“You chose to stay,” was his only response. “It was your choice to stay here, so don’t blame me, or any of us for your choices.”
“I don’t. I blame myself and I blame Daddy.” I shook my head in disgust. “I believed him when he told me that I would get to run the paper someday, that I would be able to choose the stories I wrote and published in the paper. Hell, that I was at least capable of choosing the layout.” It had taken me far too long to realize the truth, and that was on me. “I believed that he was sincere in his promises, and yeah I was scared too, so it took me a little longer than it should have to leave.”
“What about Stevie?” He asked in that smug tone that made me want to smack his face. “Or did you forget about her. Ouch, what was that for?”
Pippa glared up at him. “You’re out of line and being an ass.”
“Unlike you, my daughter is actually proud of me for chasing my dreams. So happy she’s volunteered to speed the week with her father. She does have another fully functional adult parent you know.” I felt angry that no one was supportive of me, and my shoulders sank with disappointment. “I’m not asking for your permission or your blessing, I’m just telling you that it’s happening. The same way you three told me you were leaving Carson Creek and heading to Nashville to pursue your dreams. The only difference is that I was happy and supportive, sent you idiots cash when you needed it. I guess it was too much to expect the same in return.”
“Does Daddy know?”
I turned my back on my brother and swiped at a furious tear as it slid down my cheek. “Leave Ryan, now.”
“I’ll take that as a no.”
“Take it however you want, just take it out of my house.”
“This is ridiculous Lacey. You’re a mom and you’re in your forties, what the hell is this?”
“Oh holy hell man, just get out,” Pippa growled and gave him a shove. “Get out and don’t come back until you can give your sister what she gave you guys when you were just starting out.”
“But Pip,” he began just as she gave him one final shove and slammed the door in his face.
She turned to me with a wide smile and her hands on her invisible hips. “You’re going to Venezuela. How in the hell did this happen?”
“Levi,” I admitted and told her the whole story. “He promised Michelle he’d be there for her and then passed the story on to me.”
Pippa sighed. “So, this is a thing, you and Levi?”
I nodded. “It’s been a secret thing for a while, but it doesn’t have to be for much longer. He’s a good man.”
“I’m happy for you Lacey, but let’s get down to the really important stuff. How’s the sex?”
“So good I’m convinced I’ve been doing it wrong my whole life.” My face fell into my hands as I giggled. “So good.”
“Well Amen to that, sister.” She held up a hand and I gave her a high-five in return. “You’ll have to tell me everything when you get back from Venezuela. In one piece.”
Yeah, that.
Chapter 22
Levi
“Lacey.”
Her name came out on a rough and ragged exhale the moment the door opened and my eyes took her in. She’s dressed in cutoff jean shorts and a white t-shirt that molded over every single one of her curves, making my mouth water.
“Levi,” she sighed, lips turned up into a seductive smile. With a glint in her eyes, one arm snaked out and grabbed a handful of my shirt before I was yanked inside. Lacey’s smile was all I could see for a hot minute and then her lips crashed down on mine, a ferocious heat washed over me as all of those delectable curves pressed against the hardness of my body.
My hands went to her hips and gripped her tight before sliding down to cup her beautiful ass, to pull her closer to where I needed her most in that moment. Lacey moaned against me and jumped up to wrap her legs around my waist, bringing me right up against the fire between her thighs. “Lacey, babe.”
She giggled when I swung our bodies around so she was pressed up against the door. “Now Levi, I need you now.”
Our clothes came off in a frenzied rush, tossed in every direction in our eagerness, our need to get as close as possible as quickly as possible. The tiny shorts were so damn sexy I almost didn’t want to peel them off her, but her legs came down so I could do just that. Her breaths came out short and jagged as I dragged the denim down her silky-smooth thighs as she stepped out of them. I inhaled her scent through the silky green fabric that covered her core. “Lacey,” I growled a moment before I pressed a hot open mouth kiss right on top of the fabric.