Chapter 9 Levi
Levi
I spent the entire morning at the Woodruffs’ house, getting rid of weeds and gathering all the dead leaves, which Lick had a blast playing in. A few of the neighbors gave me weird looks, but I just ignored them.
After I pull up to my house, I unload the trash bags and place them in the garage, thinking I’ll move them out onto the sidewalk when they come to collect the trash.
Lick and I head straight for the bathroom, and while I shower, she makes herself comfortable on the mat and sleeps like the dead.
It actually felt good doing all that yard work. I’ll go twice a month to keep an eye on the place.
Once I’m clean and dressed, I walk to the kitchen and grab a bottle of water before I go to my office to see if I can get some writing done. I should sleep, but when I open my laptop, I’m struck with an idea and start typing.
For the first time in a long while, the words come easily, and it feels so damn good, a smile settles on my face.
One chapter becomes two, and a few hours later, I take a break to stretch my muscles and let Lick go outside.
I roll my shoulders and make sure to drink some water while I watch Lick. Glancing at Kelcie’s house, I notice her yard needs some tending to. I’ll take care of it tomorrow for her. There’s also the added bonus that manual labor seems to be good for my writing.
Or is it hanging out with Kelcie and talking to her that’s making all the difference?
For someone who thought he was unable to feel love for another human being, I find myself fighting the emotion more and more. Whenever I’m around Kelcie and she shares one of her happy memories, I fall a little harder.
I know I’m playing with fire and this situation is bound to explode in my face, but I can’t stay away from her.
You have to think of Kelcie, asshole. What will it do to her when she finds out who you are?
Guilt rears up in my chest, but the next second, I hear an agonizing cry from Kelcie’s place.
Dropping the bottle of water, I shoot forward and run to her back door, which is locked. I look through the kitchen window, and not seeing Kelcie, I pound my fist against the wooden door.
“Mom!” she screams, the terror in her voice breaking my fucking heart.
I continue hitting the door hard while I keep looking through the window, and when I catch sight of Kelcie getting up from the couch, I let out a breath of relief.
She looks completely out of it as she staggers to the door, and the second she opens it for me, I move forward and wrap my arms around her.
I’ve heard her screams before, but since I’ve begun to develop feelings for her, they take brutal swings at my heart.
Her breathing is harsh as she clings to me, her body trembling.
I hesitate for a moment before I press a kiss to the top of her head, and as I hold her, I slip closer to the edge, knowing that once I tip over, there will be no turning back.
Kelcie is the one person I can touch. She’s the only one I can talk to.
My arms tighten even more around her, and I lean my head down, pressing another kiss to her temple.
The air around us tenses, and when she lifts her arms and wraps them around my neck, alarm bells go off in my mind.
Don’t go there with her.
Kelcie tilts her head slightly back, and I feel her breath on my throat.
Fuck.
I try to fight it, but when my eyes lock with her brown ones, and I see the desire on her face, my self-control is pushed to its limits.
For the first time in my life, I’m hit with an intense urge to kiss a woman. It turns my breathing ragged, and every muscle in my body coils tightly. It used to take effort to get hard so I could have sex with my ex-wife, but with Kelcie, it comes naturally.
FuckFuckFuck.
I have no idea where the strength comes from, but I let go of her and move backward until I’m standing on the lawn. “Ahh . . .” My tongue flicks out to wet my lips, my hands fisting at my sides. “I heard you scream and thought I should wake you.”
Looking rattled, Kelcie places her hand on her neck but then lifts it higher and wipes over her forehead. “Um. Thanks.”
Lick sniffs at the steps before going into the kitchen and wagging her whole damn body with the excitement of seeing Kelcie.
Yeah, I know the feeling.
Needing to get away from Kelcie before she notices my hard-on, I indicate for Lick to stay while I turn away and walk toward my house.
When I reach the safety of my kitchen, I brace both my hands on the table and lean forward while breathing through the intense desire I’m experiencing.
I’m used to living a quiet life where the most excitement I get is writing an action scene. But whatever this is that’s developing between Kelcie and me is so unnerving, and I don’t know how to handle it.
You’re not going to act on it. That’s how you’ll handle it.
She’s already doing better. You should leave before one of you gets hurt.
Even as I chastise myself, I know I’m not going to listen.
I enjoy spending time with her. I’m starting to live for her smiles and the sound of her chuckles and laughter.
I’m finally writing again.
Maybe I can hide who I really am from her forever?
I’ve been able to keep the information from the press, so it should be easy with Kelcie.
I’ve been lucky so far, and my fucked-up family hasn’t spoken publicly about me.
But what if I run out of luck?
Straightening up, I lift my hand and rub the back of my neck as I walk to my office.
When I take a seat on the chair at my desk, I pause and stare at the bottom left drawer.
Opening it, I pull out the envelope I’ve reluctantly carried around with me.
It contains all my personal documents, and I haven’t looked inside since I had to apply for a visa to visit China.
Wow, that was four years ago.
Opening the envelope, I slide the documents out onto my desk.
There’s an unabridged birth certificate, which I applied for when I turned eighteen.
I thought I might need it at some point.
It only contains Rene’s details under the section for mother.
I hate to think of her as my mother because she was never one to me. The space for my father is blank.
I look at the aged marriage certificate and divorce decree, shaking my head because I was so fucking stupid to marry a woman I didn’t love.
Margo deserved so much better than me.
The last time she called to check on me, she told me she was getting married again. I was really happy for her, and it gave me some measure of peace, knowing another man would give her what I couldn’t.
Lick comes trotting into the office, drawing me out of my thoughts, and I quickly put all the documents back in the envelope. Just as I slip it into the drawer and push it shut, Kelcie appears in the doorway.
There’s an unsure expression on her face, and her voice is filled with vulnerability as she says, “Hey. Want to have dinner with me?”
I hate that she isn’t comfortable around me any longer.
Climbing to my feet, I smile to set her at ease. “Sure. What are we having?”
She lets out an awkward chuckle. “I haven’t thought that far ahead.”
“How about ordering in? I haven’t had pizza in a while.”
Her features tighten with pain, and I take an involuntary step closer to her. “You okay?”
She glances over her shoulder at the living room. “I haven’t had pizza since . . .”
“We can have something else. Tacos. Burgers and fries. You pick.”
For a long moment, she keeps staring at something, then she shakes her head. “No. Let’s have pizza. Want to play rock, paper, scissors to see who has to call and place the order?”
Laughter escapes me. “It’s okay. I’ll make the call.”
“Great.” She takes a few steps back and begins to turn away but then pauses. “I’m just going to shower. Should I come over afterward?”
“Sure.”
She doesn’t look as uncomfortable anymore, and I take it as a good sign.
When she begins to walk toward the kitchen, Lick follows her.
I move into the doorway and say, “Dress warm. The news said a cold front is hitting tonight.”
“Okay.”
Soon, the first snow will fall, and then it will be Thanksgiving. I should ask Kelcie if she’s going to spend the holiday with Jordan.
The thought is fleeting as I walk back to my desk, where my phone is lying under a bunch of invoices. I only use the device for my social media accounts and rare calls with my agent.
I google the diner’s number and call in an order for three pizzas. I should’ve asked, but not knowing what Kelcie would prefer, I decide to go with a pepperoni, a Hawaiian, and one called “the Works,” which has just about every topping on it. Hopefully, she likes one of them.
While I’m waiting for Kelcie and the delivery, I make sure I’ve saved my manuscript on my laptop and a portable hard drive. Back when I started writing, I was hit with the blue screen of death when my laptop gave up the ghost and lost forty thousand words. It’s one mistake I’ll never make again.
Checking my emails, I clear out the spam and reply to an author asking to do a newsletter swap. I won’t be sending one to my followers anytime soon, so I decline politely.
Once I’m done, I shut off the laptop and take my phone with me as I head to the kitchen, where I keep my wallet and keys in a bowl filled with stuff I figure I might use at some point.
Kelcie appears in the doorway, and when Lick rushes past her to come inside, she says, “Sorry, she was with me while I showered.”
Lucky dog.
I take in the jeans and thin pink sweater Kelcie’s wearing and figure I can give her a jacket if she gets cold. Or I can hold her.
Stop it.
A knock at the front door draws our attention, and as I go to open it, I’m conscious of Kelcie behind me.
It feels good having her in my space.
I open the door and barely take in the woman holding the three pizza boxes.
“Hi,” she greets me with a friendly smile.
“Hi,” I mumble while pulling my black credit card from my wallet.
Kelcie steps closer, and it has the woman saying, “Oh my gosh, I took the order so I could pop over to your place to say hello after the delivery.”
“Hi, Waverly,” Kelcie says, her tone friendly. “How are you and the family?”
“We’re good.” Waverly pauses, a sad expression on her face. “We miss seeing you at the diner. How have you been?”
I take the boxes from her and go to set them down on the coffee table, then hang back until they’re done catching up so I can pay.
“I’m doing better.”
When Waverly reaches out to rub Kelcie’s arm, my entire body tenses, and I have to suppress the urge to grab her away from the woman.
I’m caught completely off guard by the unexpected emotion.
“. . . or not.” I catch the tail end of Kelcie’s sentence. “I can pay. I don’t mind.”
I move forward, and as I come up beside Kelcie, I place my arm around her shoulders and brush my hand up and down her bicep where she was just touched.
Wanting to get rid of Waverly, I quickly tap the card against the little machine in her hand and mutter, “Thanks.”
I pull Kelcie back with me as I put some distance between us and Waverly.
“I’ll see you around,” Waverly says while her eyes dart between Kelcie and me.
“Say hi to your mom for me and give Lucas a hug,” Kelcie replies, and as Waverly finally leaves, she shuts the door, then turns to look at me. “Are you okay?”
Realizing I’m still standing with my arm around her shoulders, I quickly let go and glance at the pizza boxes.
Fuck, I’m actually filled with disgust because someone touched Kelcie. It’s the exact same reaction I would have if Waverly put her hands on me.
It’s the first time something like this has happened, which tells me I’m already in over my head when it comes to Kelcie.
I look at her again. “I’m fine.”
“Waverly is one of the good ones,” she tells me. “I used to babysit her son.”
I nod, then gesture at the coffee table. “Should we eat here in the living room?”
“Sure.”
I walk to the kitchen, and opening the fridge, I call out, “Beer, soda, or water?” Since I’ve been spending more time with Kelcie, I make sure to stock things she likes.
“I’ll have a soda, please,” she replies as she comes into the kitchen. While she grabs two plates, I work on shoving my strong reaction to Waverly touching her way fucking down.
My gaze follows Kelcie’s every movement, drinking in the sight of her beauty, which has placed me under a spell I can’t break free from.
A spell I don’t want to break free from.
Standing like an idiot with two sodas in my hands and the fridge door open, I realize I’ve fallen head over heels for Kelcie.