He should get back to the cabin and he definitely was not avoiding it, but this was important. “Great. Thanks. I’ll just wait in her office,” he said. He weaved his way through the crowd and into the back hall, leading to her office.
Ellie Mitchell collided with him as he opened the door. “Whoa... Sorry, Ellie,” he said, catching her before she could come up short on his chest. At five-foot-nothing, with her girl next door looks, it was impossible to tell she was almost thirty.
“Levi—hi!” she said, her smile bright as she hugged him quickly. “Nice to see you.”
“You too,” he said. Ellie had been the manager of his grandmother’s store for the last ten years, after her mother retired from the job. A total bookworm with a passion for old books that rivaled his grandmother’s, Ellie was the perfect person to run the store day-to-day. The weekly book club and frequent author events had been her idea and it had definitely saved the store from having to close years earlier.
“You here for the signing?” she asked, blowing her wispy light brown bangs off her forehead. She showed him the cover of a fantasy novel featuring a dragon and a woman in metal armor wielding a sword. “It’s already a New York Times bestseller.”
“Actually I’m just here to see Grandma. Callum said she was due for a break in a few minutes,” he said, taking a copy of the book anyway. He liked to support the store and its authors whenever possible...and he was there to ask his grandmother for a favor, so the least he could do was buy a copy.
“Yeah, feel free to wait in here. I’ll tell her you’re back here as soon as she’s available.”
“Thanks, Ellie,” he said as she closed the door behind her.
Levi breathed in the familiar scent of the office. So many afternoons had been spent there, doing his homework and reading while his grandmother worked in the store. As a teen, he’d stocked the shelves and cleaned the store... It had been a second home.
He scanned the cluttered bookshelf of his grandmother’s own collection, running a finger along the spines. All the classics she’d made him read and literature featuring Alaska or its authors held those coveted places on her personal shelf.
His gaze fell to a picture of him and his father hanging on the wall above the bookshelf. His father was in his military uniform. It was the day before he’d officially left Levi in his grandmother’s care. Of course, Levi hadn’t known. He’d thought the situation was temporary...but he’d long forgiven his dad. There was no point holding grudges and he was happy that they hadn’t had any conflict or bad blood between them before his father died six years ago from a heart attack.
He stared at his own young, smiling face. To anyone else, it was just a nice father/son photo but Levi recognized the internal conflict in the boy he was then. Moving around a lot had a way of making him feel unsettled all the time. No real roots had ever been set down until he’d come to live in Wild River.
And even then, he wasn’t sure if the town would have felt like home without Leslie and Dawson. And now neither of them were there.
He didn’t need to dig too deep to know that moving again would be something he’d consider for the right reason...or right person.
The office door opened and his grandmother entered. Wearing her usual smock that read “I put the ‘lit’ in literature,” one pair of reading glasses hanging around her neck, another pair of bifocals holding back her long gray hair, she was the picture of a bookseller. “Hi, darling...” She gave him a quick hug and immediately went to her Keurig machine to slip an Earl Grey pod in to brew. “You picked a crazy day to visit. I only have a few moments,” she said.
He didn’t take it personally. His grandmother’s life revolved around the store and while they loved one another, they weren’t close in the traditional sense. He’d been basically old enough to look after himself by the time he moved in with her and she’d essentially let him do it. She offered advice only when asked and stayed out of his business out of respect, not a lack of caring. She was always there for him when it mattered, but Christmas and birthdays were the only time they made an effort to get together since he’d moved out on his own at nineteen.
“The store is packed. That’s great.”
“Harriet Jennings always draws a crowd when she visits. I wish she could release a new book every month,” she said, then noticing the copy in his hand, added, “You a fan of the series?”
“Um... I don’t know yet, but thought I’d give it a shot. So, I won’t stay long.” He placed the picture in the plastic bag on her desk. “I was just wondering if you knew of a way...or someone else who might be able to restore this.”
She lifted her glasses up to her eyes from the chain hanging around her neck and peered at the picture. Levi shifted as he waited. Would she recognize the photo?
“Fire damage?”
“Yeah, the Sanders cabin,” he said.
She tsked. “I heard about that. What a shame. You used to spend a lot of time there.”
He nodded. “There’s nothing left. We did the cleanup this morning. I was lucky to find this.”
Her furrowed expression wasn’t optimistic as she studied it. “It’s old and the damage is extensive.”
“But you’ve restored worse.” He remembered watching her replace old and worn covers on first editions of books. How meticulous and careful she’d been. How her expertise hadn’t faltered even as she’d aged and a slight quiver had entered her hands, but never dared to while she was working.
“I have,” she said. “But books are a little different. And I’ve never dealt with fire damage before.”
Damn. “So, no saving this one?”
She glanced at him, a knowing look on her face. “Leave it with me. I’ll see what I can do,” she said.
That’s all he could ask for. “Thanks, Grandma. I’d appreciate that.”
She smiled at him as her tea finished brewing, signaling her break was over. “So, how’s she doing anyway?”
He blinked. “Who?”
“Leslie,” she said, adding honey to her favorite mug.
“What makes you think I know?” His heart raced under his grandmother’s perceptiveness.
“I just meant about the cabin burning down,” she said with a knowing grin above the rim of her mug.
Oh, right. “I’m sure she’s disappointed, but I think she’s got bigger issues right now.”
Meredith nodded as she blew on the hot liquid. “Yes. Wanted for possible abduction of a Hollywood movie star?” She raised an eyebrow and the amused flicker in her light blue eyes suggested she’d be fascinated if it were true.
Levi scoffed. “Don’t believe everything you see on the news. Leslie’s not involved, she’s just trying to keep the woman safe... I bet,” he added quickly.
“I’m sure. Anyway, I hope wherever she is, she’s safe,” she said with a wink, opening the office door and leading the way out into the hallway.
He followed and she hugged him quickly. “Give her a hug for me,” she whispered.
Entering the station later that day, Levi held his breath. He wasn’t sure what to expect from Leslie but inside everything was quiet. “Hello?” he called out as he entered the kitchen.
Silence, except for the running dishwasher.
Checking the living room, he saw it too was empty. Even Smokester was gone. He headed toward his office and saw a Post-it note stuck to the door.
Gone for a hike.
It was Chad’s handwriting, but he knew the guy must mean all four of them, otherwise he wouldn’t have left Levi a status update about his own whereabouts. A hike was probably a great idea. Being cooped up inside the cabin with no real contact with the outside world must be driving the women insane. Levi loved the quiet solitude staying at the cabin provided. Big cities with their crowded streets and noise pollution weren’t his thing.
Could they be his thing if Leslie
asked?
What the hell was he thinking? One incredible day together didn’t mean anything. It hadn’t escaped his notice that she hadn’t brought up his confession of love at all...as though wanting to forget about it maybe?
As if he could.
He sat in his office chair and opened his laptop. Several new messages waited in his email inbox from Angelica with questions regarding his preference of menu for the event and a list of wine choices...and an invite to dinner Saturday evening. If only he could go to dinner with her and not be thinking about Leslie. If only he’d ever had the pleasure of a woman’s company without feeling like something was missing. Unfortunately, he suspected no other dinner date would measure up to the igloo picnic, which was depressing as hell.
Seeing a new message arrive, his stomach twisted.
Mrs. Powell’s subject line made his heart race.
Charity Event Speech.
He’d been putting it off. The biggest responsibility he had regarding the event. The last few days he hadn’t been in the right mindset...
He heard the front door open and voices in the entryway and he shut his laptop, thankful for the excuse to avoid the emails a little longer.
Footsteps echoed down the hall toward the office before Leslie appeared in the doorway. “Hi,” he said. “How was the hike?”
“Good. It was good to get some fresh air and exercise,” she said.
“Yeah, that’s always helpful to clear the mind,” he said.
She nodded. “Yeah, so... Chad said the cleanup went okay.” She entered the office and closed the door behind her.
Did she want privacy? Or was she there to say something she didn’t want the others to hear? “Yeah. We’ll finish the report and send it to your mom in the next few days. She’ll need it if she decides to file an insurance claim—if she had any on the cabin...or maybe tax purposes or something. And the tow truck will be there later today to tow your car into a shop in Wild River, where I thought you’d eventually be able to pick it up,” he said. He was talking too much, but he wasn’t sure he could handle silence or the conversation taking a different direction.
He couldn’t quite read Leslie. She didn’t seem upset or annoyed, but she wasn’t giving any kind of vibe at all really.
“Sounds good,” she said. She stared at her hands, folded in front of her, and he stared at the top of her head. He wanted to go to her and wrap his arms around her, breathe in the fresh mountain air on her skin, kiss her cold cheeks, but he remained in his chair.
So far this had all been at her pace and it still was. Whatever she wanted. Or didn’t want.
But damn, could this awkwardness get any worse? He needed to say something. “Listen, I...”
“Levi...”
They both spoke at the same time.
“Go ahead,” he said.
“Well, I just wanted to say that I’m not sure how long we can keep this up.”
His heart plummeted but he prayed his poker face was still in place. “Us?” he asked.
“That too, yes. But more specifically, I mean us hiding out here. I can’t keep running with Selena, hiding her. We need to go to the police or head back to LA.”
He couldn’t argue that it made sense. They couldn’t stay there forever. Selena would clear up the misunderstanding about Leslie being involved with the stalker. Leslie might lose her job still, but at least she wouldn’t face jail time. They needed to go back and figure things out. Running may have been an ill-thought-out plan, but then again, maybe not. “Is it safe for her there?” he asked.
She sighed. “I’m not sure. But Eoghan, my co-worker, said that the police have a suspect in custody.”
Levi knew his expression was definitely on the jealousy spectrum as he cleared his throat. “You spoke to him today?”
“Yeah.”
She’d told him they weren’t serious, but was she still planning on continuing her casual relationship with Eoghan when she returned to LA? Did it matter? Would things be continuing between him and Leslie when she went back? Probably not.
“I’m not going to be...um, dating him anymore,” she said awkwardly.
There was no hiding his relief. “Because of us?”
“Not not because of us.”
So there was an us? This whole thing was super confusing. But he was afraid to ask what she meant. He suspected she had no idea what she really wanted...except for the physical. And he’d promised not to push for anything more than she was willing to give. Despite the torture and torment it might cause him.
She moved farther into the office and her eyes were worried as she said, “About last night...”
He held his breath.
“I just want you to know that it was incredible. The whole thing—the picnic, the champagne...” Her cheeks flushed and he stood quickly, not wanting her to feel out there, exposed in her feelings alone.
He moved toward her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “I’ll admit, I was worried you’d be having regrets.”
“Well, I’m not not having regrets,” she said, but her gaze was on his mouth and when she licked her lips absentmindedly, he knew she’d be okay with adding to those regrets should they exist.
“So, does that mean I shouldn’t kiss you?” he asked.
“Probably. Do you want to kiss me?”
“I always want to kiss you,” he said, lowering his head closer to hers. He could feel her heart pound in her chest, the steady rhythm matching his own.
He held back slightly. Waiting for her okay. She gave a small nod as she stared into his eyes.
His mouth connected with hers and her arms immediately wrapped around his neck. He’d been thinking about things all day and was no closer to an answer about what they were doing or where this was leading...but when he was kissing her, all other thoughts vanished and he was grateful for the opportunity to turn off his brain.
He ran his tongue along her bottom lip and she captured his lip between her teeth.
She pressed her body even closer and he bent at the knees and lifted her. She wrapped her legs around his waist and he carried her to his desk. He set her down on the edge and wedged his thighs between her legs. His hands tangled in her hair as he deepened the kiss. The same passion ignited between them as before and it both invigorated and terrified him.
He pulled away and studied her. He didn’t need to say anything. She could read his thoughts on his face.
She reached for his jacket and removed it down over his shoulders, letting it fall to the floor. She removed his sweater and undershirt in one quick move and sighed, taking in the sight of his sculpted chest and stomach.
He reached for the buttons on her plaid button-up shirt, unbuttoning quickly.
Holy shit. His intake was a low whistling sound seeing that she wore nothing underneath.
“I’m washing clothes in the sink. Hope you don’t mind,” she said with a teasing flirtation in her voice that he’d never heard directed at him before.
His mouth was dry and his voice sounded hoarse as he said, “Not at all...”
She wrapped her hand around the back of his neck and pulled his head down to hers again. Damn, she was so sexy and he’d never get enough of her.
His hands cupped her bare breasts and he massaged gently, his thumb running over her hardened nipples.
Her hands traced the muscles along his abs, dipping lower into the waistband of his jeans. His erection was on full display. She reached for the button on his jeans and opened them, sliding her hand inside of his underwear. He moaned as she wrapped her hand around his erection and she pressed her lips to his, muffling the sound.
Chad and Selena were in the other room and for once, things were quiet. No blaring television or music to drown out the noises in the office. “Can we really do this? In here?” she asked, slightly out of breath.
“I’m not sure I have a choice. I want you so bad, Leslie,” he said. The other two already knew there was something going on between them. This wouldn’t come as a surprise to either one of their friends. Bottom line was, in that moment, when his desire for her was so strong, he really didn’t care what they heard or what they thought.
He reached for her jeans, unbuttoning them and easing her backward onto the desk. His hands slipped inside and he felt how wet she was between her legs. At least the desire was mutual.
And damn, what was it about it that turned him on so much he could lose sight of all the reasons they shouldn’t be doing this? Nothing else mattered when he was kissing her, holding her, touching her... No one else mattered.
The office door opened and Levi’s worst nightmare seemed to move in slow motion in front of his eyes despite the fact that he and Leslie moved fast as lightning away from one another. She pulled her shirt closed and hopped down off the desk. He reached for his shirt off the floor and not a single explanation—lie—about why they’d both been half-naked and all over one another, alone in his office, came to mind as they were caught.
By Mrs. Powell. Her former future mother-in-law and the woman who’d practically raised him as her own son.
Fuck.
Leslie kept her eyes downcast as he walked toward Mrs. Powell. His pulse raced even faster than it had seconds before and his hands shook as he clumsily struggled with the button on his jeans. This was not good. Not good at all.
“Mrs. Powell, I didn’t know you were stopping by,” Levi said, pure awkwardness in his voice.
“Obviously.” The chill in her tone could have frozen the entire backwoods. Her steely gaze was locked on Leslie. “Leslie? I wasn’t aware that you were back. But then, I guess taking this situation into account, I wasn’t aware of a lot of things.”
Leslie met her gaze. “Hello, Mrs. Powell. Nice to see you,” she mumbled as she moved past them quickly. “I’ll let you two talk.”
Stars Over Alaska Page 20