Page 66 of Because You Loved Me

“I was thirteen. I think Levi was only seven or eight. My parents were not happy about us sneaking out. They were more upset about that than the camcorder.”

“That makes sense. Do you still have the video you made?”

Tobias lifts his eyebrows. “You know what? I think I do. I turned all our old tapes into DVD’s a while back. It should be with all the family videos.”

“Ooh. I’d love to see some of those.” I grab the mixer and turn it on. Tobias pulls out a glass pan for baking, setting it next to me on the counter.

“You don’t want to see old family videos.” He shakes his head, but his eyes are smiling.

“I really do.”

Levi walks into the kitchen. “What are you making?”

“Coffee cake.” I spread the mixture into the glass pan.

“Sounds delicious.” Levi hooks his thumbs into his belt loops. “See you guys later.”

Tobias raises his eyebrows. “Where are you going?”

“On a date.” Levi grins.

“With who?” Tobias asks.

“Shelly Gardner. She just moved to the island. You probably don’t know her.” Levi walks toward the back door.

“Don’t stay out too late,” Tobias calls.

Levi stops, turns around and chuckles. “I’m not a teenager anymore. Do you really feel the need to give me a curfew, bro?”

Tobias shrugs. “Sorry. Habit.”

Levi grins at us. “Don’t wait up for me.” He leaves and his motorcycle fires up outside.

I shake my head at Tobias. “He’s a flirt, isn’t he?”

“Always has been. Ever since he hit thirteen. I worry about him never settling down, never finding a good job.” Tobias frowns. “Maybe I worry too much.”

I lift the coffee cake pan and walk toward the oven before realizing I can’t open the door with my hands full. “I’m sure you do. Can you get that for me?”

Tobias goes to the oven and opens the door for me. I slide in the cake, but my finger grazes the oven grate, and I jerk my hand back. “Ouch.”

He grabs my hand. “Did you burn yourself?”

“Yeah.” It’s not too bad, but he rushes me over to the sink and turns on the faucet, holding my hand under the water. He’s pressed up against my back, both arms around me, and I no longer feel the sting from the burn. I’m too aware of his body so close to mine. My heart does a crazy dance in my chest.

“Keep it under the water,” he says, which is useless because he’s holding my hand there. I want to laugh at him, but I can’t. I’m having too much trouble breathing.

I slowly move my other hand toward his, touching his skin lightly with my fingers. It feels so good, I can’t stop, and I thread my fingers through his, the cold water running over our hands.

“Kiki,” he whispers.

“Don’t say it.” I turn around and place my hands on his forearms. I don’t care that they’re wet. The heat from his skin quickly warms them. “I don’t want to ruin this,” I say quietly.

He places his hands on the counter on either side of me and stares at me, his gaze holding a question. He wants to know why I’m doing this, but I don’t have an answer, other than I can’t stop thinking about him, about the way I feel when I’m with him, and about how much I want to feel his touch again. I need to feel hisarms around me. I run my hands up his arms, and he closes his eyes.

I trace the features on his face lightly with my finger. He opens his eyes, and I can see what my touch is doing to him. I see the desire in his gaze. “Kat,” he tries again, but I put my finger on his lips. I don’t want him to talk and ruin this moment.

He turns the faucet off and puts his arms around me. His hand splays across my back, and I melt into his embrace. I put my arms around his shoulders, my fingers grazing the back of his neck. My hands move as if they have a mind of their own. I’m powerless to stop them.

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