My mouth fell open, then I laughed. What else could I do? Marina was in agreement with my body when it came to Levi. I just had to get my head in gear.
7
CHARLIE
“You didn’t,” my BFF, Keely, shouted into my ear through the phone.
“I did.”
“OMG.”
“I know. I wanted to die,” I admitted, telling her all about how Levi had overheard me getting off in the shower. “I mean, he knows.” It felt good to have something fun to tell her. I’d been keeping in my problems with Dax because it was too ugly to drag into the light.
I stood up from my bed, unbuttoned my jeans. I was so full from the cinnamon roll, my pants were too tight. If I ate like that every morning I was here, nothing was going to fit.
I’d sent Keely a nine-one-one text first thing this morning, telling her I needed to talk. After tossing and turning all night, I’d texted and said to bring wine and lots of it to our phone call, even at five-thirty in the morning.
Along with Mr. Claymore and one of the trainers, she’d been one of the notification pings on my phone earlier. Said she’d get back to me after she dropped the kids at camp. Which was five minutes ago. Now she wanted to know everything.
“He outright said that he heard?”
“Pretty much but through the door. I didn’t have to see his face. Thankfully, he went to his room, and I’d been able to sneak back to mine,” I said, dying a little all over again of mortification. “I got dressed to leave, Keel. I had my suitcase on the bed.”
“Ah, honey, it’s not that bad. I mean, you’ve got this amazing job. So a guy overheard you flicking the bean. I’m sure he rubs one out a time or two. Everyone does it.”
Flicking the bean?
“Yeah, but not when they overhear you calling his name.”
She gasped. “You called out his name as you came? He’s that gorgeous?”
“He’s… hot. Lumberjack. Viking. Caveman. Cowboy. All rolled into one Wrangler-wearing package.”
She squealed, and I had to move my phone from my ear.
“I was going to leave. Grab my bags… and Seraphina and leave. Just roll out in the middle of the night and never come back.”
“You wouldn’t do that.”
Sighing, I plopped back down on the bed. “Of course not. I’d lose my job. Pops wouldn’t have his medicine. We’d be behind on our bills. Seraphina wouldn’t have the perfect little foal next spring. But believe me, I considered all of that, so I didn’t have to face Levi.”
“Levi. Total cowboy name.”
She’d been married to her husband, Brad, for eleven years. An accountant with a nine-to-five job and a 401k. It seemed she was living vicariously through me, which was ridiculous because I’d done nothing to be jealous of. Not once.
“He heard,” I repeated. “Knew I moaned his name. Offered to help.”
“He what?” she screeched.
“Through the door, he said he would help. I think I’m going to die of shame.”
“You will do no such thing, Charlotte Banbrook. If he heard, then he was right at the door. Listening. He’s just as pervy as you. He wants you.”
“He doesn’t want me,” I protested, even though I knew it wasn’t true. I’d seen the way he looked at me, like a starved man at a feast.
“Didn’t you say he offered to help? To get you off.”
I smoothed out the blanket on the bed, even though it was military precise, even being made at the early hour of five-thirty.
“Yes, but—”
“No buts. Well, his butt. Maybe yours. Maybe he’ll spank your butt for being naughty.”
I laughed. “He won’t spank my butt.”
“I bet he will.”
A sigh escaped. “He won’t. He might be interested, but he doesn’t know.”
“Of course, he doesn’t. It’s not like you have a big scarlet V on your shirt. You’re a virgin, hon, not a freak.”
“I’m a thirty-year-old virgin. A guy like Levi would run away screaming if he knew.”
“So you’ve been burned in the past. That doesn’t mean this guy’s an asshole like other guys you went out with.”
I grabbed the pillow, hugged it to my chest.
“How long are you there?” she wondered.
“Two to three weeks. Depending on Seraphina.”
“Fine. While she’s getting it on with a stallion who’s probably hung like a horse.” She laughed at her own horrible joke. I stayed silent. “You should get it on with a stallion of your own. I wonder if he’s hung like a horse, too.”
“Keely!” I cried, rolling my eyes. “I have no idea how big his dick is.” I flushed hotly and dropped my voice. “He does have huge hands though.”
She laughed. “Go for it. Have a fling. Get that V-card punched with a sexy cowboy.”
I didn’t tell her he’s also the sheriff. It didn’t make any difference to her. Hot sheriff, hot cowboy...