthur’s practically glowing at her like she’s the answer to every concern he’s had about me.
“Oh, good Lord, thank you.” Piper blushes, bringing a hand to her heart. “You are too kind, sir.”
Arthur’s brows narrow, and I know exactly what he’s picked up on—her accent.
I may not know much about her, but I picked up back at the club that it comes out more in certain words when she’s nervous.
Arthur glances at me. “Is that a hint of the South I catch?”
“Oh, yes.” Piper’s cheeks warm. “Tennessee.”
“I’ll bet you get asked that a lot.”
“Yes. I left when I was twelve, so my accent is quite watered down. My aunt, though, is always and ever the Southern belle right down to her accent.”
“And so she should be.” Arthur grins, proud. “My Ellie Mae is the same. We’ve lived in New York for almost twenty years, but she’s still got that Southern polish. Hair set, dress pressed, not a crease out of place.”
“My mama was like that, even though we lived on a farm. My daddy would always get annoyed with her saying she had to get her hair good and ready just to milk the cows.”
Arthur beams at her. God, he’s eating this up.
And sweet Piper has no idea how disastrous that is for me.
How am I going to get around this?
“Your family sound precious. Treasure them.” He nods, then looks at me. “I’m gonna leave you two lovebirds to enjoy the rest of your evening. We’ll talk real soon, son.”
The confident look in his eyes and his words spark hope in my chest.
This is it. This is the damn opening I’ve been waiting for to close the deal.
But it’s tied to something I can’t control.
How the hell am I supposed to explain this misunderstanding?
“I look forward to your call.” I keep my usual calm.
“All the best.”
“You too,” Piper and I both answer.
He tips his head and leaves us.
The restaurant noise slowly rushes back in, but the space suddenly feels too small for the problem sitting between us.
We wait for him to walk through the arch and until we can’t see him anymore before we speak.
Piper turns to me first, biting the inside of her lip. “Oh my God,” she breathes.
“I’m sorry about that. Thanks for playing along.”
“That’s okay. It was odd but definitely the most exciting thing I’ve done all day. Of course, apart from eating ravioli and drinking amazing wine.” She smirks.
“Glad it excited you.”
Her gaze thins. “Why did he think I was your girlfriend?” She flicks her wrist toward the doorway as if Arthur is still there.
“Long story.” I try to sound like it’s nothing. “I’ll take care of it.” Even as I say it, I know I have absolutely no fucking idea how.
“Okay. He was nice, though. It’s not every day I run into a real Southern gentleman.”
“You’ll find a lot of different people here in New York.” And none of them are quite like her.
I switch gears by pointing to the closest wine bottle. “Let’s have some more wine and dessert.”
“That sounds good.”
Her smile is the sweetest, too innocent to be around a wicked devil like me.
We drink the rest of the wine and finish up with dessert. By then, the candles have burned lower around us and the restaurant has thinned out, leaving the whole place softer and quieter. Too intimate for a woman I’m supposedly letting go.
It’s time to leave. Better to go before I start getting more ideas I shouldn’t have about her.
I accompany her to her apartment, riding in the back of the Maybach in strained silence. I catch her stealing occasional glances at me. I purposely keep my gaze ahead because it’s safer when I’m conflicted.
I’m conflicted by her, by wanting her, and by that damn Arthur.
Things are colliding in ways I didn’t anticipate.
I dug this hole myself and jumped right in. Now I’m in too deep.
But maybe if I still have some luck on my side, tonight may have been enough to appease the bastard and he’ll just close the deal without any further delay. I can only hope.
When we reach Piper’s apartment, I take in the building as the car rolls to a stop. The brick is worn in places, and it looks like it’s seen better years but keeps going anyway.
It’s also on the edge of the rougher part of town. Streetlights flicker outside the building, casting a weak yellow light over the cracked sidewalks and graffiti-tagged brick.
The place screams danger.
“I know it’s not the Hamptons,” she says, noticing where my attention lingers but jumping to the wrong conclusion.
“Are you safe here?”
“I’m fine. My neighbors are a retired wrestler and an old Kung Fu master.” She tries to joke, but I can tell she’s nervous.
“Sounds like fun, but I’m walking you to the door.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
I’m already getting out of the car. The second her door opens, my instincts sharpen in a way they never usually do. I help her out, and she gives me this cautious look. It makes me wonder if she wanted to use Curtis, my driver, as a buffer, so saying good night would be less hard.
It doesn’t matter now. I’m with her.
We go inside the building, and I see more things I don’t like—shady characters lurking in dark corners and the scent of piss and something else.
I keep going against my better judgment that’s telling me to take her right the hell back to the car and get her to my place.
I’m only not listening because I know if she steps inside my home again, I’ll have her back in my bed.
It didn’t take a genius to figure out what she was telling me without saying it out loud when she spoke about her ex.
Two things occurred to me at that moment. The first was that I’d thoroughly enjoy destroying her ex. The next was, she’s not ready for me.
Not yet.
And that part might be the only thing stopping me from pushing back like I normally would.
We take the elevator to the fifth floor and get out, stepping into another corridor with shady characters. I catch some guys watching her. Their attention lingers half a second too long before they notice me beside her. Then they immediately look away.
We stop at her apartment—number 516.
“This is me.” She gestures to the door.
“I’m not entirely convinced I should leave you here.” I cock my head.
“I’m fine. My apartment is actually great.”
I doubt that but won’t say it. “Alright. As you wish.”
Her gaze becomes cautious again. “Thank you… for tonight. I had a really nice time.”
“Glad to hear that.”
“This… I probably can’t do this again anytime soon.” She pauses, fumbling with her fingers. “I think I need to keep things simple right now.”
Simple.
That’s probably the one thing I’ve never been in my entire life. Simplicity has always felt like an ill-fitted suit, or a new brand of wine that doesn’t quite meet the mark.
As I stare back at her, I think of the age-old question—why do people want things they can’t, or shouldn’t, have? It’s always because that thing is more enticing than what you already have. And it only makes you want it more.
This poor butterfly hasn’t realized yet that she already chose me.
The second she walked back into my orbit, this stopped being casual for me. But I’ll give her time to catch up. The space might be the best thing for both of us, because for some goddamn reason, I can’t stop wanting her.
I grin. The reaction surprises her. “I guess I’ll see you around at work, then.”
She looks slightly disappointed with my answer but tries to mask it with her own smile. I don’t think even she knows what she wants me to say. “Sure. I’ll see you at work.”
I lift two fingers to my mouth, press a kiss to them, then settle them against her lips.
Her breath catches, her pulse quickening beneath her creamy skin. I feel it against my fingertips and nearly lose the little self-control I have left.
“Good night, Butterfly.” I step back before I do something I won’t regret.
“Good night.”
I turn and walk away, wondering what trouble tonight may have stirred.
* * *
The moment I see Arthur Lockwood’s number flashing across my screen, I know things are about to shift—one way or another. He’s never called me this early.
I got to the office five minutes ago. Barely enough time to down some coffee before the phone rang.
“Morning, Arthur,” I answer, keeping my composure. The worst thing you can show a man like him is that you need him.
“Good day to you, son.”
“What can I do for you?” I could almost laugh. I sound like I don’t know why he’s calling, like I’m not waiting for him to sign the contract and be done with his bullshit.
“I simply didn’t want to keep you waiting. After meeting your better half last night, I decided I’d like to move forward with the contract.”
I still, hope and relief surging through me like a shot of adrenaline.
“But,” he adds, stopping any thought of closure in its tracks.
“But what?” I ball my hand into a tight fist.
“There’s something I need you to do first.”
“What?”
“I’d like you and the little lady to join me and my Ellie Mae on the Lockwood Legacy Tour for the next six weeks.
We have six events—one per week. Two of them will be held at my vineyard in Texas Hill Country.
That’s where the real work happens. Join us, and that contract of yours will be signed before the end of summer. ”
Something in me sinks.
This…
This fucking shit is the bad feeling that’s been riding my nerves all night.
Arthur believes Piper is my girl.
Piper doesn’t want to be my girl.
And me… I’ve just been pushed deeper into the hole I dug when I told him I had a girlfriend.
“Are you still there, son?” Arthur presses. I’ve been silent too long.
“Arthur, you know I’m a busy man. And you expect me to attend your tour for six whole weeks? And go to Texas?” I try to sound measured, like I’m not already calculating how trapped I am.
“Busy is a relative concept.”
“Not when it can be quantified.”
“Now listen, son. Don’t take that tone with me. Those are my terms. Either you want me to sign the contract or not. Your choice. It’s win-win for me.”
Fucking bastard.
He can go straight to hell.
But… he’s right.
Arthur Lockwood holds all the cards. Even the ones tied to my future.
So, it’s his way or nothing at all.
God. This is a damn nightmare.
If I accept his terms, there’s only one way to make it work.
Piper.
I’ll need her.
“Can I get back to you on Monday?” I say, gritting my teeth. “I’ll need to move a few things around.” Like convincing a woman who already asked for distance to be my fake girlfriend for six weeks. Fuck.
“Sure thing. But if I don’t hear from you on Monday, I’ll consider our negotiations closed.”
“Alright.”
Like always, he hangs up first. I let the phone drop into my lap and rest my head against the back of my chair.
Things were already complicated.
Now they’ve turned into something else.
Something worse.