Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
I do as he says and pucker my lips, but his lips never press against mine.
“Now pretend I’m not here, that what we shared last night and into this morning hasn’t happened. Think about the day before you met me, and what it would’ve been like if I hadn’t spilled my coffee on you. Think about your home in Bel Air with your swimming pool and favorite coffee shop down the street. Think about your brother and other band members.”
I do as he asks and hate the way I feel. Something deep down tells me that I’m supposed to know Levi, that he and his girls are meant to be a part of my life.
“Now, tell me how you feel.”
“Empty,” I say with my eyes still closed. “Alone.” This time I open my eyes and find Levi even closer. My hand instantly goes to his cheek and my thumb brushes over his lips. “Not happy.”
“Are you happy here?”
“I am. It’s peaceful, tranquil, and most importantly, you’re here, and this is where I want to be. I have no regrets, Levi.”
He kisses me fully, pulling my legs up to hitch around his hips so he can grind into me. The hardness of the truck pushes into my back, and I cry out but hold on to him because I don’t want him to stop. We’re all hands, tongues, and dry humping until someone behind us is clearing their throats.
Levi sets me down, waiting until my feet are firmly planted on the ground before turning to face the intruder.
“Barb, I didn’t see your car here.”
“It’s in the shop,” she says as she leans slightly to the left to see me. I feel like I’ve been caught by my mother doing something I shouldn’t be doing. “Hello, Ms. Phillips.”
“Please, call me Zara.”
“Very well. I’m here to do damage control or something,” she says, giving off a flippant wave before returning to the house.
Levi faces me again with a shit-eating grin on his face. “When I was seventeen my mother walked in on Iris and I having sex. I wasn’t as embarrassed as I am now.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Me either. She’s definitely a mother hen.”
“You have no idea.” He takes my hand and leads me into the house. Barbara is sitting at his large table with her hands folded as if this were a parent/teacher conference. Levi and I take seats next to each other, holding hands under the table.
“Right, let’s get started. Zara, I took the liberty of looking up your publicist. I’ve been around a long time and haven’t had the privilege of working with her—”
“You’re not missing anything.”
“Right. . . anyway, sign this for me, please. It’s consent that I can contact her on behalf of you and Levi when something like this arises.”
“Can you be her voice when it affects us?” Levi asks. “We’d much rather have you speak on our behalf than her publicist.”
“Is that what you want?” Barbara looks at me, and I nod. “Very well. We are releasing a statement. I know it’s early, but I want to beat the vultures.”
“Saying what?” I ask.
“Mr. Austin and Ms. Phillips met last month in Los Angeles while he was tending to his children after their mother’s untimely death. Ms. Phillips is vacationing in Tennessee at this time.”
“That’s it?”
“Yes, simple and to the point. I can add something about your divorce if you’d like,” Barb says. Her pen is poised and ready for action. I look at Levi, who shrugs.
I think about having her add something about my divorce, but I don’t know what. The last thing I want is for people to think that Levi is a rebound because he’s not. I shake my head, letting her know that what she has is okay. Although, I’m not sure she believes me because she gives me a skeptical look that has me questioning my sanity.
“Will you be traveling back to Los Angeles when Levi fetches the children?”
He looks at me with a soft smile. I hadn’t decided, but imagine arrangements need to be made. “I think I’ll stay and make sure the girls’ rooms are ready.” Levi kisses me quickly and whispers “thank you” over my lips.
“Fine,” Barbara says. “Your flight is ready to leave at six a.m. Your mother says the girls are packed and ready.”
“When is my return trip?”
“The red-eye,” she says, making me realize that I will only be without Levi for a day. I think I can handle that.
It doesn’t take long for Barb to excuse herself, except she doesn’t leave. She disappears down the hall. “Where’d she go?”
“To my office,” Levi says. “She’ll finish up what I need her to do while she’s here.”
“Oh. . .” For some reason, I feel let down that she’s still here. Secretly, I think I was hoping for some alone time with Levi, not that we need it right now, but it would be nice. I’m not shocked when he takes my hand and drags me out of the house and toward the barn. In fact, I’m downright giddy, thinking that we’ll roll around in the hay like a couple of naughty school kids.