The throb at Levi’s temple pounded harder. Blood rushed behind his ears, banging like drums drowning out the sound of the party, drowning out the sound of everything except the man standing next to him. “You’re wrong.”
“You’re just blinded by a blonde who’s leading you around by your nose.” His father laughed. “Or by another body part.”
Levi’s fist clenched at his side, then he forcibly relaxed his fingers. No, he was nothing like his father.
“If she’s that good, maybe I’ll have a piece of her when you’re through.”
Levi didn’t recall exactly how what happened next happened, just that the next minute he was looming over his father, his words low and icy cold. “Stay away from Madison.”
His father laughed without any real humor. “You pick a skirt over your own flesh and blood? It’s not as if you’re planning to marry her.”
Levi hesitated just long enough that his father’s eyes widened.
“Ah, hell, son, what did you do? Knock her up?”
“Um, Madison, what’s going on between Levi and his dad?”
At Karen’s question, Madison glanced back towards where Levi and his father had been talking. Levi’s face was red and he was looming over his father in a way that didn’t look friendly.
“Maybe you should get over there,” Karen suggested.
Madison wasn’t sure. Wasn’t sure about anything. Much less whether or not she had a right to interrupt Levi and his father.
Sure, he’d kissed her in the limousine as if he’d been dying for another taste, had held her hand and stayed close to her most of the evening as if they were an item. But the reality was that they’d barely spoken for four weeks.
Four of the longest, most miserable weeks of her life because she’d had a glimpse of what she wanted, of what was missing from her life, and then she’d lost it, partially her own fault because she’d been too scared to reach out and grab hold.
Instead, she’d run and blamed Levi.
“Never mind. He’s headed over here.”
Madison met Levi’s eyes and what she saw had her taking a step back. His anger hadn’t abated one iota. Fire blazed in his dark eyes.
Without acknowledging Karen and Connor, he put his hand out to Madison. “Let’s go. Now.”
Go? Part of her balked at his high-handedness, but she didn’t argue, just placed her hand in his. She practically ran to keep up with his long strides out of the tent, down the sidewalk and to the limousine.
“Just drive,” Levi barked to the limousine driver.
Once inside, Madison fought to catch her breath.
“Are you?”
She stared at him, trying to follow the course of events. He’d argued with his father, hustled her out of the gala, and now was asking if she was? Had she missed something? “Am I what?”
He rotated his jaw back and forth. His eyes were as black as onyx, as black as a starless night. “Don’t play games with me, Madison. I need to know. Are you pregnant?”
Pregnant. Was that what he and his father had argued about? No, that couldn’t be the case. Levi wouldn’t have told his father. Especially when they didn’t know if she was pregnant or not. Was he just wanting to pick a fight with her? To have an excuse to take her home?
Hurt seared her soul. Deep hurt.
“Is that what this is about?” she accused, leaning as far away from him as her seat allowed. “You suddenly remembered, oh, yeah, I had unprotected sex with Nurse Swanson and she might be pregnant.”
Madison couldn’t keep the sarcastic edge out of her voice.
“That’s not how it is, and you know it.”
“I don’t know anything, Levi. Why don’t you fill me in?”