Chapter 17 #2
A knock on the door drags me out of my thoughts, and I pull it open to see Levi in a pristine, crisp suit. It’s not all that different from what he wears in the office, but seeing him with the suit jacket is doing something to my insides.
“You look breathtaking,” he whispers, eyes scanning me from head to toe, my jacket still hanging open. “God, what can’t you pull off?”
“Probably a brown paper sack.” I shrug, and he chuckles.
He steps past the threshold, hands landing on my hips and pulling me flush against him. With a low, gravelly voice, he whispers, “I can’t wait to see this dress on my bedroom floor.”
“You’ve become incorrigible since that night in your studio,” I whisper back, rubbing my nose against his.
“I can’t help it. I’ve gotten a taste, and now I want more.”
“Later.” I loop an arm around his waist, landing on his perfectly toned ass cheek and giving it a squeeze. “If you’re good.”
He groans, dropping his forehead to my shoulder. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Lowe.”
“One that we might be able to finish later.” I slide my hands up his chest, forcing him to lift his head. “For now, we need to get going if you want to get there on time.”
The moment I stepped into the ballroom, I had felt underdressed.
All the men were in extremely pristine, well-cut suits and the women all looked like they had walked straight out of a fashion magazine.
It wouldn’t surprise me if every single one of them was wearing designer dresses and had their hair and makeup done professionally beforehand.
Levi introduced me to a lot of those in attendance.
Most of them were investors in his company or people he does business with directly.
And even though a lot of the women were with someone of a very high stature, I didn’t miss some of the envious glances I was receiving—and some very dirty looks at my attire.
Not everyone is blessed with money, I thought to myself with each obvious side glance.
His hand didn’t leave mine the entire evening. Whether it was my obvious growing discomfort or the unexplainable need he felt to be touching me at all times, it was the only thing keeping me grounded.
The auction came and went faster than I could blink, having clearly dissociated during the event of the hour.
Once I heard that first starting bid, I knew I was way out of my league being here.
And if Levi wasn’t such a down-to-earth man who only wore suits in the office and a watch when he absolutely needed to, I’d be worried I was punching above my weight.
Yeah, he may have a very nice penthouse in the city, but he prefers tee shirts and sweats over fancy clothes. He’d rather be doing manual labor instead of mingling with people at a cocktail party. Levi let my little girl put makeup on him and would do it again over being here.
And that knowledge was enough to make me feel secure with him by my side.
Levi didn’t want to stay longer than was necessary, tucking my coat tightly around my shoulders and leading me toward a side door so we could slip out. Apparently, he didn’t care enough to say goodbye to anyone in attendance.
He had said to me in the quiet confines of his car as we drove through the city that he wanted to end the night doing something fun, something enjoyable with those he actually enjoyed spending his time with.
Which is how we ended up being the nicest dressed people in our favorite bar with our friends.
“I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever,” Blue says as we stand around a table near the back of the bar.
“It’s been like, two weeks.” I take a sip of my gin and tonic before looking at my best friend and shrug. “Besides, we talk every single day.”
She shakes her head, crossing her arms over her chest. “That’s not the same. Sometimes I miss your gorgeous face.”
I roll my eyes, closing the space between us to wrap my arms around her.
She instantly hugs me back, burying her head into the crook of my neck.
I see Cole watching us from over her shoulder, but the second we make eye contact, he looks away, finishing his beer and stalking over to the crowded bar for a refill.
“What’s going on with Cole?” I ask as I untangle myself.
“How would I know?” She responds, and I arch a brow.
Answering a question with a question. Interesting.
“You two have talked a decent amount tonight.” I try to make myself sound as casual as possible. “I guess I just assumed he might have said something.”
Blue shrugs a shoulder. “Nope. Not to me, anyway.”
“Weird,” I mumble, eyes staring at his back. “He hasn’t said a single word to me all night, and every time I catch him looking, he looks away.”
“Maybe he’s just worried.” I look at her with a raised brow. “I heard from JJ that they aren’t doing well recently. Maybe he’s just afraid of disappointing you since you set them up.”
I look behind me to see Levi and RJ leaning against the wall, their heads close together so they can hear one another over the loud music. “She never said anything to me. Neither did Levi.”
“I don’t think Levi knows,” she tells me, and my brows furrow in confusion. “From what I’ve heard, he’s been busy with work and spending time with you. I think Cole just didn’t want to get in the way of that.”
“All right.” I rest an elbow on the table and give her an incredulous look. “Are we still talking about Cole, or are we talking about you?”
Blue bites her lip, a sheepish smile appearing on her face. “Can it be both?”
“Honey, we talk every single day about the dumbest shit. If something is going on and you need to talk, I’m always there, you know that. The only thing that would ever impede me being there for you is Claire. Not Levi.”
“I know, but I’ve just been so happy for you. I’ve loved seeing you happy and being treated the way you deserve, and I just haven’t wanted to get in the way of that.”
I shake my head, reaching for her hand and giving it a squeeze. “Blue, I love you. You’ve been there for me for as long as I can remember. Don’t tell Levi this, but you will always come first for me.”
“Really?” Her eyes sparkle despite the doubtful expression.
“Really.” I lift my hand and reach for my drink, taking another sip before giving her my full, undivided attention again. “So, spill. What’s been going on between you and RJ?”
She looks slightly embarrassed but tries to cover it up by rubbing a hand down her face. Looking over my shoulder, I follow her gaze to see Levi and RJ heading toward the bar, their eyes on Cole. My eyes widen slightly as I watch him throw back not one, not two, but three shots in succession.
“He never drinks,” I mutter, turning my attention back to Blue. Her eyes are on Cole now, a concerned look mixed with… longing?
Catching me staring, she blushes before speaking. “I guess there’s talk of him going overseas to play ball, and he wants me to go with him.”
“Oh.” I wring my hands in front of me on the table.
“I told him I’m not sure that I can.” Blue runs a hand through her curly hair. “And then he said, ‘But I want my wife there with me’.”
I straighten up so fast that my hand knocks into my glass, spilling its remaining contents onto the table. “He said what?”
“I know.” She sighs, resting her elbows on the table. “Then he got down on one knee in my kitchen.”
“And what did you say?”
Blue looks down at her empty left hand. “I said I needed to think about it. And when he asked why, I told him I didn’t want to sell the flower shop or leave my life and friends behind.”
“I take it he didn’t like that answer very much.”
She shakes her head. “He didn’t believe me. He asked me if there was someone else, and we got into this huge argument. Tonight is the first time I’ve seen him since that night.”
“I’m sorry, Blue.” I let out a low whistle. “He hasn’t spoken to you tonight, either, I take it?”
“Nope.” She stands upright, crossing her ankles together. “And I’m not going out of my way to talk to him. He won’t even look at me, which means if I do approach him, it’ll probably end up in an argument and I don’t want to do that in public.”
I nod in understanding before a thought arises. “Blue, is that the truth, or are you afraid to talk to him because he’s not wrong?”
Before she can answer my question, Levi slides up next to me, his arm wrapping around my shoulders. He presses a kiss to the side of my head and I look up at him, noting the forced smile before he leans down to speak into my ear.
“I just sent Cole home.” I can hear the strain and worry in his voice.
“There’s a bunch of paparazzi outside. Someone must have found out where we slipped off to after the auction and they want to ask about it.
I have the bartender bringing the car around back for us so we can slip out, but we should do that soon before some of them sneak back there. ”
“Okay.” I tilt my head to press a quick kiss to his cheek. “Just give me a minute?”
He nods and straightens, giving Blue a smile before he moves a few feet away to give us some privacy. Closing the gap between us, I wrap my friend in a hug and tilt my head up to rest my chin on her shoulder.
“Call me if he doesn’t go home with you so we can continue this conversation.” She nods, squeezing me a little tighter. “I love you, honey.”
“I love you, too.”
Breaking apart, I grab my clutch off the table and my jacket off the barstool, walking up to Levi. He immediately reaches for my free hand, entwining our fingers together, and leads me towards the back door.
As we slip out into the chilly night air and into his car, my mind drifts back to my best friend and the predicament she’s found herself in. But when Levi reaches over and places his hand on my thigh, giving it a tight squeeze, my mind immediately drifts to my promise from earlier.
“Was I good?” Levi asks, reading my mind.
Angling myself so I can run a hand up and down his thigh, I tell him, “I think so.”
“And what do I get for being so good?”
“Oh, baby.” I inch my hand between his legs, and he releases a strained breath through his teeth at the promise and sultry tone in my voice. “Good boys get rewarded.”