“Are you okay?” I ask, stepping beside him.

He glances at me, his expression softening. “I’m fine. Andrew just knows how to push my buttons.”

“I noticed,” I say, smiling faintly. “He’s good at it.”

Levi sighs, running a hand through his hair. “He’s not wrong, though.”

“About what?”

He hesitates, his gaze dropping to the ground. “About me being territorial.”

I blink, caught off guard by the admission. “What do you mean?”

“I mean…” He trails off, then looks at me, his green eyes searching mine. “I don’t like the idea of anyone else getting close to you.”

The honesty in his voice leaves me speechless, and for a moment, all I can do is stare at him.

“Levi—” I start, but he cuts me off.

“I know this isn’t real,” he says quietly. “But sometimes, it feels like it is. And that scares me.”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut, and I don’t know how to respond. Because as much as I’ve tried to keep my walls up, I can feel them starting to crack.

Before I can say anything, Levi steps closer, his hand brushing mine. “I just need you to know that I care about you, Tania. More than I probably should.”

The vulnerability in his voice leaves me reeling, and as the night stretches on, I realize that I’m not as immune to him as I thought.

Chapter Fifteen

Tania

The next morning, the retreat moves into full swing, with more guests arriving and a seemingly endless schedule of activities. Eleanor insists on pairing us all off for a “friendly” golf tournament, which seems less about the sport and more about networking. It’s another carefully crafted stage for Levi to show off his perfectly polished life.

Damon, of course, is here.

I spot him lounging near the golf carts, sipping what I assume is a mimosa despite the early hour. His eyes flick to me the moment I step out onto the course, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. My stomach knots instinctively.

“Perfect,” I mutter under my breath.

“What’s perfect?” Levi asks, walking beside me. He’s dressed casually in a polo and khakis, but the look he gives me is anything but relaxed.

“Damon,” I say simply, nodding in his direction. “Why is he even here?”

“Family friend,” Levi replies tersely. “My mother insisted.”

“Your mother seems to insist on a lot,” I say, trying to keep my tone light. But the tension in Levi’s jaw tells me this is another battle he’s resigned himself to losing.

Eleanor’s “friendly”tournament quickly turns into a subtle competition, with small groups peeling off to play their rounds. Levi and I are paired with Damon and one of Eleanor’s other socialite friends, a woman whose name I can’t remember but whose disdain for me is impossible to ignore.

Damon, naturally, takes every opportunity to needle Levi. But it’s not until the second hole that he turns his attention to me.

“So, Tania,” he says, leaning on his club as we wait for our turn. “How does someone like you end up with someone like Levi?”

I glance at him, frowning. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Oh, nothing,” he says with a shrug, his smirk widening. “It’s just surprising, is all. Levi’s not exactly known for his... openness.”

“I think that’s a question you should ask Levi,” I reply, keeping my voice steady.