I can’t say I’m surprised. I think if my situation were any different than what it is, I’d be confused and nervous too. But it’s not, and I don’t necessarily have time on my side to mess with those types of feelings. “I’m not sure what to do with that, Mase.”
“I’m not sure there is anything you can do,” he replies, his eyes apologetic. “I think it’s just something that will take time. He needs to get used to you being here, but I think seeing you every day will help with that. Personally, I’m thrilled you’re back.”
Mason and I always did have fun working together, but it was more of a brother-sister type of friendship. When Levi gave me the ultimatum, Mason sided with me, which did not sit well with Big Brother . . . at all. “He’ll come around, Lane, just give him time.”
There’s that word again. Time. If only I knew how much time I have left.
I give him a tight smile and walk toward the door. “Where are you going?” I hear from behind me.
“To talk to Levi.” I push the door open and pause to look back at Mason, who has a huge grin on his face. “Aren’t you going to try and stop me?”
He shakes he head. “Hell no.” And that’s all I need. The door swings shut behind me, muting Mason’s laughter. I have absolutely no idea what I’m going to say to Levi, but I feel like I have to say something. I don’t want him to be uncomfortable, and if my being here is making it that hard on him, then I’ll leave. I stop in front of Levi’s office door and take a deep breath, running a shaky hand over my ponytail.
Knocking twice, I push open the door, and the scene in front me stops me cold. My breath hitches and my heart stops. Levi is standing in the middle of his office, his arms wrapped tightly around a woman whose face I cannot see. His gaze meets mine and he stills, his beautiful blue eyes as wide as they can be.
I look around the room, my eyes landing on anything they can possibly find except for the painful sight in front of me. I swallow hard, pushing back the thickness building in my throat. “I—I’m sorry. I should have . . . I shouldn’t have just . . .” My words come out broken and when I look at them, Levi drops his arms from the woman he was holding.
She turns around and watches me carefully for a few seconds before speaking. “Hi,” she says, lifting her hand in a tiny wave and then looking at Levi, whose eyes are locked on mine. I can’t tell what he’s thinking, but he looks shocked and maybe a little apologetic. My eyes drift to the beautiful woman at his side. Her hair is long with thick waves. She has stunning green eyes and a dimple that probably gets her whatever she wants. And based on what I saw when I walked in here, what she wants is Levi.
“I’m sorry,” I mumble. Embarrassed, I turn around and all but sprint back toward the kitchen, ignoring Levi as he yells my name. I walk faster, hoping he’ll leave me alone, but he doesn’t. He yells my name a second time, only this time I can also hear his feet hitting the floor behind me.
A large hand locks on my elbow, and he spins me around to face him. His brows are dipped low and his chest is heaving. I peek over his shoulder to find that the woman from his office is leaning casually against the wall. Great. A freaking audience. She must sense my apprehension because she pushes away from the wall and walks up to us.
“I’m going to head out.” She places a kiss on Levi’s cheek and he nods, not taking his eyes off of me. “It was a pleasure meeting you.” Her voice is laced with kindness and there isn’t a touch of sarcasm. She smiles softly before walking away.
Levi lets go of my arm. He’s looking at me like he can’t figure out what to do with me, and oddly enough, I feel the same way. I don’t know what to do with me either. I’ve never been good about thinking before I speak, so it’s no surprise when words start falling from my mouth. “You said you weren’t with anyone.”
His mouth ticks up in a smirk. “No. I said I wasn’t married. I never said I didn’t have a girlfriend.”
Tears burn at the back of my eyes and I blink several times, willing them to stay away. “Fuck,” he growls, running a hand down his face. He looks up at the ceiling for a few seconds and then his eyes find mine again. “But I don’t have a girlfriend.”
Air rushes from my lungs and my shoulders instantly relax. I can’t even explain how relieved I am to hear that. “I shouldn’t have made you think that we are together. Her name is Harley and we’re close friends.” He looks down for several beats and mumbles, “She’s engaged.”
“It’s okay, I shouldn’t have barged in on you like that. It wasn’t fair of me.” Levi nods, his eyes still trained on the ground. For the first time, I notice how exhausted he looks. His shirt is untucked and a little wrinkly, which isn’t at all the way I remember him from the old days. “Are you sure you’re okay with me working here?” I blurt.
His head snaps up. “Why would you ask that?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug my shoulders. “You’ve avoided me the past couple of days and Mason—”
“Mason needs to mind his own damn business,” he snaps. “And I haven’t been avoiding you. I’ve been . . . I’ve been busy.” I purse my lips and cock a brow. Mmm-hmm, and I’m the freaking queen of England.
Levi steps toward me and every hair on my body stands at attention at his close proximity. “I’m glad you’re here, Laney.” A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth and when he returns it, I know he’s being sincere. “One day at a time, okay?”
I nod, repeating his words, “One day at a time.”
One day at a time.
It keeps playing over and over in my head as I spend the next several hours cooking. How many days is it going to take? Will I ever get the chance to make it right? It’s a darn good thing that I’m at work tonight, because as long as I’m cooking, I’m able to keep my mind from wandering too far down that beaten path.
With a gentle touch that I’ve mastered over the last several years, I place the veal in the center of the plate, top it with a sweet marsala wine sauce and hand the plate to one of the other chefs, who adds the baked potato and mixed vegetables.
“That’s it for you, Laney.” Mark flashes me a sweet smile. “You’re good to go.”
“I can stay if you need me.”
“Nope,” he replies. “You’ve worked your tail off this week. Enjoy your day off tomorrow.”
Enjoy my day off . . . that’s not gonna happen.