Page 31 of The Love Raffle

Levi chuckled. “Yeah.” His hand reached for her knee and stayed there, just wanting to feel her.

Amber basked in the warmth of his palm. His touch was so tender. “Were you into the whole acting thing or was it just what she wanted?” She sat straighter and tried to smooth her wild hair.

Levi sighed. “I guess I liked the whole acting thing. She always told me I was destined for greatness. What kid doesn’t want to hear that? Made me confident.”

“Must have been a lot of pressure.”

Levi gulped as some unpleasant memories surfaced. His mom throwing fits over parts he lost, and his father calling her a maniac because of it. It was funny now though as they both profited off his success over the years. “Sometimes.” He rubbed his arm. “It’s so crazy how the people who’re thrust into this business have a completely different outlook to those who genuinely care for it but don’t have the opportunity right at their back door.” He tried to catch her brown eyes. They were sleepy. He could tell.

Amber met his blue ones. “I don’t know what to call that.” She rested the side of her head on the couch again. “Think if you lived in Tennessee, you’d find some other career path? Like, I don’t know—”

“Horse riding?”

Amber narrowed her eyes as he laughed. “You’re an idiot, Levi Marks. That’s not all we do over there.”

“What does your mom do?” Levi licked his bottom lip.

Amber’s heart skipped a beat at the way he smiled at her. “She owns a flower shop.”

“What does she think of all this? You following your dreams?”

Amber thought of the blocked contact in her phone. “She thinks it’s stupid, but hey.” She smiled. “I’m getting there even though she said I wouldn’t.”

“Yeah. Your Love Raffle episode was a hit.”

“Ourepisode, and I wasn’t even talking about that.” Amber sat up again and grabbed a pillow to hold in her lap. “I actually landed a role.”

Levi sat straighter too. “What role? When do you start shooting?”

“All About Love. I start shooting on Friday, actually. As in today. I’m so excited!”

“Amber, that’s amazing!” Levi reached to hug her.

Amber melted in his embrace. His strong hands rubbed against her back and his defined muscles pressed to her small frame. He wasn’t rock solid under his clothes. That made him the perfect hugging partner.

Levi suddenly let go and held his arms up. “Oh, sorry. Too forward?”

“No, you were perfect,” Amber said with a giggle. She looked at her pillow. “I’m glad you’re happy for me. Even if my roles pale in comparison to yours.”

“What are you saying? We just established we had different upbringings.” Levi’s hand shook as he reached for hers on her knee.

Amber watched as he rested his warm palm against the back of hers. “I know, I know.”

She turned her hand over to hold his instead.

Levi’s pulse skyrocketed. There was this rush and thrill that he hadn’t felt in a while. “So, are you ready for your big appearance?”

Amber sat straighter. “I think I am. I’ve waited for this my whole life, so I have to be.”

Levi had never felt this overjoyed for someone.Except maybe Jenny.

“Hey, Levi?”

Levi noticed how soft she sounded. “What’s up?”

Amber removed her hand from his and folded her arms. She couldn’t allow this to turn into something if she wasn’t honest.

Levi tried to catch her eye. “Amber?”

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