Page 13 of Get Lost with You
Instead, Levi leaned against the side of her car, seemingly perfectly at ease. “I think you’re wrong, Jilly.”
The playful way he said her name made her want to smile and shove him at the same time. She rounded the hood of her car, firming her shoulders so she didn’t melt into a puddle of lust.
The past was the past. “Then we aren’t remembering things the same way.”
Levi turned and, because of his height, leaned casually with his arms folded on the roof of her vehicle, tapping his fingers while watching her from across it.
“Maybe not. I’m glad your dad got your car back. You deserve good things. Plus, this car is like happiness on wheels, so it suits you.”
She didn’t know what to do with his kindness, his sweet smile, and the way he held her gaze.
“Do you want a ride somewhere?”
His smile widened, reminding her of the boy he’d once been. The line between then and now would be tricky to stay on the right side of. He was just starting his life over. She was just getting hers on the right track.Stay in your lane, Jilly.
He looked down at his legs then back up. “I guess my run is over for today. I need to talk to Pete. You headed near there?”
It was Smile. Nowhere was truly far from anywhere.
She nodded, fidgeting with her keys. “Passing it. Indirectly, at least.” Since it was on Middle Street.
They both seat-belted, him after he moved the seat back to stretch out his legs. It was silly to feel nervous with him in her car. They were adults. But she’d dreamed of driving around Smile in her yellow bug with Levi riding shotgun, his hand on her thigh while music blasted and they stole kisses at stoplights.
“You’ve got a sweet smile on your face,” he said softly.
Heat spread over her body like it was being tattooed into her skin one cell at a time.
Keeping her eyes on the road, she took a small leap. Not like both of them hadn’t been fully aware of her feelings. Maybe acknowledging them as a thing of the past, she’d settle herself on firm ground right now. “I was thinking about how my sixteen-year-old self used to imagine driving in my car with you.”
She felt him angle his body, giving her his attention. Jilly kept hers on the road. Safer for everyone.
“I’d be curious to know what else sixteen-year-old Jilly imagined.”
Oh, good lord. So much for that theory.Fortunately, Smile was small, and she turned into the school parking lot.
“Easier to park here than behind Pete’s. You good to get there from here?” It was less than a ten-minute walk. Her brain and body weren’t communicating so she was out of the car before he answered. With his long legs, he easily met her at the front of the bug.
Levi put a hand on her arm, stilling everything about her except her pulse, which did a little tap dance. “I wasn’t trying to embarrass you again, or scare you off.”
Lifting her gaze, she saw the gentleness in his and it settled her heart rate. “I know… I’m… Okay, let’s just lay the cards face-up. I liked you back then, I obviously thought of kissing you, I tried, I broke your face, you moved away. The mortification score is Jilly a thousand, Levi one.” She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, realizing she’d just added plus one to her score.
His whole body shook with his laughter, and she felt it because his hand lingered on her arm. She opened her eyes, stared at him.
“I don’t even know which part of that to address first,” he said in between laughs.
“I’m glad you find this so amusing,” she said, not angry but wishing again that she had the magic potion for chilling the hell out when he was within touching distance. If she wasn’t careful, she’d forget her own hard-learned, self-imposed rules about keeping an emotional distance from any man. Even the one she’d wanted forever. Truthfully, no one she’d met in the years since her divorce had made that difficult.
Levi leaned his butt against the rounded hood of her car in a move so effortless and casual a gust of longing struck her right between the ribs. Whether it was for him or the way he felt so at ease in every situation, she wasn’t sure.
His hand slipped from her arm down to her fingers in a barely there grasp she felt everywhere. How could something feel exhilarating and new while also feeling familiar and sweet? With very little nudging, she moved closer to him, his legs almost on either side of her hips. She’d imagined this as well, long ago. The logical part of her brain—themom,sister, professional, andadult—knew this was not the time or place. But she’d like to meet the woman who could resist Levi Bright looking at her like she was all he could see.
“I don’t think it’s funny that you’re struggling with any of this. But I do think our memories are slightly different. First of all, you didn’t break my face.” He pointed to his chin.
Jilly leaned forward, right into the scent of his skin. Her lips pursed as his head tipped back. “You have a scar.” It wasn’t prominent; just a pale faded line. But still. She’d put it there. Her fingers itched to trace over it. To touch him.
He dropped his chin, meeting her gaze. “It makes me smile every time I think of it.”
“You’re a strange man,” she said.
