Some Sort of Love (Happy Crazy Love #3)(8)

“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 f*cking 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 f*cking hot, I wanna f*ck you so hard, oh f*ck 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 f*cking 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 f*cking nuts.”

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