When Life Happened

by Jewel E. Ann

  Levi promised her a job, even if it was the craziest job ever. Parker had no expectations beyond one day. If Levi changed his mind, she would go home, get a new job to pay the bills, and look for a different adventure. Comparing her life to anyone else’s life wasn’t fair.

  So what if she didn’t run an engineering firm before she turned forty? So what if her jobs never required more than Chucks and a Timex? High heels and flashy technology were overrated.

  “This is the best salmon I’ve ever had.” Parker closed her eyes as she chewed, savoring every bite. After a click, the air conditioner hummed to life.

  They both sat on the sofa with their feet propped up on the coffee table, plates in their laps.

  “I’m glad you approve.” He took a drink of his beer.

  “I wonder what rub they used on it? Maybe it’s better than mine because they used a wood plank.”

  He chuckled. “I can’t wait for you to cook for me.”

  On a sideways glance, she narrowed an eye. “You didn’t mention cooking in my job description.”

  His gaze fell to her lips, it felt tangible. She shivered, adjusting her body to cover up his effect on her. It was the first time she put down her guard enough to let him have an effect on her without alcohol.

  “Fair point. I’ll cook for you.”

  “Stop,” she whispered, her gaze finding his lips just as appealing.

  “Stop what?”

  “Being perfect.”

  “Ha!” He sat up, resting his feet back on the ground, setting his plate on the coffee table. “I’m far from perfect.” Running his hands through his hair, he curled his fingers, scratching his scalp. “Has no man ever cooked for you?”

  Parker shook her head.

  “Well, you need better men in your life.”

  Agreed. One-hundred percent.

  Rags eyed Levi’s plate, a string of drool hanging from his jowl. Levi pushed the plate closer to the edge, silent permission for Rags to lick what was left, which wasn’t much.

  Parker inspected Levi’s body every time he turned away from her. She’d seen it, touched it, tasted it, but only in the dark and under the influence of too much alcohol. Levi was a solid form built of defined muscles. She’d nearly self-combusted when he lifted his shirt to show her his scar and tattoo. Skin so tan and taut.

  It felt crazy that he could want anything from her—a jobless girl in her twenties who had an affair with his brother-in-law. A truth she couldn’t share, not without also sharing Sabrina’s indiscretions. Why taint memories with truths that no longer mattered?

  “Do you need a shower?”

  Her eyes snapped to his as her neck and cheeks flushed. Levi gave her a caught-you smile, but he didn’t say anything.

  “Um, I usually shower in the morning, but if I smell—”

  “No.” He chuckled. “I’m going to shower, I was just going to let you go first if you needed to.”

  “Nope. You go ahead. I’m going to give my mom a quick call.”

  He nodded once then stood and headed to the bathroom.

  “Shit,” she whispered, fanning herself. It felt like one hundred degrees in the room, even with the air on. Parker coined it ‘The Levi Effect.’

  Her mom picked up on the second ring. “Parker!”

  “Hi, Mom. I’m fine. Not abandoning you. I will return.”

  “Where are you?” Her words were clipped.

  “Wichita.”

  “For a job interview?”

  “Sort of, yes.”

  “When will you be home?”

  “I’m not sure. I need some time away to clear my head. Find new direction. Maybe a week or two.” A month or two. She had no idea, no expectations.

  “Do you need money? Have you thought about where you’ll stay and how to keep yourself safe? It’s not smart for a young girl to travel alone.”

  “I’m good for now. And I’m not alone. I actually caught a ride with Levi. He rented a vehicle to drive Rags to Arizona.”

  “Oh … well, you’re not planning on going all the way to Arizona, are you?”

  “Maybe, I just don’t know yet.”

  “I don’t like this, Parker, not one bit. Stay aware of your surroundings. Don’t go out at night by yourself. Don’t even leave the hotel room by yourself. And definitely don’t use the stairwells in hotels. I know you like to use the stairs to exercise sometimes, but that’s where people get raped and murdered.”

  She prayed the drama gene skipped a generation. “Really? Now I would have thought back alleys of bars where unsuspecting drunk women could wander would be a better playground for rape and murder.”

  “Parker!”

  “Sorry,” she laughed. “It’s just crazy how your mind always jumps to rape and murder.”

  “Just …” Janey’s voice deflated. “Be smart. Be safe.”

  “I will, Mom. Love you.”

  “Love you too. Call me tomorrow.”

  “I’ll try. Good night.” Parker grabbed her charging cord from her purse and plugged in her phone at the desk. Then she fished a pair of shorts and a nightshirt out of her suitcase. Listening for the shower in the bathroom, she hurried and changed before Levi came out.

  There wasn’t extra bedding in the closet, so she called down and asked for an extra sheet, blanket, and pillow. Within minutes, Rags barked at the knock on the door. Parker expected nothing less than timely service from the expensive boutique hotel.

  By the time Levi emerged from the bathroom in nothing but a pair of jogging shorts riding low on his hips, Parker had her bed made up on the sofa. She stood and grinned, holding her tooth brush, toothpaste, and her breath.

  Holy fuck!

  Levi used something or sprayed something on himself. An intoxicating mix of sandalwood, warm spices, and patchouli radiated from his half-naked body. Every inch of her hummed in recognition. On their drunken night together it was faint along his skin, but she still recognized the scent that seduced her in the back of Old Blue.

  He narrowed his eyes at the sofa. “You’re sleeping in the bed.”

  “No way.” She slid past him to the bathroom, holding her breath, one inhale away from begging him to reenact the pickup scene. “You’re paying for the room. You will sleep in the bed.”

  When she came out of the bathroom, Levi was sprawled out on the sofa under the blanket, one arm tucked behind his head. The whole damn room smelled like his cologne, which had to be the brand called ‘Fuck Me, Parker.’

  “Get up. Go to bed.” She flipped her hip, resting her fist on it.

  “I am in bed.” He nodded to the light switch. “Mind turning off the lights before you get in bed?”

  “You’re making me feel terrible.”

  He flinched a bit. “Rags hasn’t developed a love for sleeping with me yet. You two take the bed. Consider it part of your job.”

  “Sleeping with Rags? Seriously?”

  Levi’s white teeth peeked through his boyish grin. “Good night, Parker. Today’s been a less bad day.”

  Parker returned a sad smile. A less bad day. Putting the previous two weeks into perspective, that meant something pretty great. She dragged her fingers through his wet hair, surprised by how much they ached to touch him, even more surprised by the way he released a quiet, deep moan. “Good night, Levi.”

  Chapter Thirty

  They ventured through part of Oklahoma then into New Mexico. Parker couldn’t stop gawking at the diverse landscape of red rocks and other wind-worn rock formations, pathways to deep forests, rivers, plains, and miles of sand dotted with cacti, acacia trees, and mesquite bushes.

  Levi couldn’t stop looking at Parker.

  “I’ll be quick.” She cringed, hopping out of the SUV and jogging toward the brick building.

  It was their third stop in less than two hours. To be fair, he did suggest she stay hydrated. Levi let Rags out to roam since they were the only people at that rest stop. Leaning against the door, he pulled out his phone and took a few photos of th
e shaggy dog. He flipped back through them, continuing to older photos. Sabrina’s picture appeared on his screen like a knife impaling his chest. Living without someone didn’t get easier, especially when that someone had been in his life since the day he took his first breath.

  “Hey, what’s wrong?” Parker asked.

  Levi shoved his phone into his pocket as he closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Nothing …” He shook his head. “Dammit! Not nothing, something … uh …”

  Parker pressed her palms to his cheeks, and he died a little from the soft strength of her touch. “It’s okay,” she whispered. “You don’t have to tell me.”

  His heart raced, ready to explode. “I came across a picture of Sabrina.” Levi opened his eyes.

  Parker’s eyes searched his. He had nothing to hide, no matter how deep she looked. What she didn’t know about him yet were not secrets but truths waiting to be shared.

  “Memories keep us grounded—give us an appreciation for life. Celebrate her life by living yours to the fullest. We’re all going to die eventually.”

  He covered her hands with his, not wanting to lose her touch. With everything he had inside of him, he begged her to kiss him, to take away the bad and replace it with good.

  Parker’s thumb brushed over his bottom lip. His eyelids felt heavy, drunk from her touch. Rags barked as another car pulled into the rest area.

  “We should get back on the road.”

  Levi eased his head side to side, holding her hands to his face.

  Parker laughed. “No? You think we should stay here? Standing in the parking lot?”

  Levi nodded.

  The giggle that put all other giggles to shame, bubbled from her chest. “Levi Paige, what am I going to do with you?”

  Both of his eyebrows shot up as a playful smile stole his mouth. He eased her hands off his face and held them behind her back like he had done that night in the back of Old Blue. Her breath hitched when he nuzzled his nose in her hair, lips at her ear. She arched her back like she too remembered that position and her body instinctively bent to his silent command.

  “This is my favorite day,” he whispered, releasing her hands and brushing by her. “Rags!” Levi whistled then looked over his shoulder. Parker hadn’t moved as if his words left her paralyzed. That brought another grin to his face. “Rags, let’s go!”

  No more drunken nights. He wanted her—completely sober and wanting him just as much.

  The sliding door to the minivan, a few spaces down, opened and out jumped a chocolate Lab. It shot off toward Rags.

  “Hershey!” A man and a woman raced out of the van, sprinting toward the dogs.

  The two dogs ran from the humans.

  “Stop! Hershey! No!”

  Levi and Parker walked toward the commotion, sharing a confused look. Neither dog seemed to be aggressive. What was the big deal?

  “Rags!” Levi tried to get the dog’s attention, but not with as much urgency as the couple.

  The man continued to chase the Lab. The woman turned toward Levi and Parker.

  “Oh my god! Oh my god! We have to stop them! Hershey’s in heat!”

  “Oh, well, I’m sure Rags has been neutered,” Levi said, glancing sideways at Parker for confirmation.

  She frowned and shrugged. “How would I know? You gave them the dog. Did you have him neutered first?”

  “You don’t know if your dog is neutered?” The woman’s head jutted forward as her words sent spit in their direction. “How can you not know if your dog has been neutered? What kind of dog owners are you?”

  “The new kind.” Levi chuckled.

  The woman threw her hands in the air and chased the man who had disappeared into a wooded area along with the dogs.

  Levi’s nose crinkled as he bit his lips together. “I didn’t have him neutered. I assumed they would do it.”

  “NO! NO! NO! NOOO!” A shrill screech echoed from the woods.

  “Rags mounted Hershey,” Levi said.

  “Yup.” Parker nodded.

  A few minutes later, the couple dragged the dogs out by their collars.

  Levi attached the leash to Rags. “Sorry about that.”

  “Sorry? Are you kidding me?” The lady’s jaw dropped.

  He wasn’t privy to the proper way to apologize for his dog humping another dog. Some things they didn’t teach in architecture school.

  “If I find out he’s not neutered, we’re going to sue your ass.” She lifted Rags’s hind leg and then dropped it, stumbling back with her hand splayed over her mouth. “Oh my god! He’s not neutered!”

  “Are you sure?”

  “YES!” She maneuvered Rags onto his side and then his back, spread eagle. “His testicles are NOT empty! See?”

  Levi and Parker squinted for a second and then nodded.

  “Hershey is a purebred Labrador Retriever. We’re on our way to have her bred because she’s in heat.”

  “Are you sure she’s in heat?” Parker asked.

  “Yes! Of course, I’m sure. Her vulva was swollen all last week, clear up to her pelvic opening, and her discharge was darker. She walked with her tail between her legs, and she refused to eat well. Now she’s eating and her discharge is lighter in color. Did you see her tail? Did you see how high she had it? Fanning her scent for your stupid mutt.”

  Levi held up his hand. “Just calm down. He’s not a mutt. He, too, is a purebred—Old English Sheepdog. I have papers to prove it. Do you want to see them?”

  “No, I don’t want to see them. I want your contact information so my attorney can have you served with papers.”

  Levi laughed. “You can’t be serious.”

  “Your dog raped my Hershey!”

  “Whoa …” Parker shook her head. “You just went on and on about her being in heat. Waving her tail in the air. Fanning her scent. Your slut mutt practically begged for it. I think we need to consider Rags was the probable victim here. Maybe you need to give us your contact information so our attorney can serve papers.”

  “That’s absurd!” The man shook his head. “What grounds do you have for suing us?”

  “Rape. Emotional distress and trauma. Rags recently lost his owners. The last thing he needed was a swollen vulva shoved into his snout.”

  They both gasped.

  “Parker, take Rags and get in the vehicle while I settle this.” Levi handed her the leash.

  She flashed the couple a pointed look before pulling Rags back to the SUV.

  “So what’s it going to take?” Levi pulled out his phone and conducted a few internet searches. “Looks like the average number of Lab puppies in a litter is between six and ten. We can say ten. And,” his thumbs continued across the screen, “two thousand a dog looks plenty fair. I won’t even take out the cut you’d have to make to the owner of the other dog. Pad a little extra for your bitch’s vet bills, and I think twenty-three grand sounds fair.” He retrieved his wallet. “Here’s my business card and a thousand cash. Go breed your dog. If in a couple months she gives birth to pups that look like a cross between our two dogs, then call me. I’ll come get the pups and pay you the remaining twenty-two thousand in cash.”

  The couple stared at the ten crisp hundred dollar bills. “What if she isn’t pregnant?” the guy asked.

  “Then you have a grand to put toward your wife’s therapy. Enjoy the rest of your day.” He turned and walked to the vehicle.

  “Did you tell them to shove their lawsuit threats up their asses?”

  Levi chuckled as they pulled onto the main road. “Nah, we probably should’ve had him on a leash.”

  “Well, they should have had her on a leash.”

  “True. But if my boy knocks up some bitch, then I want to do the right thing. I gave them some cash and my card to appease them. If she has funny looking pups in a couple of months, I’ll deal with it more then. But we’re good for now.”

  Parker stared at him for a few moments. “Levi, you’re going to be a wonderful dad so
meday. However, if you have a son, I hope he has more restraint than Rags.” She grinned and when he glanced over, she gave him a flirty wink.

  “Me too, but if some bitch with a swollen vulva chases him around, it’s going to be hard to say no.”

  Parker snorted then threw her head back in laughter. “Oh my gosh, I can’t believe how quickly our pit stop turned into a tutorial on dog breeding.”

  Levi chuckled, shifting in his seat, steering with his left hand while resting his right arm on the console between them. Parker nudged his elbow playfully with hers, leaving her arm next to his.

  “I had no idea being a person in your life would be so much fun.” Her pinky finger brushed against his, and then she eased it over his, locking them together, keeping her head forward, eyes fixed on the road before them.

  It was ridiculous. They’d had sex. Levi was achingly familiar with her body. Yet it was the simplest gesture that said a million things, sent ripples of euphoria coursing through his body and left him high on hope for something extraordinary in his life. All that from the locking of pinky fingers. However, he played it cool. The kind of cool that didn’t move a muscle, not wanting to lose their physical connection.

  *

  “Let’s make this our last stay before Scottsdale.” Levi handed Parker the bag of fast food as he pulled out of the drive-thru on their way to the hotel. Traveling with a dog in the summer heat made eating anything but fast food an impossible challenge.

  “Agreed. Anyway, I’m excited to see where you live. Are we …” She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. “Or am I staying …”

  “With me, for as long as you want. If you’re tired of your new job in two days, I’ll help you pack your suitcase, buy you a plane ticket, and send you wherever you want to go. Sound fair?” At that moment Levi made it his mission to make her want to stay for as long as possible.

  “Sounds fair. You could tire of me before I tire of my new job. Promise you’ll kick me out before you resent my presence in your life too much. Fair?”