ZAPPPPPP!!!
Chapter 17
Levi’s eyes were the lightest brightest green I’d ever seen. Little yellow flecks shimmered like gold in them. His long, dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail at the nape of his neck, curling around the collar of his shirt. He was dressed casually, in dark jeans and a button down black suit shirt that was rolled up at the sleeves, exposing his muscular forearms. The curl of a tattoo peeked out, leaving me wanting to pull his shirt up to see what it was.
But I didn’t.
Because this was business.
And I was taken.
And despite the fact that I’d not mentioned to my fiancé that I was having lunch with another man, a man he wasn’t too fond of, I was still a good girl.
That didn’t keep me from fantasizing a little, though.
I’d have to be dead to not notice how handsome and sexy Levi was. And, as Bear had so wonderfully shown me, I was far from dead.
What I was, was motivated.
More than I’d been yesterday, when I’d gone to those shops. I’d left the last one plagued with confusion and self-doubt once more. Thankfully, those feelings had passed, quickly growing into indignation and righteousness and then sweet, sweet motivation.
I’d Show Them!
That was my new motto. I’d put Just Say Yes on the back burner and had graduated to more of a ‘I can do it’ attitude. So far, so good.
I’d called Levi when I got home, full of gratitude when I heard his reassuring voice on the other end. He’d agreed to meet me for lunch the next day and here we were.
Vinnie’s Deli was near my apartment and we’d been lucky enough to grab a quiet booth in the corner.
“I’m so glad you called,” he said, leaning over and putting his hand over my mine. I shivered at his touch. Immediately, I felt guilty, but I pushed it away as fast as I could. This was business.
“Thank you for meeting with me,” I smiled. “If it’s okay, I’d like to show you my portfolio.”
“Of course!” he said, his smile lighting up his face. “I can’t wait to see them.”
“I know you must be so busy,” I said.
“I am, but I always have time to look at fresh talent,” he said.
“That’s very nice of you,” I said. “I hope you like it.”
I began unzipping my portfolio to pull out my sketch book.
“Wait, wait, Chloe,” he said, shaking his head. “We have plenty of time for that. First, I want to get to know you.”
“Me?” I said.
“Yes, tell me all about you. All I know is that you are a designer, who,” he looked at my ring, “is engaged to Bear Dalton, of all people. Surely there is more to you than that.”
“Oh,” I said, searching my mind for something else to tell him. I came up empty. “I’m from Portland…” I said, my voice trailing off.
“And?”
“And, um, I have a degree from Portland State,” I said.
“And what brings you to New York?” he asked.
“I came because—well, I was, um…”
Shit! I’d not expected these questions. I had no idea how to answer them without the answers seeming completely scandalous.
I came here because Bear forced me to?
I came here because I was following the hottest, sexiest, most fulfilling and skilled cock I’d ever come across?
How was I ever supposed to answer that?
“My mother!” I blurted out, something respectable finally popping in my head.
“Your mother?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes, my mother was moving here and she asked me to join her.”
“Oh, how nice. So the two of you must be really close?”
“Sure,” I lied, nodding and hoping the smile on my face didn’t look just like Mom’s.
“I’ve never been to Portland,” he said. “I’ve heard it’s beautiful.”
“It is,” I nodded. Suddenly, I wanted to hurry this up. I wanted to show him my designs and get back to the isolation of my apartment, where there wasn’t anybody asking questions I didn’t know how to answer.
“Where are you from?” I asked.
“Born and raised right here,” he said. “Why are you marrying Bear?”
I blinked at his question. But that was an easy one to answer.
“Because we love each other.”
“Love?” he asked. “How noble. I didn’t realize Bear was capable of love.”
“No?”
“No. He’s not the type to get pinned down, if you know what I mean.”
“I’m not planning on pinning him down in anyway,” I said, my chin rising defensively.
“That probably explains it,” he nodded.
“Explains what?” I said.
“The fact that there’s a ring on your finger. Up till now, Bear’s not been the marrying type.”
“I’ve heard,” I said, thinking of Zoe and cringing as her words ran through my mind again.
Bear Dalton will eat you alive.
“So,” Levi said, digging into his meatball sandwich, “how long have you been designing?”
I breathed a sigh of relief as I realized the interrogation about my personal life was over.
“A few years,” I said, pulling out the portfolio once more.
He took it from me, thumbing through quickly.
“These are really great,” he said.
“Thank you,” I smiled. I took a bite of my minestrone soup and watched him look through them. He seemed genuinely pleased and it thrilled me.
“Lovely stuff,” he said. “Have you shown these to anyone else?”
“I tried, yesterday. I tried going around to some shops, but I didn’t get the best reception.”
“Well, they aren’t your usual New York fare, but I think there’s something special going on here.”
“That’s so nice of you to say,” I replied. “Eventually, I’ll open my own shop, but I am just trying to build up my inventory first.”
“Your own sh
op?” he asked.
“Yes, Bear’s going to help me.”
“What does Bear know about fashion?” he asked.
“Well, nothing, but he’s helping in other ways.”
“Oh, he’s giving you the money, of course, I see. You’re getting married, of course he’s giving you the money.”
“Well, yes, but I know that this isn’t just about the money. It’s a lot of hard work, and like you said the other night, it’s who you know. That’s why I wanted to meet with you. I was hoping you could give me advice on how to get started and if I should go in a different direction.”
“I may be able to help you in another way.”
“How so?”
“Have you thought about joining up with an already established, well-known label? It’s all the rage these days for old fashion houses to take on some young, unknown up and comer and give them their own lines.”
“Well, goodness, no, I hadn’t thought of anything like that. I was thinking much smaller than that. Just a tiny store with my own creations.”
“You should dream bigger,” he said. “If you went with a bigger house, then you wouldn’t need help from your fiancé.”
I paused, taking a deep breath.
“Well, I don’t think any big house would be interested in my stuff.”
“I do.”
“That’s very nice of you to say, Levi, but I don’t—.”
“—It’s my job, Chloe,” he said, putting his hand over mine. I felt that same shiver return again and I pulled away. “I pride myself on the ability to recognize good stuff. That’s why they pay me the big bucks!”
“Well, thank you,” I said, trying not to blush.
“Tell you what. Let me take your designs to my boss at Armani.”
“What?! No, Levi, you don’t have to…” I shook my head in protest.
“Hush!” he said. “I like your stuff. It has great potential. It’s young and fresh and hip and unique, but still clean and classic at the same time. It’s everything I’m looking for, honestly.”
“Levi…” I shook my head in disbelief.
“I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t believe in you, Chloe.” His eyes peered deeply into mine and I felt a familiar stirring between my legs.