Page 27 of Into the Fire
“Yeah,” she whispered, still dazed. “Me too.” As amazing as that kiss was, and despite how badly she wanted to spend the full night doing just that, the way her brain completely shut off terrified her. Sure, she'd been with other people before, but no one had ever made her feel like that just from one single kiss.
“I should get going, my boss is a real stickler for being on time,” Emery said once she found her voice.
Levi frowned at the idea of her driving these backroads this late at night. “You could stay here tonight. I’ll even be a perfect gentleman and give you the guest room—the mattress feels like plywood, but it’s all yours.”
She smiled, touched by the concern in his voice. “I’ll be okay. It’s just fifteen minutes.”
He frowned, clearly not loving the idea. “Text me when you get home. I mean it, Emery.”
She stood, brushing invisible crumbs off her jeans and trying to ignore the warmth still lingering on her lips. “Yes, Dad,” she teased with a smirk, hoping to lighten the thick pull between them.
But when she looked back up, Levi was still watching her quietly, his expression unreadable in a way that made it impossible to pretend the kiss hadn’t changed something.
“I just—” he started, then exhaled sharply and ran his hand down his face. “I just want to know you got home safe.”
Her heart stuttered. That wasn’t casual. Thatdidn't feel temporary.
“I will,” she promised softly. Without giving herself time to overthink it, she stepped down from the porch and headed for her car, gravel crunching beneath her feet.
She didn’t dare look back. If she did, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to leave.
Levi stayed on the porch, hands slipped into his pockets, watching until her taillights disappeared down the long, dark driveway. Even then, he didn’t move. Not until his phone buzzed in his pocket.
EMERY:Home safe. Still thinking of you… I’m not sure I’ll get much sleep. Goodnight, trouble.
A low smile curved on his lips as he stared at the screen.
LEVI:You callin’ me trouble now? That’s bold.
EMERY:If the boot fits…
LEVI:Only if you’re around to catch me causing trouble.
She bit her lip, grinning at her phone like a teenager. This was dangerous. And addictive.
EMERY:Sleep, Levi.
LEVI:Dream of me, Em.
She stared at it for a long moment, heart pounding, pulse fluttering in places that hadn’t felt alive in a long time. Then she turned out the light, still smiling in the dark.
Yeah… she was in trouble.
And she couldn’t wait for more.
10
Emery groaned as the alarm blared far too cheerfully from her nightstand. 5:45 a.m. Rude.
She rolled over and slapped her phone until it shut up, then buried her face in the pillow for a moment, sighing. She hadn't slept—not really. Her brain had decided to play a highlight reel of every second of last night's kiss on repeat, and every flirty text that followed.
Stupid, perfect mouth. Stupid Levi and his stupid confident charm.
She dragged herself out of bed and shuffled to the bathroom, muttering to herself as she squinted inthe mirror. Her hair looked like it had been in a wind tunnel. Her eyes were puffy. And despite all that… she smiled. Like an idiot.
A completely smitten idiot.
She pulled her hair into a loose braid, wanting something different than her go-to messy bun. Next, she gave a quick brush of bronzer over her cheekbones and a swipe of a clear lip gloss right as her phone buzzed.
