Page 59 of Wicked Dares
Aunt Bess has only called me three times since I’ve moved to New York. That would likely be more if she weren’t camping with Uncle Roger and their boys.
“They’re all going to be thrilled for you when they find out. I’m freaking thrilled for you, and I give myself credit, too.” She lifts her chin and gives me her best beauty-queen-about-to-deliver-her-pageant-speech face. “I took you to Wicked Dares, where you met your knight in shining armor.”
I laugh, rolling my eyes at her. “You are so crazy. But yes. You can take credit for that.”
The knight in shining armor.
This offer has definitely turned Levi into a knight for me.
In my world men aren’t supposed to sweep into your life and change everything in a matter of days. Real life for me doesn’t usually work like that. But this time it did.
Even if he’s getting something out of our arrangement, it feels like nothing in comparison to what he’s given me.
I’d be planning to go back to work in the morning if not for him. And I’m pretty sure Helen would fire me this week and leave a bad review for me with the job agency. Then I’d be screwed.
Instead of her having the upper hand, I emailed the agency with my resignation when the money came through, and now I’m here planning my future.
It feels surreal.
Alexis swivels the chair to face me. “What are your thoughts about Levi? You knew I was going to ask you that.”
Just hearing his name tightens my stomach. I pretend not to notice.
“You wouldn’t be you if you didn’t.” I grin. “To answer your question, I’m not sure what to think. I’m just going through the motions.”
“Except it’s very clear you like each other. He could have asked anyone else to do this for him.”
“Not exactly. His client saw me with him at the restaurant. It makes sense that he would ask me.”
“Yes. But he could have set the man straight from the get-go and found someone else.” She quirks a hard brow.
My lips part to answer, but I don’t have one. She’s completely correct. Levi could have been truthful with Arthur. But… can I just be selfish for once in my life and be glad he wasn’t?
“Okay, so he chose me. It won’t mean anything. We’re just an act for the sake of this arrangement. We’ll each have separate lives outside it, then we’ll go our separate ways once it’s over.”
“And it’s that simple?” Her gaze is filled with skepticism.
“It has to be.” Because if it isn’t simple, then this could get messy fast. Playing messy with Levi is not something I’m prepared for.
Levi Vale has changed my life. Saying goodbye to him won’t be easy, and unless I go looking for him, or he does the same for me, I’ll never see him again. Maybe just in the press or something like that. Nothing more. Meeting him will just be a memory.
That saddens me, but I still think I’m not ready to have any deep feelings for anyone past friendship, so it’s for the best.
“Humor me for a second.” Alexis rests her hands on her knees.
“Sure.” Here we go; she’s about to go all hypothetical on me.
“It’s been three years since Reece. What’s it gonna take for you to really move on?”
The lightness in me dims. The question is one I’ve worried about for a long time, and I don’t have an answer. “I hope I’llknow when it’s time. Maybe there’ll be some magical thing that will fix me.” Or maybe I’ll meet someone who makes trusting feel easy instead of terrifying.
“I don’t know if it works like that. I think you have to try to push those feelings away and take those first steps.”
“Maybe I’ll just do it for the right person.”
“That’s the hope, but I don’t want you to be closed off to the possibility because you’re afraid.”
I laugh slightly off key. “It’s not that I’m scared.”
