Love Happens

by Claudia Burgoa

  So I was glad when he left his hand on my back while we ordered drinks, his thumb rubbing softly at the base of my spine.

  We took our drinks to an unoccupied table in one shadowy corner of the winery’s stone terrace, where the ceremony had taken place hours before. Since then, the rows of chairs had been replaced by cocktail tables fashioned with giant oak barrels and round glass table tops covered with ivory linen. Party lights were strung in the trees above, and the table held small votive candles, which flickered in the falling dark.

  “Hard to believe we’ve never run into each other before,” I said, setting my glass on the table. “Have you lived in this area long?”

  “About three years. Before that I was in Charlevoix. That’s where my family is.”

  Impulsively, I reached over and fixed his tie, pulling the knot tighter and straightening it out. “Sorry. Couldn’t resist.”

  “Was it crooked?” Grimacing a little, he took over the task, and a tingle swept up my arms when his fingers closed over mine. “I was so rushed tonight. My sister was late, and then I had trouble getting out of the house. Did I even remember to put pants on?”

  I laughed. “Yes, you did.” Although I wouldn’t mind if you took them off.

  “Oh, good.” He picked up his drink and took a sip. “So tell me about you. I know your last name now, I know you used to like Harry Potter, and I know you’re a little clumsy when you drink champagne, but other than that, I got nothing.”

  Heat rushed my face, and I giggled. “I am a little clumsy, and not just when I drink champagne. But in addition to that, I still like Harry Potter, and I’m a pediatrician.”

  He cocked his head. “Are you? I always wondered if you went to med school. Back then you were planning on it.”

  I smiled, pleased that he’d remembered something about me. And had he said always wondered? “Yes. I finished up my undergrad at Michigan and then went to medical school at Wayne State. I completed my residency up here and took a job in private practice about six months ago.”

  “In this area?”

  I nodded. “Yes. In Traverse City. I’m really close to my family, so I was happy about that. Now catch me up more with you,” I said, tucking my hair behind my ear. “If memory serves, you were at State—but there’s a good chance it does not, since I believe there may have been some liquor consumed the night we, um … met—”

  “Uh, yeah. A lot of liquor, as I recall.” Levi laughed. “Sometimes I’m amazed my liver survived undergrad. OK, let’s see. I think I met you my senior year, when I was at State, and then I ended up in Boston for grad school. Scotty was born during my final year there.”

  I blinked. “Wow. That must have been tough, trying to finish school and care for a wife and baby.”

  He hesitated. “Actually, Scotty’s mom and I were never married.”

  “You weren’t?”

  He shook his head. “No. I offered to marry her when we found out she was pregnant, but she didn’t want that. She said she couldn’t handle grad school and marriage and pregnancy all at once. Sometimes I wonder if she knew then she was leaving.”

  “She left?”

  He nodded, lifting his drink again. “Shortly after Scotty was born. Said she wasn’t cut out to be a mother and she’d made the wrong choice.”

  “My God.” I tried to imagine what that must have been like for Levi, suddenly on his own with a newborn baby. “So you’re raising him alone?”

  “He’s my son. For me, there was no choice.” He rotated his glass slowly on the table, staring into it. “She wanted a career in finance, so she went to New York, and I moved back to Charlevoix so my family could help out. My uncle had an architectural firm and offered me a job.”

  “Do you ever see her or hear from her?” I hoped he didn’t think I was being too nosy, but I was so curious about him.

  “No, and that’s how I wanted it. That’s how we both wanted it.” He met my eyes and lifted his broad shoulders. “The relationship wasn’t good to begin with. I definitely got the best part of it—in fact, as far as I’m concerned, I got everything. She walked away with nothing.”

  My heart thumped hard. “I bet you’re an amazing father.”

  He smiled, but he shook his head. “Actually, most of the time, I have no idea what I’m doing and I’m just trying to get through the fucking day.” After another big swallow of whiskey, he squared his shoulders and set his glass down hard. “But you know what? I rarely get out on Saturday nights—in fact, I can’t even remember the last time—so let’s talk about something more fun.” His dark eyes glittered. “Like broom closets.”

  I laughed, shaking my head. “That was fun. I still can’t believe I did that.”

  “Are you saying you didn’t make a habit of luring innocent college boys into your lair with your blue eyes and long legs and sexy Harry Potter t-shirt?”

  “Ha! No, I certainly did not. And you were not that innocent.” I tossed back the last of my champagne, the bubbles tickling my tongue.

  “I wasn’t?”

  “No. You knew exactly what you were doing, and you did it very well.”

  “Thank you.” He looked pleased with himself.

  “And very fast.”

  His face fell as he groaned. “God, don’t tell me. All I remember thinking is, ‘oh fuck don’t come oh fuck don’t come oh fuck I came.’”

  I couldn’t resist. “That’s pretty much what you said, too.”

  “Is it?” He groaned even louder and slammed the rest of his drink. “I need more whiskey. Want something?”

  I bit my lip and looked at my empty glass. What number was that? I felt lightheaded, but I didn’t know if it was the champagne or the flirting. I felt light-hearted too. “I shouldn’t.”

  “Why? Are you driving?”

  “No.”

  “Are you married?”

  “No.”

  “Are you worried I’m going to get you drunk and drag you into a closet for round two?”

  I smiled coyly. “Maybe.”

  He leaned in closer, so close I felt his breath on my lips. “Good.”

  Jillian

  Before Levi came back with our next round, Skylar and Sebastian appeared on the patio. Noticing I was by myself, Skylar tugged on her new husband’s hand, whispered in his ear, and left his side to join me at the table.

  “Hey, you.” She fanned her face, which was dewy and flushed, but other than the fact that her lipstick had faded, she looked just as radiant and flawless as she had at three o’clock this afternoon. “What are you doing hiding out all alone over here?”

  “I’m not hiding, and actually, I’m not alone.” I gave her a cryptic little smile, and her eyes widened.

  “What’s that mean?”

  Over her shoulder, I saw Sebastian and Levi greet each other with a handshake and a back-thumping man-hug. I knew I’d only have a minute before they came over here, so I spoke fast. “OK, remember the guy I told you about, the one in the dorm closet?”

  “Pine Sol?”

  “Yeah. He’s here.”

  “Pine Sol is here?” Her jaw dropped, and she craned her neck to look over her shoulder as I shushed her.

  “Yes. He’s talking to Sebastian right now.”

  She faced me again, her eyes huge and sparkling. “Pine Sol is Levi Brooks? The architect? I don’t believe it!”

  “Shhhhhhh!” I flapped my hands between us to get her to quiet down. “Will you hush, please? I don’t want him to know I told you about the closet.”

  “I’m sorry, I can’t help it. Oh my God, this is amazing. I can’t wait to tell Natalie.” She shook her head and moved around the table to make room for the guys, who were headed our way with drinks. “Wait, isn’t he married? He’s got a kid, I think.”

  I shook my head. “Nope. Not married. But yes, one son.” There was no time to get into everything he had told me. “Do you know anything else about him?”

  “Not really,” she said, frowning. “Sebastian never goss
ips about anyone, it’s so annoying.”

  “OK, quiet now. Here they come.” Meeting Levi’s eyes as he approached, I smiled, my heart tripping faster.

  He set my champagne and his Old Fashioned down and came around the table to kiss my sister on the cheek. “Congratulations, Skylar. You look beautiful.”

  She flashed him her ten thousand watt smile. “Thank you. I’m so glad you’re here. You’ve met my big sister, Jillian, I see.”

  He came back to his place beside me, standing a little closer this time, his body angled toward mine. “Yes. Actually, we met years ago.”

  “So I hear.” Skylar gave him a smile that said I Totally Know What You Did, and I elbowed her. Did she have to be so obvious?

  Natalie and Miles strolled up. “What’s going on?” Natalie asked, eyeballing me and Levi and then me again.

  Skylar scooted over to make room for them between her and Sebastian. “Levi, this is the youngest Nixon sister, Natalie, and her fiancé, Miles Haas.”

  While Miles and Natalie shook hands with Levi and Sebastian explained the connection, Skylar and I had a silent conversation with our facial expressions and eyebrows, the way only two sisters can. It went something like this:

  Knock it off!

  What? I’m not doing anything.

  Yes you are, and you know it.

  Relax, I’m only having a little fun. He doesn’t know you told me.

  He’s standing right there! You’re making it obvious! Now stop.

  But the glint in her eye made me nervous.

  “So Jillian, Sebastian was just saying you and Levi met at U of M?” Natalie sounded curious.

  “We were just talking about your time at Michigan, weren’t we?” Skylar turned to Natalie. “Remember, Nat? She was telling us about how clean the dorms were? How she loved the way they smelled like Pine Sol?”

  If it hadn’t been her wedding day, I might have strangled her. I couldn’t even make eye contact with Levi, I was so mortified, but I thought I heard him chuckle.

  “Pine Sol? Wasn’t that the hot guy from college, the one she—wait a minute.” Natalie’s face screwed up in confusion until she noticed the way that Skylar was tilting her head toward Levi. “Ohhhhh.”

  “Is anyone else totally fucking confused?” Miles asked, looking around the table.

  “Yes,” Sebastian said.

  I cleared my throat. “So Nat, how are you feeling tonight? That baby kicking yet?” I knew it was way too early in her pregnancy for that, but I was desperate to change the subject.

  She beamed. “Not yet.”

  “Congratulations,” said Levi. “Do you know what you’re having?”

  “Girl,” said Skylar with confidence.

  “I think boy,” said Natalie.

  “We’ll know next month.” Miles moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, which had just started to disappear within the last few weeks. He kissed her shoulder. “I can’t wait.”

  “Levi has a son.” I smiled up at him over one shoulder. “Any advice for the parents-to-be?”

  “Sleep. Now. As much as you can.” He shook his head and grinned wryly. “Once that baby comes, sleep will be a distant memory. Other than that …” He shrugged, and his smile softened. “Just remember you’re human. You’re going to have days where you’re like, ‘This is awesome, my baby is a genius and I’m the most amazing parent on the planet’ and days where you’ll go, ‘Fuck that, my baby is an asshole and needs to go the fuck to sleep.’”

  Natalie laughed. “How old is your son?”

  “Eight. But depending on the mood he’s in, he can act like he’s two or like he’s eighty.” He tipped back the rest of his cocktail and set down the glass. “Speaking of my little man, I should probably call home. Will you excuse me for a minute?”

  “Of course.”

  “Thanks. Be right back.” He placed a hand on my back before heading through the glass double doors into the winery’s tasting room.

  As soon as the door shut behind him, Skylar whacked me on the shoulder. “I still can’t believe that’s Pine Sol!”

  “OK, what happened with you two?” Miles pushed his glasses farther up on his nose. “I feel like there’s a story there.”

  “There is, and you’ll like it,” said Natalie. “They banged in a broom closet.”

  “Which smelled like Pine Sol,” Skylar added.

  “My God, is nothing sacred?” I threw a hand in the air. “I’m never telling you two big mouths anything ever again.”

  “What? We’re all family here.” Skylar gave me her innocent face. “And that was like ten years ago.”

  “Eleven.”

  “Whatever. Let’s talk about him now. He’s so hot! And so bearded! Plus he’s, like, mature and responsible. And single. And perfect for you.” Skylar ticked off his attributes on her fingers. “So you should marry him and have his hot bearded babies immediately.”

  “Slow down, Aunt Irene,” I said, laughing. “I just learned this guy’s last name like half an hour ago, and I’m not having anyone’s bearded babies.” But I won’t complain if he wants to go through the motions later tonight.

  “You’re no fun.” She stuck her tongue out at me and turned to Sebastian. “What do we know about this guy? Is he good enough for my big sister?”

  Sebastian smiled. “He’s a great guy. Really devoted to his son. Smart. Talented.”

  “Does it bother you?” Skylar asked. “That he has a son? Because it seems like he’s into you.”

  “I don’t know. I mean, I’ve never dated anyone with kids before, but …” I bit my lip. “You really think he’s into me?”

  “He’d be a fucking fool if he wasn’t,” Miles said.

  Flashing him a grateful smile, I set down my glass half-full. “Thanks. You know what, I think I’ll go in too. I need to use the bathroom.” Maybe Levi and I could sneak out a different door when he was done with his call. Not that I didn’t adore my family, but I was dying to be alone with Levi again.

  That fluttery feeling was like a drug.

  I thought I heard his voice in the darkened tasting room, but I went straight up the stairs to the winery’s bridal suite where my sisters and I had dressed. After using the bathroom, I touched up my hair and makeup a little, frowning at the tiny lines around my eyes that had recently appeared. Leaning closer to the mirror, I scrutinized my face. I wasn’t nineteen anymore, or even twenty-five. Did it matter? What did he see when he looked at me?

  Straightening up, I ran my hands over my breasts and hips, shivering a little at the thought of his hands on me. At the thought of his body beneath that black suit. At the thought of his body beneath me—and above me and next to me and inside me.

  You’re so fucking hot, I wanna fuck you so hard, oh fuck I’m gonna come.

  My mouth fell open, and I closed my eyes as a rush of arousal swept through me. God, I hadn’t had sex in so long, it would probably be me who went off like a cannon in less than three minutes tonight.

  If there was a tonight—I was getting a little ahead of myself.

  (In my defense, we’re talking a year-long dry spell and a hot bearded man here. I think I can be forgiven.)

  As I came down the steps, I saw Levi standing off to my right, and the phone was still to his ear. He faced the tasting room bar, his back to me, and I wasn’t sure if I should wait for him or go back out to the patio to give him some privacy.

  When my heels clicked on the stone floor, he turned and held up one finger, like he wanted me to stay there while he finished his call. I took a seat on one of the couches clustered near the fireplace, and he came closer to me. The minute I heard him speak, I could tell he was agitated.

  “I know he does. But I—”

  Whoever he was talking to cut him off, and he exhaled loudly.

  “But it’s not behavioral. I’ve explained this. It’s—”

  Interrupted again, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and pinched the bridge of his nose.

 
“Listen to me.” Dropping his hand, he turned toward the window so I only saw his profile and spoke quietly but firmly. “I don’t care what your friend the doctor says. He’s not Scotty’s doctor, and he doesn’t know the first fucking thing about him.”

  Uh oh. It sounded like maybe an argument—with his sister?—and I wasn’t sure he wanted me to hear it. I kept my eyes on him, waiting for a signal, but he kept staring out the large windows, left hand at his side, fist clenching and unclenching. It probably shouldn’t have turned me on, but that hand looked so solid and strong. I bet if he did throw a punch, the other guy would go down hard and fast. But something about him made me think he knew how to be gentle too. Maybe it was the way his eyes lit up when he talked about his son. Maybe it was the way he called Scotty his little man. Maybe it was the way he’d leaned in to me, his lips barely brushing mine …

  “Look, we’ll talk about this another time.” Levi faced me again, and I jumped up as if I’d been caught staring at his crotch, not his hand.

  “I have to go, Monica. I’ll be home soon.” Holding the phone slightly away from his ear, he grimaced, then spoke again. “Fine. Thank you.” He ended the call and slipped his phone in his pocket as he came toward me, tension creasing his forehead. “I’m sorry about that.”

  “That’s OK.”

  “My sister, Monica. I love her, but she has all sorts of opinions about how I should be raising my son and she likes to lecture me about it. Drives me fucking nuts.”

  “Sisters do that sometimes.” I gave him a sympathetic smile. “Everything OK at home?”

  He exhaled, and some of the worry lines on his face disappeared. “Yes. Scotty’s finally asleep. For now.”

  “He doesn’t sleep well?”

  “Not really.”

  “Have you tried melatonin?”

  “Yes. With mixed results.” He hesitated before going on. “Scotty has autism, and routine is really important to him. He can be difficult at bedtime if the littlest thing is different.”