by Kristy Marie
I look at Kathleen. “I do know you, and I understand that.” And I do. I would do the same for any of my girls. Micah, Kelly, Macy, and Nova will always have my protection. Just like this. “You will have information soon. I promise. Just trust me a little. I won’t give you any reason not to.”
“Ok, Levi. Let me talk back to Katie.”
I hand the phone back to her. Those beautiful brown eyes don’t leave mine as she places her cell back to her ear.
“Hey dad.” She listens for a bit and says her goodbyes. Afterwards, we go into the store to pick up a few things. Surprisingly, I pulled into a truck stop that is open twenty-four hours. We grab something to drink and eat before getting back into the car.
I pull out my burner cell once we pull out onto the road.
“Why do you have two phones?”
“This is my burner phone. My normal phone is usually traced. Someone always wants to try to screw me over with it. Everyone wants to play games, but I’m the game changer.”
She rolls her eyes and chuckles a little. I don’t know why she thought it was funny. I didn’t. I was being serious. I’m not in the best mood right now. She hasn’t even seen funny yet.
I dial the number that I know by heart and wait for the pickup.
“Hey Z. Change of plans. I’m coming in tonight. Is there any way you can go get my guest room ready?”
“Who are you bringing in?”
“I’ll explain later. I’ve got to hide them out for a bit.”
He groans. “What the hell have you gotten yourself into now, Levi?”
I chuckle. “It’s nothing I got into. I am actually being a good Samaritan.”
“Sure, you are. How long until you get here?”
“Hour and a half. I’m already on the highway.”
“Ok. I’ll see you there.”
I hang up without saying anything else. Zant will get what he needs when we get there. Looks like Kathleen is about to see the real Levi James. Am I ready for this? I guess I don’t really have a choice.
Chapter 10
Kathleen
“Kathleen, wake up.” I open my eyes to Levi’s face. Why is he so close? I jerk back and hit my head. I look over and realize I’m still in his car. Rubbing the back of my head, I look around.
We are parked outside a simple little house in a cul de sac. It’s an old house with white siding and wood shutters. The front door is a deep maroon color I can only see, because the front porch light is on.
“Where are we?”
“My house.” I look at him, but he’s already getting out of the car. What does he mean by his house? Doesn’t he live in Martinsville? This isn’t Martinsville.
I open the door of the car and follow him to the front door. He opens it and I remember he called someone to have his house ready. They must still be here since the door wasn’t locked.
“Z, we here,” Levi says as he walks in and drops his keys on the table right inside the door.
I look around. It’s a simple lay out and set up. Deep brown leather, wood furniture, and stainless appliances. It screams bachelor pad. However, I look on the refrigerator, and there are pictures of kid’s drawings and paintings everywhere. Maybe he isn’t a bachelor. Maybe Levi James has kids.
After a second, a guy with sandy blonde hair and a devilish smirk comes into the living room. He’s about the height of Levi, but not as wide or as built.
They give each other a fist bump and then a hug.
“You wanna introduce me?” the guy says.
Levi takes a deep breath and turns to me. “This is Kathleen Roberts. She’s going to be staying here for a little bit. Kathleen,” he says to me, “this is Zant Taylor. He’s my brother.”
“Brother?” I ask, full of confusion. Everything I’ve ever read about Levi says he was an only child. His parents were never named, but it was stated in an article at one point that he was an only child. Besides, he just said this guy’s last name was Taylor. Something isn’t adding up.
“Yes. Brother.” He doesn’t give me any other explanation. He just walks into the kitchen.
“We aren’t real brothers. We’ve just known each other since we were five.” Zant steps closer to me and out of reflex and what happened earlier, I take a step back. He immediately puts his hands up in surrender.
“Not going to hurt you. Sorry. I’ll go into the kitchen. Get comfortable. It looks like you will be here a while.” With that, I feel like crap, and he goes into the kitchen with Levi.
I make my way to the couch and sit down. Not knowing what else to do, I make myself comfortable. I have no idea where I’m at, but I need to call dad. I pull my phone out and before I can tap his name, Levi speaks over me.
“Don’t do it, Kathleen.” I jump up, spin around to face him, and grab my chest.
“Jesus! Don’t scare me like that. I’ve had a bad night already.”
His knuckles turn white as he grips the back of the couch. “Sorry,” he says in a rumble.
Zant enters and walks to the door. “If I’m done here, I’m going home. My wife is waiting for me, and she expects to hear everything.” He gives a look to Levi. “She also expects to see you tomorrow.”
“We will be there with an explanation.”
“You better, brother. You better.” Zant then walks out the front door without another word.
~
Levi shows me to my room and gives me a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt. After he backs out and shuts the door, I finally pull off my heels. My feet are killing me.
I gladly pull off the clothes that I purposely picked out for my date with Wilson. Not that I picked them out for him, but now, they give me bad memories of him and what happened earlier. I pull them off and toss them to the other side of the room. I will trash them after I buy something else to wear tomorrow. I never want to see them again.
I stop and throw out a silent prayer… please let where ever we are have a mall, or at least a decent clothing store. I don’t want to look completely horrible around Levi James. That can’t be how this goes.
~
The next morning, I wake up to the smell of coffee. I throw the blankets off me and make my way to the kitchen. I stop short when I see Levi standing at the stove. He’s shirtless and I think my heart just dropped to the bottom of my stomach. I don’t know. I have never seen a man’s back look so good, and I’m not a prude. I’ve seen plenty of guys shirtless.
Naturally tan skin. Wide shoulders. As he stirs whatever he’s cooking, his muscles ripple and I could watch them for days. His pajama pants sit low on his hips and I can’t help but wonder what’s underneath them. I stare at him just a few seconds longer before making my way to a barstool. I don’t want to make this anymore weird than it already is. He looks over but doesn’t say anything while he continues to stir.
“Morning,” I finally say. I’m not really a morning person, so he isn’t getting anything chipper.
“Morning,” he says with the same tone. Apparently, he isn’t a morning person either. Wonderful.
I finally notice that he is making eggs. I hope he has something that I can eat. I’ll need to fix something once he is done.
“I hope you like eggs.” I’m caught off guard.
“You made me eggs?”
“I was making eggs for me. You’re here, so I made extra for you. That’s all.”
Well then. “Ok. Thanks.”
We sit in silence as he finishes and plates our eggs. Next, he gives me a cup of black coffee. I just look at it. He huffs, turns, and pulls milk from the fridge. After sitting it and sugar in front of me he picks up his own cup and drinks the black coffee from it.
I pick up my fork and take a bite of the eggs. A moan exits me before I even realize it. When I open my eyes, Levi is looking at me like nothing I’ve even seen before. I wish I could read his mind right now.
Soon the look disappears, and he goes back to eating.
“So,” I say after finishing off my coffee, that taste like
Heaven by the way. “What’s the plan?”
He finishes putting the dishes in the dishwasher before answering me. Standing with his palms on the bar and his arms extended, it looks like he is trying to stand on his toes, using his arms.
“I don’t really have a plan. You being here is sort of a detour to my original plan.”
“What was your original plan, or can I ask that?”
He answers my first question and ignores the second one. Surprisingly enough.
Levi isn’t a very open or talkative person. I’ve figured out that I have to drag everything out of him. That is if he answers me.
“I’m here to see my family. I’m going to do that still. In between that, I will be figuring out why Deep Pockets is after you.
“Deep Pockets? Who is that?”
“Deep Pockets is Russell Glint. He’s the guy that lost his money the other night.”
“Was he the racer? I’ve never seen him be…” I snap my mouth shut. I’ve told him that I’ve seen his races. I didn’t tell him I was there Friday night.
“You were at my race Friday?”
Busted. “Yes,” I say, lowering my head and looking at my hands. I don’t know why I’m embarrassed. There is nothing wrong with me liking racing. I look back up and he has his arms crossed over his chest.
That does nothing to calm my nerves.
I feel hot. Is it hot in here?
“Why, Kathleen. You really are a secret racing fan.”
“How would you know it’s a secret?”
“I’m guessing. You don’t look like the type.”
“What type do I look like then?” He looks me over for a few minutes without answering. I’m beginning to think he isn’t going to answer at all.
“I don’t know, yet. It isn’t a racing fan, though. That’s for sure.”
Chapter 11
Levi
It’s definitely not a racing fan. The girls I see at the tracks look nothing like this. Long black hair, olive complexion, pouty lips, curves in all the right places, eyes that draw a man in like a sirens call… I could look at this woman for the rest of my life and never get tired of it.
I didn’t really notice her looks last night. Everything was so hectic, and I was lost in all the thoughts running through my head.
This morning when she came into the kitchen, I felt her behind me. I know she was checking me out, but I wasn’t going to turn around, catch her, and embarrass her like that. I’m more of a gentleman than that. When I turned and saw her at the bar, it took everything in me to turn back to the eggs, so I wouldn’t burn them.
She captivated me. She captivates me. I’ve never seen a more beautiful woman in my life, and my sisters are beautiful women. I know now that I haven’t seen her. If I had seen her, I wouldn’t be able to forget it. She has a slight resemblance to her dad, Danny. That must be where her familiarity comes from.
As I told her, my plan was to see my family. I’m not going to change those plans. It just looks like she’s going to come along with me.
I’ve never had a girlfriend. I know. It’s weird, but I’ve never gotten close enough to a girl to label one as that. I don’t trust well. I only have my sisters, my friends’ moms, and my niece in my life. That’s all the women I’ve allowed. My own mother is the most horrible woman in the world. I only know there are good ones by the women that are in my life now.
So, taking Kathleen to see my family is going to be somewhat interesting. Even though she isn’t my girlfriend and I just met her… I know my family. I’m about to catch hell.
“It looks like my plans now include you. I am supposed to be at Zant’s house by ten, but we can be late.”
I watch her look at the gold watch on her wrist. We have a little over an hour until ten. She looks up at me, and I am once again drawn into her eyes.
“First, you didn’t answer me. I’m assuming the guy that paid you Friday night is Russel, am I correct.”
“Yes.” I don’t know why she wants to know, but I see no point in keeping that from her. She could find out on her own. I personally think we need to work together on this.
I can’t comprehend letting her go out there alone, knowing that someone is after her. Again, I’m much more gentleman like than that.
“Second, does this town have a mall or a clothing store so I can pick up some stuff to wear?”
“We have a mall here, yes. Would you feel comfortable going there and then changing at Micah’s?”
She looks at me with a confused look on her face. “Who’s Micah?”
I scrub my hands over my face. It looks like I’ve got to come clean with this girl on my family. I just pray to God it doesn’t bite me in the ass later.
“Here goes nothing. I’m going to tell you something that very few people know. I trust your dad, so I’m hoping I can trust you.” I give her a look and she just nods at me. Her face doesn’t give anything away, but I’ve got to go ahead with this. I can’t leave this girl out there for the monsters that are after her. I also can’t let her walk into Micah’s house blind. That may almost be as bad as the monsters. Just kidding. Kind of.
“You met Zant last night. His wife is Micah. She is one of my sisters. Let me back up. I don’t have biological siblings, so everyone I’m about to list are my family by choice. Zant and Micah have a set of twins. Their names are Axel and Nova. They are five.”
“I’m never going to remember these names.”
I chuckle. “I know and I’m about to throw out more to you.” She covers her face and groans. “Next, there is Chance and Kelly. They are married, and they have a four-year-old son named Bone. His name is Memphis Bone, but we all call him Bone.”
“Bone is something I may remember.”
“You will remember the kids. They will make sure of it.” We both laugh. It kind of feels good.
Man, I hope and pray that I’m not overstepping here. Zant did tell me last night that Micah was going to have a million questions and would want to be involved in whatever is going on. That terrifies me a little, but I understand where she is coming from.
“Nova is the only girl. I’m her favorite.” Kathleen smiles as I blow on my knuckles and rub them on my shoulder. “She may act strange. I’ve never brought a girl home before.”
Her mouth drops open before she closes it slowly. “Never?”
“Never.” I don’t feel like I need to explain any further at this point to her. I probably never will.
“Ok then.”
“We need to leave in a second to get to the mall. Do you need to do anything?”
She jumps up off the stool and runs down the hall. “I’ll be ready in just a few.”
I pull out my phone and dial Micah’s number. I better get this over with.
“What are you calling me for and why did you come home early? My husband won’t tell me anything. You know how I hate that.”
“Good morning to you too, Micah.”
I can physically hear her roll her eyes through the phone.
“Mi. We will be over there at ten. Have everything ready.”
She doesn’t speak for a few seconds, too long for her. “We?”
“Yes, we. I will explain when I get there.”
“Is it a she?”
I inhale deeply before saying, “yes.”
Micah screams. I pull the phone away from my ear and hang up.
“She screamed in your ear,” Kathleen says as I set my phone on the counter. She has the same clothes on that she had on yesterday aside from her shoes. They are in her hands.
“That she did. Are you ready? We can go to the mall now. Well, after I change.”
She looks around the kitchen and behind her, before putting her hand over her face.
“What?”
She lowers her hand before speaking. “I have no idea where my bag is. It has my money and identification in it.”
That’s easy to fix. “It’s in my car.”
“Really?” Relief swims in her eyes and I am
hypnotized. Her eyes are amazingly beautiful. Next to her lips.
“Really. I grabbed it off the ground and threw it in the car with you last night.”
“You’re amazing,” she says as she turns to head toward the door. I smile as I run to my room and throw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. The smile disappears when I leave the bedroom.
She isn’t getting to me.
Chapter 14
Kathleen
This guy.
We are currently at the mall and he is helping me pick out clothes. I don’t even think he realizes what he is doing. I’ve never had a guy go shopping with me. Except for my dad when I was younger, of course. That was only once or twice, though. I had girlfriends to do that stuff with.
“Here. What about this one?” He’s holding up a coral blouse that looks pure silk. It also looks like it would feel heavenly on me.
“I like that one.” I walk towards him and take it out of his hands. “You’re good at shopping for a woman.”
“Thanks. Sisters.” He shrugs like it’s no big deal.
“Right.” I turn and look through another rack of jeans before settling on what I have. “I just need a pair of shoes and I’m good.”
He stands off to the side while I pick out what I want. Once I’ve decided, he helps me find my size, and we head to the register.
“I’m going to warn you. Everyone is going to be at Micah’s. Chance, Kelly, and Bone made it there a little bit ago. Nova doesn’t know I’m coming and she’s going to lose her mind.” I watch him as he tells me about his family. The love he has for them shines all over his face. I’ve never seen him so animated. I’ve never seen him up close at all, but still. I’m beginning to think he could be more than I thought he would be.
We drive up to a two-story house on the outside of town. There are several cars parked out front and the butterflies explode in my stomach.
“Don’t be nervous. You’ll be fine.” I look at Levi and notice that he is looking at my stomach. I look down and notice that my hand is gripping my shirt. I slowly let go and look back at him.
“I don’t know these people. I don’t even know you. I only know what I’ve read about you, and that has proven to be a very small part.”