Total pages in book: 164
Estimated words: 152931 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 765(@200wpm)___ 612(@250wpm)___ 510(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 152931 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 765(@200wpm)___ 612(@250wpm)___ 510(@300wpm)
“Thane.” Levi stopped himself from arguing and shook his head before leaning forward and pressing a kiss on Thane’s lips. “You’re a good man.”
“You make me a good man,” Thane murmured, drawing him back for another kiss. Levi laughed at the absurdity of such a notion.
“Cancel the car. Let me take you to the airport. We can wait together, maybe make out in the car before you leave.” Levi pulled away from Thane, slowly backing away. “I’m going to change.”
At least he got a little more time before Thane was gone. The next few hours started looking up. He’d get to make out with Thane. He was so in for that.
Chapter 25
“Hey, you,” Erin said, drawing Thane’s attention from the initial mock-up sent over by his new interior designer before looking down at his laptop again. The designer had spent the afternoon with the contractor, working out the details on the remodel, coming up with some preliminary ideas. She was spot on with what he wanted, something easy and casual while retaining the look and feel of the area. Surprisingly, there wasn’t going to be a lot of structural repairs. The house was in better shape than he’d hoped. They were knocking out a wall or two, opening the house up with a pretty intense remodel on the kitchen and bathrooms, but other than that, they had some painting to do and furniture to bring in and that was about it.
Thane slid a finger over his computer’s screen to take a closer look at the basement—
“Hey, you, again. Forget I was here?”
Thane looked up, chuckling. “I did. How are you?” he asked, giving Erin a side hug when she came around the kitchen bar. She had a small cooler in hand and lifted the lid for him to look inside. There were two bottles of Two Hearted Ale and two small bottles of wine. She’d done well by bringing such a treat, and he reached for a beer then twisted off the cap. “You always were my favorite neighbor.”
“It’s eight thirty. When you didn’t come home, I had a feeling you might be here.” He was still on California time and did the quick math. Damn, he’d planned to call Levi before his shift, and he didn’t have long. Palming his phone, he searched for the FaceTime app.
“I need to check in with Levi before he goes to work,” Thane said, working the screen until it rang through to Levi’s phone.
“I wanted to know more about that, other than the cryptic messages you keep sending,” Erin said, opening her bottle.
He watched until the call wasn’t answered. Damn. He shot off a quick text of apology for the time slip and put the phone on the counter, drawing her gaze down with it.
“Are these the plans for our new house?”
Thane chuckled, tilting the bottle back. He took a long swig before answering, “About that.”
“No. You have three bedrooms up here, don’t be trying to get out of it,” Erin said, her finger working the screen, looking at all the changes.
“Luke could live up here, but Logan’s eighteen and needs his own space,” Thane argued.
“And he’s going to college. And with all these mouths to feed, you’ll need the rent. Thane, don’t squash my hopes and dreams,” she said before looking up, her gaze floating around the room. “Yeah, that wall needs to go. Such a simple change makes all the difference.”
He rolled his eyes, taking another long drink. Every person in his life was so freaking hardheaded. When his phone began to ring, he looked down to see Levi FaceTiming him.
“Hey,” he answered, grinning at his handsome honey. Levi looked freshly showered, that long-on-top hair styled in place. His fingers itched to slide through all those silky strands.
“I was blow-drying my hair,” Levi said. The man’s grin made his heart flutter and his cock stir.
“Let me see,” Erin said, grabbing his wrist to angle his phone in her direction. “Hey, Levi.”
“Hi.” As much as Erin knew about Levi, Levi had no knowledge of her except a few passing comments.
“Levi, my neighbor Erin. Erin, this is my boyfriend, Levi.” He quickly made introductions, and Erin took the phone out of his hand.
“And your soon to be renter. You should see the place. You’re gonna love living here. It sits high on the cliff—”
“Hey, hey, stop.” Thane’s brain kind of exploded, and he darted for the phone. Erin dodged him, turning this way and that, keeping the phone out of his reach.
“What?” Erin asked defiantly. “I wanna talk to him.”
“I haven’t told him.” Thane lowered his voice as if Levi wouldn’t still be able to hear him.
“What? You haven’t told him about the house? Or what?” Erin asked, confused, stopping her game, giving Thane a chance to take the phone.
“What’s she talking about?” Levi asked, looking really confused. Now that Thane had the phone, he didn’t want it. Thane lifted a brow and let out a deep sigh. His life. He tried to be a good guy, he helped people, never cheated anyone. How did he always wind up right here?