Page 28 of Into the Fire
LEVI:Drive safe. No falling asleep at the wheel. I don't want to have to come drag you out of the ditch.
She snorted and texted back while brushing her teeth.
EMERY:Appreciate the concern. Still recovering from last night’s attack on my self-control.
LEVI:Should I apologize or take that as a win?
EMERY:Definitely a win. But I’m exhausted, and it’s your fault.
LEVI:I'm sure you look great, exhaustedand all. I’ll have your coffee poured and waiting.
Her toothbrush almost fell out of her mouth. That was sweet—what happened to the cranky cowboy? She wondered as she sent back a single eye-roll emoji and tossed her phone on the bed before she could become even less functional.
The drive over was quiet, a sleepy, warm morning that contrasted with the buzz of nerves bouncing under her skin.
By the time she pulled into Levi’s gravel driveway, her stomach had tied itself into a knot, with her overthinking at an all-time high. What if it were awkward now? What if the kiss had been a one-time thing? What if he regretted it?
She barely had time to step out of the car before the front door opened.
Levi leaned against the frame, sipping his coffee like he wasn’t the sole reason she only got two hours of sleep and spent half of the morning debating which hoodie said casual and collected best.
“You look like you slept like crap.” his tonewas entirely too smug.
She raised an eyebrow. “Good morning to you too, sunshine.”
He smirked. “Rough night?”
“Would’ve slept fine if someone hadn’t kissed me senseless and then sent a series of flirty texts.”
“Not sorry,” he stated. “I stand by all of my actions.”
She rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the laugh that slipped out as she shoved past him still standing in the doorway, making her way to the kitchen. And just like that, the nerves eased.
He handed her the cup of coffee that he had left waiting for her on the counter. “You’re gonna need something strong to survive my kid this morning. She's already acting feral.”
She brought the mug to her lips and moaned as she took a big gulp of the black coffee. She then turned and bent into the fridge to retrieve the creamer she kept stocked in his kitchen. He whistled low, his eyes taking in the way she filled in the jeans she’d picked thismorning. “Just so you know, I slept like shit too.”
She glanced over her shoulder, trying to act unaffected but failing miserably. “You’re gonna make it real hard to pretend this is all just about babysitting.”
He grinned, wide and shameless, a good look on him. “Baby, I’ve already stopped pretending.”
But once June rounded the corner, it was almost as if he had a completely different personality.
Emery smiled gently. “Morning, Juney.”
June reached for her eagerly, and Emery stepped forward, scooping her up with ease. “You’re already sticky. That feels like a warning for the day we're going to have.”
“It was Grapes,” Levi offered, as if that explained anything.
Emery laughed and tickled June’s side. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”
When she looked at Levi again, his smile was there but restrained. Guarded. The same mouth that had kissed her breathless last night and had been nothing but flirty ever since was now held tight withcaution.
He didn’t touch her. Didn’t even brush against her when she handed June off to sit in his lap while she went back to the counter to prep her school lunch.
It wasn’t cold. But it wasn’t… last night.
“Hey, June—run up and pick out your clothes for school,” Levi said as he scooted her off his lap and pointed her in the direction of the stairs.
