I arched a brow, deadpan. “Really? You of all people know what’s wrong with me, Levi. You just entered into a fake marriage with me because of the sheer level of wrong I am.”
His grip on my waist tightened, pulling me flush. His voice was quiet but steady. “There’s not a single thing wrong with you, Tess. Not the way I see you.”
My breath caught. “And how’s that?”
His eyes darted between mine. “Stronger than you give yourself credit for, beautiful inside and out…the list goes on.”
Was he serious? How was I supposed to remember this was fake when he said things like that?
I swallowed. “I have time,” I whispered. I’d stay out here all night if it meant he’d keep talking to me like this.
He let out a low, contemplative hum and glanced around at the crowd. “I’ll tell you everything you want to know later,” he said, voice soft, when his eyes met mine again. “The song is ending, and I’m going to kiss you again. Okay?”
“Okay,” I breathed, slightly dazed at the idea of kissing him again, and how dangerous that’d be for me. Even if he did make it sound like a business transaction, because that’s what this was at the end of the day.
Next thing I knew, his lips were on mine again, and he was dipping me. I clung to the lapel of his jacket, his kiss searing, and when he pulled me upright, I was lightheaded and on another planet.
Yeah, this was going to be harder than I thought.
A few hours later,I was standing in front of Levi’s house. It was in a quiet neighborhood, not too far from the center of town. A single-story home with white siding and a deep olive green door. It wasn’t anything like the bachelor pad I expected him to live in. He even had flowers on the porch, alive ones at that.
He stepped inside, holding the door open for me with Luke passed out in his other arm, white frosting on his lips. I was immediately hit with one of the best smells I’d ever come across. It was warm and cozy, yet manly. “It smells so good in here,” I sighed, while moving further into the house. It was all dark hardwood and creamy whites and absolutely perfect.
“Thanks,” Levi chuckled. His keys clanked on the foyer table, and he came to my side. “Come on, I’ll show you Luke’s room so you can put him to bed.”
Luke’s room? He walked down a dim hall, flicking on the lights as he went. I hurried after him, stopping short in the doorway he just walked through. Tears blurred my vision before I could stop them. The walls were painted a light blue, and there was the faintest hint of fresh paint smell. Dinosaur decals covered a wall with a small bookshelf of children’s books and toys. And in the corner was a low-to-the-ground twin bed with dinosaur bedding.
This wasn’t just a guest bedroom for us to use—this was a roomforLuke.
“Oh my God,” I whispered, pressing a hand to my mouth.
Levi laid Luke down gently, pulling the covers up with a tenderness that stole my breath. Luke snuggled into the blanket, wrapping his arms around a stuffed dinosaur like it had always been his.
My throat ached from holding back tears. No one had ever done anything like this for him. Not even me, since I never had the money to.
He turned to me, his hands on his hips. “I’ll take the couch. You can have my room. It’s right across the hall.”
That snapped me out of it. “You don’t have to do that.”
“You’re not sleeping on the couch, Tess,” he said firmly.
I swallowed, shaking my head. “No. It’s not that. Luke…I told you about his night terrors and everything. He can’t sleep without me.”
He looked down at Luke with something a lot like heartbreak on his face. “You two can sleep in my room then. You both won’t fit here.”
I took a step towards him. “No, it’ll be okay. We’re little. You won’t fit here, and I won’t feel right with you sleeping on thecouch for however long this lasts.” The words stung as I said them. But that just meant I couldn’t let Levi give up his bedroom for us even more. He was already doing so much for us as it was.
“It’s not up for discussion. You and Luke take my room.” He held my gaze, like he was daring me to keep arguing.
“Levi, you’ve already done so much,” I whispered, my chest tight. “The wedding, the house, Luke’s room…now this? I can’t just keep taking and taking from you.”
His expression softened, but his voice stayed firm. “You’re not taking, Tess. I’m giving. There’s a difference.”
I swallowed hard, hating that it felt so good to let him take care of me. “I guess I can’t argue with your lawyer voice,” I muttered, finally caving.
He smirked, and it was devastating. “No point in trying.”
So I went to bed, staring up at Levi’s ceiling while he slept on the couch, wondering how I was going to survive this.
