Page 40 of The Love Raffle

Conner shrank away. “Okay, sorry, but you were acting pretty wild back there. I guess I got excited.” He hugged her. “This could be your average jealousy, though. You’re seeing him but he’s got to be with someone else in public. That’d make anyone angry, right?”

Amber inhaled the cologne on his chest while they embraced. “No, I don’t do the whole jealousy thing.” She drew back with arms around his waist. “I’m cool Amber, remember? Plus, I totally understand he has to do this.” She smiled.

Conner narrowed his eyes at her. He did not think this would end well.

Chapter 13

Levi twisted the bottle of wine so it faced his chair then made picture frames with his fingers. Those hand-picked roses he ordered complemented it well. His penthouse dining room was right up there in class with the finest of restaurants. That was what Levi believed. He’d set the glow of his lights to a warm gold and the rosemary-scented air freshener left him longing to snuggle close to someone.But not just anyone.

With hands clasped on the table, Levi read the circular clock hanging on the wall above his counter. He was far from skilled in culinary arts so hadn’t bothered with the hassle. Their main course for tonight was A5 Wagyu with charred eggplant and spring garlic confit, ordered straight from Providence. He’d had Oscar make the order to avoid this getting out to the public. By now, the man must have known of Levi’s antics but somehow refused to address them.

Levi didn’t know if Oscar liked him being low-key and let it be, or if he didn’t know about him and Amber, making Levi too scared to ask. Oscar’s role was keeping Levi in check. If he secretly disapproved of Levi’s decision, then reminding him through questioning might just galvanize him to shut down this undercover relationship. That was the last thing Levi wanted. They’d only had several dates so far but…Levi was having a great time. Their late-night encounters were everything. It was as if a pocket dimension enveloped them both, forming a barrier that restricted all stresses and woes from entry.

He’d loved the comfort of Amber’s tiny studio setup, but she’d requested to see his place this time. At first, Levi had been hesitant but after much pleading from Amber, he’d relented. Strict instructions had to be followed, though. No risks could be taken. Amber had agreed to remain in complete disguise on her way to and from his abode. So far, no one had caught on to their rendezvous at her house but that was due to Levi’s experience. He knew all about preventing the nosy public from knowing his whereabouts, but Amber was still new to this.As long as she follows what I said she’ll be fine.

He tapped his thumbs together at the table. The packaged steak rested on the counter beside his microwave. It was midnight and they both had work the next day, but he didn’t mind being tired before shooting if it meant spending every waking moment of the night with—

“Knock, knock, knock,” a familiar voice cooed at his door.

Levi hopped to his feet. He rushed to the door like someone had chased him and then opened up. “Why, hello there,” he said in a sultry tone.

Amber giggled and held his collar. She wore a long black coat and a black baseball cap. A little on the suspicious side but Levi would take it.

“Hi there, gorgeous—” She raised her chin to plant her lips on his, but he held up a hand.

“Hold on.” Levi stuck his head out to look for wandering residents. “Okay…and…”

Amber walked in while he was on the lookout. She put her hat on his coat rack and then slipped out of her coat. “See anyone?” she asked tiredly. The sight of Levi’s million-dollar penthouse perked her spirits. “Oh wow.”

“The coast is clear. The only thing we got to worry about is security cameras, but the guards don’t release those unless there’s an emergency.” Levi pulled back in and locked the door.He caught her twirling in his living room. The smile on her face refreshed him. “Like the place?”

Amber stopped and pulled the end of her tunic over her leggings. “Yeah.” She wore flats, but the snug feel of his high pile carpet reached the sides of her feet. “Oh, and look at this TV!” She’d never seen one so thin. She got closer and traced a finger over the top. YouTube playlists were not foreign to Amber, but the quality of Levi’s screen gave the impression she was watching YouTube in a cinema. “Dude, what?” She picked up the remote beside the TV, admiring how the design was like a mini iPad. “This is all so cool.” She tapped a button, and the home menu came up, stopping the music. “Oh, um…sorry.”

“No, no, go ahead.” Levi smiled. He jogged up to Amber with a chuckle and took the remote. “You’re like a kid in a candy store.” He’d detected this part of her personality since their first date, but it had never come out so strongly. Helovedthis side of Amber. A side she seemed to suppress.

Amber smiled coyly. “Sorry.” She eyed the neat orange couch and the glass doors to his city-view terrace. “I swear I don’t usually act like this in new settings.” She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

Levi flashed a smile. “If you said you did, I’d take you all over the worldjustso you’d let out that side a bit more.” He leaned in.

Amber’s face heated and she pushed him away playfully. “Why are you so cheesy but adorable?”

Levi’s smile dropped. “What? That wasnotcheesy.” He re-opened his playlist and put the remote back on the TV stand.

“Yes,it was.” Amber laughed at him, poking his chest. They didn’t see each other outside of secret dates but they’d gotten quite acquainted through calls and texts. She’d grown fond of Levi’s good morning messages and counted down the minutes of each day till she could head home to lie back and talk to him. Their situation was far from ideal but…they made it work.Though we haven’t really defined “us” yet.But neither of them needed toexplicitlysay it, right?

Levi had fallen in love with her teasing over time. He ruffled his hair, his eyes on Amber.

Amber saw the shift in his eyes. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. Just thinking about how infrequently we see each other,” Levi admitted.

Their silence caused the music to seem louder. It swelled while the two stood there awkwardly.

Amber had something on her lips but held it there for now. “Come on. You said we’d be having thefinestof meals tonight. I want to see it.” She clapped once and skipped to the kitchen.

Levi hadn’t meant to bring down the mood.She lifted it back up.Where had she been all his life? “Alrighty then. Hope the disaster at Providence didn’t turn you off their food.” He sauntered to the counter where the food was wrapped.

Amber placed a hand beside the plastic bag and watched him undo the knot. “Oh, this is from Providence?” She didn’t know they did takeout.

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