Chapter 22

Frankie

My sides ached with laughter and I doubled over, desperately trying to gulp down a breath.

“It wasn’t even his suitcase!” Garrick finished in a voice squeaky with laughter. “He nearly got in a fistfight over the damn thing, and then his comes around on the belt. You should have seen the look on his face.”

I wiped a tear from my eye and looked over at Levi, who was smiling good-naturedly even though we were laughing at his expense.

“He always puts a neon tag on his bags now,” Gerhart added. “The brighter, the better.”

“Tell us another,” begged Val. “You’re the best at telling stories.”

I had to agree. The story of Levi inadvertently trying to steal the suitcase of an old Floridian man was funny, but the way Garrick told it took it up a few levels to hilarious. I’d been laughing so much over dinner that I’d barely finished half of my food, whereas Gerhart was already on his second plate. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had this much fun.

Actually, I could. A week ago, careening down a hill in a laundry basket with the wind whipping snow in my face.

“We should keep the score even,” Levi said, leaning toward Val. “Tell something embarrassing about Garrick for once.”

Garrick stuck his nose in the air. “There’s nothing to tell.”

“I beg to differ.”

“I challenge you to think of even one instance where I’ve ended up with egg on my face.”

Val chuckled. “What about the time you were parading past my booth at that festival in Vancouver and fell face first in the mud?”

Levi’s eyes lit up. “Good one, Val.”

“It got your attention, didn’t it?” Garrick said.

I’d been watching Levi all night to see if what Val said was true—that he was nicer to her now. He was. He was still quiet, even a little brooding at times, but something had worn down his hard edges. I just had trouble believing that something was me.

We finished dinner and retired to the living room with snifters of brandy. Gerhart and Molly puzzled over the app for their music system on their phone, rejecting help from their kids, until soft Christmas music began to play from speakers in the walls.

“Presents!” Gerhart announced, clapping his hands. “Everyone take a seat, and I’ll hand them out.”

I took my seat in the armchair again, while Garrick and Val pulled the love seat forward and Molly and Levi sat on opposite ends of the couch. Gerhart began to enthusiastically hand out presents like he was Santa Claus himself, and soon the room filled with the sounds of tearing paper and cheerful exclamations.

I didn’t have anything to open, nor did I have anything to give, but I enjoyed sitting there and watching them. I could tell how much they all loved each other and it reminded me of my own family.

I wondered what they were up to right now. Since New York was three hours ahead, I could easily imagine my dad snoring in his recliner while my four little nieces and nephews raced around him and played with their new toys. My sister would be enjoying her first Christmas as one of the adults proper, and she and my mom had probably retreated to the kitchen to drink red wine and gossip about the neighbors. My brothers and their wives were all close with one another, and they would be out on the back deck, smoking cigars and complaining about parenthood.

And me? Where would I fit in if I were at home? That was the beauty of my family—anywhere. I’d spent Christmas evenings snoozing on the sofa, playing pirates with my nieces and nephews, wine drunk with my mom, and out on the patio in a cloud of cigar smoke. The house was never peaceful growing up, and there was always someone yelling at someone and calling someone else an idiot, but we loved each other, and it showed whenever we came back together. I missed them a lot.

Still, Dad had his surgery, and that was more important than anything else. He’d have many more years of peaceful Christmas naps to look forward to.

The Wheelers finished opening presents and Levi went around to gather up the wrapping paper. He stopped next to my chair and looked at me, almost like he wanted to ask if I was okay, but continued on. I knew why it was weird for him that I was here, and it wasn’t just that only a week ago he was fucking my brains out. He was different with his family. Even if I could accept credit for him being more courteous to Val, the rest of his behavior was just him. And I liked it. I liked that he pushed his mom’s buttons and was goofy with his brother. He was a different person here, and I knew from experience he didn’t like to share that person with just anybody.

“Let’s sit and have another brandy,” Gerhart announced, retrieving the bottle from the sidebar and walking around to fill everyone’s glasses.

He and Molly snuggled up together on one half of the sofa while Levi sat on the other, one leg folded aristocratically over his knee and his glass of brandy dangling from his fingertips. The pose would have been reminiscent of a model if it weren’t for the ridiculous Christmas sweater.

Garrick and Val spoke together in hushed tones, giggling and flirting, but Gerhart and Molly just put their heads together and listened to the music. I stared at the tree so I wouldn’t be staring directly at the couch in front of me, but every once in a while I snuck a glance at Levi. Sometimes I caught him sneaking a glance back.

I found myself wishing he wasn’t so far away. I imagined curling into his lap on the armchair, head tucked under his chin. I could still remember the way my body seemed to fit into his perfectly, how secure I had felt in his arms.

I blamed it on the brandy.

Then again, was it that crazy to want him? The sex alone was enough to keep me wanting more, but the side of his personality I’d glimpsed on the mountain and caught more of today intrigued me even further. I’d traded the heat of my hatred toward him for something else, and now I couldn’t stop thinking about his mouth on mine. Maybe it wasn’t crazy, but it was still a mistake. He said himself he wasn’t looking for a relationship, and that I wasn’t his type. If I let myself fall for him I would fall hard, and then what? I’d probably end up ruining Val’s wedding. That was why I didn’t get involved with my clients’ friends or family. Too messy. I had a job to do, and I couldn’t let myself get distracted from that.

Who was I kidding? I was already distracted. I could hardly be in the same room as Levi without breaking into a cold sweat. I was desperate for any sign of affection from him but terrified that he’d give me one. I felt like I was going insane.

I finished up the brandy in my glass and coughed as I swallowed it wrong. All eyes fell on me.

“Looks like somebody’s ready for bed,” Gerhart said, laughing.

“Bed sounds amazing,” I replied. “I’m half asleep over here.”

Gerhart’s eyes filled with mirth. “Garrick, could you show Frankie her room?”

“Yeah, we’re going to head to bed too.” Garrick stood and helped Val up, securing an arm around her waist when she wobbled on her feet.

We said our goodbyes and Garrick and Val walked me up to a guest room on the second floor. My bag was waiting for me inside. I said goodnight to Val and Garrick and rooted through my backpack for my pajamas. I changed and made my way to the bathroom, which Garrick had pointed out on the way up. As I closed the door, Levi arrived at the top of the stairs and slipped into a room a couple of doors down the hall from mine.

I finished in the bathroom and went back to my room, walking a little slower past Levi’s room. I wasn’t sure why. When I reached my room, I closed the door behind me and sighed. I didn’t feel tired in the slightest.

I grabbed my phone from my suitcase and flicked off the light, climbing into bed. I figured I’d surf on the web until I started to feel sleepy—though with Levi just down the hall, I didn’t know if that was even possible.

I had a few new emails, but only one stood out to me. It was from Levi. Weird. The subject was a booking confirmation, and I figured he must have sent it to me by mistake. I opened it and started to read.

No...it couldn’t be. I reread the email, then scanned it once more just in case, but it still didn’t make sense. The confirmation was for a business class flight from Portland to New York just before noon tomorrow, with a return on January 2. And the name on the booking was mine.

I flung back my covers, face hot, and sprang for the door. I tried to make as little noise as possible sneaking down the hall, not wanting Garrick or Val to hear me creeping down to Levi’s room. For the same reason, I didn’t knock when I reached it.

Levi was stripping off his t-shirt when I entered and whirled around in surprise. He saw it was me and his forehead creased.

I ignored the tempting buffet of muscles and tattoos on display and showed him the screen on my phone. “What the hell is this?”

Levi’s eyebrows rose. “I believe they call it a cell phone. It’s a communication device.”

I rolled my eyes and moved closer to him, shoving the phone in his face until he leaned back to get away from it.

“Don’t be a smart ass,” I said. “What did you do?”

“Relax, Frankie.” He batted my hand away and stepped around me, folding his shirt and placing it on top of his suitcase. “I felt bad that you didn’t have any presents to open. It’s not a big deal.”

“I can’t accept it,” I said, shaking my head.

Levi unbuttoned his slacks and I turned to face the wall, suddenly shy. He chuckled, and the fabric swished and hit the floor. The thought of him half-naked behind me sent a bolt of desire twirling through my limbs. I licked my lips, mouth suddenly dry.

“It’s a non-refundable ticket. You don’t have to go if you don’t want to, but it’s not like I can return it or anything.”

I could be home tomorrow night, hugging my parents and razzing my sister about school. I wanted to snuggle into the thought. I spun back, and Levi was standing in nothing but a tight pair of boxer briefs. I had to force my eyes not to stray down to the impressive bulge in the front of them.

“I’m confused,” I said. “Why would you...”

At my loss for words, Levi sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Look, it sucks that you couldn’t be home for Christmas. I at least wanted you to make it for New Years. Don’t overthink it. Just accept the present.”

He walked toward me and guided me toward the door with a hand on my shoulder. Confusion threatened to overwhelm me. What did this mean? It was such a sweet, thoughtful thing to do, and sweet and thoughtful were not two things I attributed to Levi.

“Have a good sleep, Frankie.” Levi opened the door, but I shot out a hand and closed it, turning to look up at him.

He frowned down at me in confusion, letting his hand fall to his side. I could feel the heat radiating from his bare skin. The same masculine smell I’d been inhaling from his sweater all day wafted to my nose, drawing me closer.

I couldn’t resist. I’d been resisting him all day, trying to ignore the throbbing lust that ran down to my very bones. If he could give me a gift out of the blue, then I should be able to do the same, right?

I told myself it would be the last time. It wasn’t a big deal, and I shouldn’t treat it like one. I just needed to get him out of my system.

If I ever could.