Page 78 of The Art of Deception

My tongue collides with hers, and I pull her body against mine further. My cock hardens slightly in my jeans. I can’t help it, she does that to me so easily as it presses against her abdomen. Her fingers lace through the hair at the nape of my neck, just the way I like it, while she whimpers into my mouth. I want to take this further, but Greta is out in the other room. Doing anything with her here would be off.

I pull back and delay the kiss, gazing into her eyes. “I’m not going anywhere. Understand?”

Tomi nods her head as I caress her cheek. “Now, let’s go out and have some of that leftover pot pie because it smells amazing, and I can assure you Greta’s dinner is so much better than the food we were going to have anyway.”

She bursts out laughing as she pulls away from me, taking my hand in hers. “What the hell was that on my plate?”

I shrug. “It was quail.”

Her eyes widen as she snaps her head back at me. “Jesus Christ, thank God I didn’t eat it. That’s way too fancy for me… the poor little birdy. Let’s go hang out with my amazing brother and his nanny. As a family.”

I can’t think of anything I’d rather do right now. “Fucking perfect.”

We walk toward the door.

What will Monday bring?

I’m quitting Scott Enterprises, but it will put the new Hope & Faith Ink in jeopardy. I don’t think Tomi’s put that part of the equation into her thinking just yet, but I have, and if I know my father, Tomi’s studio will be pulled from the design schedule the minute my resignation takes effect.

I have to find a way to stop that from happening.

And I have one day to figure out how or find a differentdirection.

Chapter Twenty-Three

TOMI

Sunday Afternoon

Having Xander here all weekend has been amazing. He’s been so attentive and caring, not just to me but to Levi as well. It’s plain to see Levi loves having a man around the house to share things with. They simply get along. Though, I can tell Xander has something on his mind. Whether it’s the argument with his parents or his resignation moving forward tomorrow, I’m unsure, but he’s not talking to me about it. I wish he would. We’re a team, and I want to help him with his problems, even if I am what caused them.

We’re all sitting in the family room. Xander’s running over some business terms with Levi, seeing as how Levi loves watching the finance reports. Xander suspects Levi will have a keen eye for the same kind of work Xander does. He will mentor him once the time is right. I don’t understand the shit they’re going on about as they chat amongst themselves, so I sit back, watching them doodling on a notebook. It’s important that they have common ground.

The house could do with a clean, there are still some of Xander’s boxes in the hall. It’s organized chaos in here at the moment, but we’re making it work. Levi considers it an obstacle course, and he rushes through the pathway too fast sometimes in his excitement. The joy he has in his eyes now that he has another person in the house is almost overwhelming. I’m so glad he’s ecstatic about Xander being here, but it also makes me a little sad thinking perhaps I wasn’t enough for him. A double-edged sword. But I’d rather Levi be happy and full of life like he is right now, prospering and doing well, and me feeling a littlebit of a failure than have him falling behind and miserable like he was.

“When I go college and learn everything, can I work with you, Xander?” Levi asks.

I’m not sure how Xander’s going to handle this one.

He exhales. “I’m unsure what I’ll be doing by the time you finish college, buddy. But I swear, if I have anything to do with it, and if I am the CEO by then, you will definitely come to work for me. But I will, no matter what, help find the right job for you.”

I smile.He handled that well.

Levi grins. “You will. You’re good at this. You deserve to be a CEO.”

I nod my head matter-of-factly, making Xander smirk at me.

He exhales. “I work very hard at my job, Levi, but sometimes you need to start over. I might have to do that tomorrow.”

Levi’s brows knit together. “Why?”

Suddenly, the doorbell rings, and we all swing around to the front door.

“The doorbell rang,” Levi announces as he stands from the sofa, rushing toward the door.

Who the hell could it be on a Sunday afternoon?

Xander’s obviously thinking the same. He stays on the sofa as Levi opens the door before I can get to it, and he shrugs.

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