Chapter Sixteen
A couple of days later while she was at Levi’s, Dana grabbed a spare minute to look at the real estate listings on her computer. And wished she hadn’t. “Damn it, aren’t there any rent houses in this town?”
“Why are you looking at rent houses?” Asher asked, coming into the den.
She turned around, noting he wore his prosthetic leg and was using his crutches. “Oh, hi, Asher. I didn’t realize you were there.”
“I wasn’t,” he said with a smile. “I just came in.”
“You’re sure getting around better.”
“Some. It’s still slower than I want. But I’m headed to Last Stand today to see the physical therapist. I’m getting forearm crutches.”
“That’s great. They’re easier to maneuver, aren’t they?”
“Yeah. One step closer.”
He smiled when he said it so she responded, “One step at a time, right?”
They both laughed. Asher said, “Seriously, why are you looking at rent houses? Don’t you have an apartment at the Wildcat Tower?”
“Yes. And yes, it’s a nice place. But I’m sick of living in a high-rise apartment. And I don’t want to buy a house yet.” Not when she wasn’t totally sure she’d be staying forever. That depended on what happened between Levi and her.
“I don’t get it. Why don’t you move in here with Levi? You’re here all the time anyway.”
She laughed. “True, but I don’t live here. And I can’t move in until he asks me.”
“Why? Why don’t you ask him? It makes more sense than renting a house.”
But it wasn’t that simple. “How much has Levi told you about when he and I were together before?”
“Not much. We’re guys. We don’t talk about shit like that much.”
“I know, bless your hearts,” she said. “It has to be Levi’s decision. Last time we lived together it was my idea, and it didn’t work out, to say the least.”
He came around and sat on the couch beside her, setting his crutches aside. “That was in Florida, right?”
“Right. Miami.”
“Miami? There’s your problem.”
“What’s my problem?”
“Levi’s problem,” he amended. “Levi can’t live in a big city. I’m surprised he moved with you in the first place. Not because of you,” he added hastily. “But he told me a long time ago that he’d rather poke a sharp stick in his eye than live in the city. And once he told me he’d rather slit his throat than live in the city. I’m not sure why. He never elaborated. But that could be the problem.”
She knew why he’d moved and she felt like a shit. Why hadn’t he told her about not wanting to live in the city?
Because, dumbass, you didn’t give him a chance before you told him you were moving to Miami. You presented him with a done deal and he loved you enough to move with you.
“I didn’t know that,” she said feeling dumber by the minute.
“Didn’t you two ever talk?”
“Not much.” But they’d had a lot of sex. She felt her face heat. Damn it! She had to get a handle on that.
Asher didn’t say anything but he started laughing. It was the first time she’d heard him laugh. She wished Levi was in there to hear him. She punched him in the arm, lightly. “Stop laughing.”
“Sorry. I couldn’t help it. You need to work on not blushing.”
“Oh, you’re funny.”
“What’s funny?” Levi asked, walking into the room.
“Your brother is being a funny man,” Dana said.
“Your girlfriend is looking at rent houses,” Asher said.
“Why?” Levi asked.
“It’s not important,” Dana said hastily, glaring at Asher.
Asher just smiled at her, but thank God he didn’t say any more.
*
“I’m off to my appointment,” Asher said. “Maggie and the puppies are in my room. Muriel said she’d let Maggie out and check on her and the pups while she’s here. You two kids have fun.”
“Why are you looking at rent houses?” Levi asked Dana after Asher left the room.
“Because I’m tired of living in a high-rise apartment and my lease is going to be up soon. And I want a pet.”
“A rental won’t let you have a miniature donkey either.”
“This isn’t about miniature donkeys. Although, you don’t know that for sure.”
He started to argue but figured what was the point? The easiest thing would be to ask her to move in here with him. But Levi had mixed emotions, to say the least. And that was a commitment he wasn’t sure he was ready for. Possibly Dana wasn’t either.
Nevertheless, he said, “Maybe you should move in here.”
She looked at him for a long moment, her expression inscrutable, before she answered. “No, I don’t think so.”
“Why?” Okay, she’d surprised him. He’d thought she’d at least consider it instead of saying no right off the bat. In his book I don’t think so meant no.
“You don’t really want me to move in with you, Levi.”
“I wouldn’t have asked you if I hadn’t wanted you to live with me. ”
She laughed. “ Maybe you should move in here ? That’s the most lukewarm way of asking the woman you supposedly love—”
“I do love you,” he protested.
“Maybe so, but you don’t want me to move in with you. It’s okay, Levi. I understand.”
“Explain it to me, then.”
Dana closed her laptop but left it on her lap. “Our last attempt at living together was a huge failure. You’re leery of doing it again. I have reservations about it too. We can talk about it another time. Maybe,” she added.
“Let’s talk about it now.” Maybe my ass.
“Why? We’re not moving in together. There’s no need to discuss anything right now.”
“If you don’t want to move in with me—”
“Other way around,” she interrupted.
“Why did you bring it up?” he continued.
“I didn’t. Asher did.”
She’d told Asher but she wouldn’t talk to him? “Why did you tell Asher?”
She set her computer on the coffee table and stood. “Oh, for God’s sake, Levi,” she said, clearly frustrated. “Asher overheard me talking to myself, complaining about the lack of rentals in this town. When I explained he asked me why I didn’t just move in with you. So I told him. And then,” she went on, holding up a hand when he would have interrupted, “you asked me in the most lame-ass way possible to move in with you. So of course I said no.” Her voice had risen exponentially until her last words were fairly shouted.
She crossed her arms and turned her back on him and he distinctly heard a sniff. God, don’t let her cry. Oh, hell, he’d fucked up. He took a step toward her but stopped short of touching her. “I’m sorry. I’m an idiot.”
“Yes,” sniff, “you are.” Sniff.
He touched her shoulder, then when she didn’t object, slipped his arms around her from behind. “I’m sorry,” he repeated.
“I’m not crying.”
He nuzzled her neck. “I know.”
“I never cry.”
“I know,” he repeated. “Except at weddings.”
“Right.”
Levi turned her around and with one hand, pushed up her chin and kissed her. Tears sparkled on her eyelashes and there were smudges of black beneath her eyes. Carefully, he kissed each eyelid. “Forgive me?”
“Maybe. If you kiss me again.”
He bent his head down and kissed her mouth. Her lips were soft and giving. She tasted of salt and that indefinable something that was uniquely Dana. He deepened the kiss, sweeping his tongue inside her mouth, coaxing hers to answer. Her arms came up around his neck. He pulled her closer as the kiss turned hotter, pressed her hips against his and wanted her. So much .
Dana pulled back. “I have to get to work.”
“Immediately?”
Dana took her phone out of her pocket and checked the time. “I’ve got to leave for the airport in about ten minutes. And I suspect I need to check my makeup before I go. Why?”
He smiled at her and patted her butt.
“Hold that thought, Tiger. We don’t have time and besides, Muriel’s here and the workmen are here, and they could come in any minute—”
Levi hushed her with a kiss. “I thought the best thing about fighting was making up?”
She moved away again and picked up her purse. “We’ll have to make up later. Besides, aren’t you going to the airport too?”
“Oh, yeah. I forgot about that.”
“The grand reopening is in a little more than two weeks. We need to make sure everything is running all right.”
“Do you want to ride out there together?”
“No, I have some errands to run and want to go home for a while after that.”
“All right.”
“See you soon.”
“Dana?”
She stopped at the bathroom door and looked at him. “What?”
“Will you stay the night? ”
“If you want me to.”
“I want you to.”
She smiled and closed the bathroom door.
*
“How did your appointment go?” Levi asked Asher later that afternoon.
“It was all right. Both the prosthetist and the physical therapist said I was making good progress.”
“Great. Did you have any problems with—” Realizing Asher was giving him a dirty look, Levi broke off. “Okay, okay. You had no problems with the drive and even if you had, you wouldn’t tell me. Right?”
Asher laughed and shrugged. “Probably not. Unless I wrecked your car. Then I’d kind of have to tell you.”
“How’s the dog? I haven’t seen much of her since you moved her and the puppies to your rooms.”
Swear to God, his brother’s face lit up. Levi wondered if Asher even knew it.
“Maggie’s great. If she didn’t have the puppies she’d follow me everywhere. But she’s a good mother so she stays with the puppies a lot.”
“She seems really sweet.”
“She is. And damn, she’s smart. I’ve been teaching her to bring me things. Pick up crap for me or bring me something when I’ve gotten in bed already and don’t want to get up. She’s figuring it out really fast.”
Wow. He hadn’t seen Asher this enthusiastic since…he couldn’t remember.
“I bought some books for my e-reader about training dogs, and training them as service animals.”
“Oh, really? Don’t they start training service animals in puppyhood?”
“There are some programs now that utilize shelter dogs. Mostly for companionship, but they can learn to do other things. Sweetie thinks Maggie’s around two, so she’s not terribly old.”
Sweetie was Whiskey River’s small-animal vet. She was also the vet that Zack and Laurel, and Travis and Tobi took their dogs to. “I’ve always wondered what Sweetie’s story was.”
“What do you mean?” Asher asked.
“She’s a pretty woman but she’s hell to get a date with.”
“Oh, yeah? Shoot you down, did she?”
“No, smartass. We actually went on a couple of dates. But it took me three months before she said yes.”
“So why only two dates?”
“I don’t know. I think she’s hung up on someone.”
“Recognize the signs?”
Levi started to deny it but then thought, why bother? “Yeah.”
“How long were you hung up on Dana before you got back together? ”
“Since we broke up. Basically.”
“But you broke up…”
“A long time ago. Yes. And we haven’t been together that long this time.”
“What the hell is the matter with you, then? Why aren’t you two living together?”
“It’s not that simple.”
“Sure it is. You say, hey, babe, move in with me. And she moves in. Bam. Happily ever after.”
“I thought you were a cynic about women.”
“Most women, I am. But Dana’s great. Don’t be a dumbass. Ask her.”
Ask her. And not in “the most lame-ass way possible.”