Perfect Kiss (22 page)

He was an intelligent, witty man’s man who knew how to treat a woman.

This morning, she’d woken up to the smell of bacon cooking. When she’d walked into the kitchen and Levi had seen her, he’d immediately turned the burners off, stalked over to her, and proceeded to make sweet, sweet love to her on the kitchen table. After that, they’d eaten breakfast, laughing and joking, before he’d followed her into the shower and they’d gone at it like bunnies again.

Flashes of key moments of what she was mentally referring to as “Shelby and Levi’s Epic Sexathon” flipped through her brain like a slideshow. She hoped that none of the customers who came in today had mind-reading powers. If they did, they were going to be in for quite a show. Last night and this morning had been mind-blowingly, earth-shatteringly, gravity-defyingly
ah-may-zing
.

Her only regret was that, as prepared as she’d thought she was to be with Levi, once things had started heating up, she’d been too overwhelmed to do any of the things she’d fantasized doing to him for the past year and a half. She’d been so busy enjoying herself and being present while trying to commit every second to memory, that she hadn’t taken the time she’d wanted to explore every inch of Levi’s body. He’d definitely been the one driving the boat, and she’d been more than happy to go along for the wildest, hottest, sexiest ride of her life.

She did hope that they’d be boarding the S.S. Sexcapades again soon because, although she’d been an active passenger on their maiden voyage, she planned on taking the wheel with both hands if they sailed again.

After double-checking the opening to-do list, she skipped (yes, skipped!) across the dining room to unlock the door and flip on the neon
Open
sign. It was still ten minutes before they were scheduled to open, but Shelby had so much energy that she figured she might as well get the day started. If she had to describe her mood in one word, it would probably be giddy. Yep, she was downright g-i-d-d-y.

The smile that had been in place since she’d left Levi—who was finishing up some work on the cabin—was still plastered on her face. She suspected that, for the foreseeable future, she was going to be rocking a perma-grin, and that was A-OK with her.

While singing Katy Perry’s “Firework,” she clicked the deadbolt up to unlock it and flipped the switch to the Bud Light sign that hung above the door. As she was turning to head back behind the bar and wait for customers to start rolling in, the door opened. The bright rays of sunlight now streamed into the dim bar, catching her by surprise. She jumped and spun around, startled.

A tall figure stepped inside, and Shelby lifted one hand to block the sun as she squinted to try to see who it was, while the other pulled her earphones out of her ears.

“Hi,” she said, feeling a little off-balance as she placed her hand over her chest and welcomed the customer. “Sorry. I wasn’t expecting anyone to be waiting outside. Come on in.”

As the door shut behind the man, his face became clear. He looked to be in his late fifties, early sixties. Tall. Well built. Good-looking. There was something familiar about him, but Shelby was almost positive he wasn’t a local.

With a wink, the man asked, “Hey there, young lady. Did I interrupt your concert?” in a charming way that made Shelby think, in his heyday, he’d probably done
really
well with the ladies.

She could feel herself blushing, but she wasn’t sure why, other than the fact that she knew how badly she sang and it was embarrassing to think a customer had overheard her. Shaking her head, she rounded the bar as the man took a seat on a stool right in the middle.

“Nope, not at all. What can I get for you?”

“Well now, I think that a pop would hit the spot.”

“Coke all right?” Shelby asked, already grabbing a tumbler.

He nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

After setting his drink down, Shelby tilted her head. “
Pop
… So, are you from the mid-west?”

Her college roommate, Stephanie, was from a small town in Illinois and she’d called soda “pop.” She’d told her that’s what they called it in the mid-west.

“Originally, yes. But I’ve moved around so much that I don’t think they’d claim me anymore. I’m Charlie, by the way.”

“Shelby.” She reached her hand out. “Nice to meet you, Charlie.”

“The pleasure’s all mine, young lady,” Charlie drawled as he dipped his head like she’d seen cowboys do in movies.

She couldn’t put her finger on what his accent was. There was a hint of Southern, but there was definitely something else mixed in there as well. Whatever it was, it was working for him. Between his indistinct accent and deep voice, she could listen to him talk all day.

“So, Charlie, what brings you to Hope Falls? Business? Vacation? Just passing through?” she asked as she wiped the glasses she’d brought in from the kitchen before stacking them beneath the bar.

“None of the above.” Charlie took a sip of his soda before answering, his expression growing serious for the first time since he’d walked in. “I’m here to see my son.”

Shelby smiled. “Oh, how nice. I’ve only been in town a little over a month, but it’s a small community. What’s his name? I might know him.”

Before Charlie had a chance to answer, Levi stepped through the swinging door that led to the kitchen. His head was down as he brushed sawdust off his shirt while saying, “Just let me grab a quick shower and I’ll be right down.”

He’d stayed behind to finish up the flooring project he’d been working on upstairs while she opened up the bar. He was sweaty, his biceps were bulging against the sleeve of his cotton shirt, and there were veins popping out on his forearms. He looked like the epitome of the alpha male.

She was so sidetracked by the overwhelming sex-appeal radiating off him that it took her a few beats before her eyes made their way up to his face. When they finally did, her chest clenched. He was standing stock-still. All the color had drained from his face, and he looked like he’d seen a ghost.

“Young lady, it looks like you were right. You do know my son.” Charlie stood from his stool.

Shelby would have been able to tell by the tension that instantly filled the room from wall to wall and floor to ceiling that this was not a happy family reunion, even if Levi hadn’t told her about his father.

“What do you want?” Levi asked, his voice deadly calm.

Seeing the look in his eyes made Shelby feel like she was going to throw up. It was so cold. So detached. So angry.

Charlie lifted his arms in a show of surrender. “I’m just here to talk.”

“I have nothing to say to you. Get out.”

Charlie moved towards Levi, who took a step back. “Levi, son—”

“Do
not
call me that.” Levi’s tone was menacing as he stared at his father.

Panic started to rise up in Shelby. She needed to leave. She had to get out of there. Now.

“I’m going to let you guys talk,” she said, her voice shaky. Her legs felt like jelly as she took two steps to the end of the bar.

Levi moved so he was blocking her path, and the panic welled even further. “No. Don’t go.”

When she looked into his eyes, she saw the pleading look in them.

“Please,” he spoke softly.

Shelby nodded. She still felt the knot in her throat, but she didn’t want to abandon Levi, so she realized she had to calm her nerves down.

This had nothing to do with her. She could be here for him. He’d done so much for her, so this was the least she could do.

*

With Shelby by his side, Levi drew the strength to, once again, face his sperm donor.

Levi had no idea how it was possible that he felt anger, rage, fear, and numb all at the same time. But he did. He felt all of those things, and the only thing that was keeping him together was Shelby. She took the edge off the fury that was ripping through him.

If she left, he had no idea what he would do.

As calmly as possible, he stared into the eyes of the man he hadn’t seen since his mother had died, the man who’d taken off when he’d realized that all she’d left behind were his two twelve-year-old sons who’d needed raising.

“I don’t know what you’re doing here, what scam you’re pulling, but whatever it is, I want no part of it. You wasted your time coming here. Just go.” Levi’s voice was steadier than he felt. He had so much more he wanted to say, but there was no point.

“I came here to see you.” Charlie explained.

“You saw me. Now leave.”

“I wanted to talk to you—”

“I don’t give a shit. You need to leave. Now.” Levi interrupted before Charlie could finish.

“Look,” his father said, sitting back down on the stool. “I was just getting to know Shelby here, and I thought may—”

“Don’t you ever say her fucking name again! Get. Out.” Levi’s voice rose as his vision tunneled to a pinpoint. Everything else was out of focus, and the only thing he could see was his father’s face, which might as well have had a target on it.

Charlie said in a placating tone, “Listen, I see you’re upset. Why don’t you go take your shower? The young lady and I will chat while I wait for you. I just want a few minutes of your time.”

As much as Levi wanted to beat the shit out of the smug bastard who thought he had a right to show up here and get welcomed with open arms, he knew that that wouldn’t solve anything. “I’m giving you one more chance to leave my property, and then, if you don’t, I’m calling the police. Get. Out.”

Charlie stood and, in what Levi could only assume he thought was a parental tone, said, “Levi, I’m still your father.”

“My
father
?!” Barking out a forced laugh, Levi took a step forward with his hands fisted at his sides. “You’ve never been a father to me, or Logan, or Lucas. I would say that you’re just the asshole who knocked up our mother, but that wouldn’t be giving you the credit you deserve. You’re the asshole that knocked up my mom, showed up whenever you felt like it, and stole everything we had before taking off again, leaving us broke and Mom in deep depressions to the point where she’d lose her job! She wouldn’t get out of bed for days, weeks, even months. And you know who picked up the pieces every time? Me! You know who raised your sons? Me!”

Levi took another step towards the man whose name was on his birth certificate under father. Charlie was as tall if not a hair taller than Levi, so when he stepped to him, they were eye to eye as his voice grew louder with each statement he made.

“You’re not a father. You’re a criminal. You’re a con artist. You’re a loser. You’re a piece of shit. You’re not welcome here. Get. Out.”

“I’m glad you got that out of your system. I know you’ve probably been holding that in for a long time.” Charlie put his arm around Levi. “Now, can we sit do—”

Pushing his father’s arm off his shoulders, Levi felt his anger boiling to the tipping point. Clenching his jaw, he reached across the bar top to grab the phone to call the police before this got out of hand. When he picked it up, his father tried to take it from him.

“Oh, come on. There’s no need for tha—”

That’s all he got out before Levi landed a clean punch. Everything after that happened so fast, it was a blur. His dad fell backwards, knocking over several stools before landing on his ass. Stepping over him, Levi grabbed him by his arm and hauled him up.

Turning his father around, he kept his arm pinned behind his back, as he not-so-gently escorted him out of the bar. On some level, he was aware that the man was speaking, but it was only white noise to Levi. All he could hear was a loud buzzing in his ears.

Without saying anything, Levi opened the door and shoved his father out on the sidewalk with so much force that Charlie stumbled and fell to his knees. When he did, Levi noticed that there was blood running from his nose and dripping onto the gravel in the parking lot. Instead of feeling any remorse, Levi only thought that this was just one more of his father’s messes he’d have to clean up.

After slamming the door, Levi clicked the deadbolt into place and switched the
Open
sign off. There was no way he was going to stay open for lunch today. Levi turned around, adrenaline pumping through him. His head dropped down as he leaned against the door and tried to catch his breath. His hand was already swelling.

Knowing that he needed to ice his knuckles, he pushed off the wood that had been holding him up and started towards the kitchen. That’s when he saw the overturned chairs and stools, the evidence of the altercation he’d just had. It had all happened so fast that it didn’t seem real. In fact, it had felt like he was outside himself, looking in. He wasn’t a violent man, but when his father had tried to take the phone out of his hand, something inside him had snapped. He guessed he’d asked Shelby to stay for nothing; he hadn’t kept it together after all.

Oh shit.

Shelby.

She’d looked terrified when he’d asked her to stay. He had only done it because he’d truly believed she was his anchor to good when facing evil. If he would have dreamed things would have gotten
that
out of hand, he never would have put her in that position.

Looking up, he saw that she wasn’t behind the bar. Jumping over the wooden stools and chairs he moved as fast as his legs could carry him. He scanned the small kitchen as he ran through it. Empty. Bursting through the back door, he saw Shelby’s back as she stepped up onto her porch, and even though he knew he’d screwed up and needed to make it better, even though he knew she couldn’t have gone far, he still felt a huge wave of relief as soon as he laid eyes on her.

“Shelby!” he called out as he continued running towards her.

She didn’t turn around, just shook her head as she opened the front door of the cabin. He was up the steps and right behind her when she stepped inside.

“Shelby,” he repeated, but again, she didn’t stop.

Without breaking her stride, she went straight to her room, and he was right behind her. But he stopped at the doorway, wanting to give her space yet needing to see her. His heart sank when she pulled her bag out of the closet.