Page 53 of They Break Beauty

“Honestly, yeah. What’s going on, brother?”

“Same question,” Levi said, glaring back at him.

“Just working and chilling every few minutes here with her to keep her company.”

“And how did she come to be here, hmm?”

Colton rolled his eyes. “Obviously you already know. Read my texts again.”

“Ding ding. Right on the money, cupcake.”

“Then you’ll know I asked her down here to talk about finishing the duet. Something that you’ve made a hell of a lot harder with what you’ve been up to.”

“And something that wouldn’t have happened at all if it wasn’t for my suggestion.”

“Jeez, you need to chill. Big time, Hellraiser.” Colton laid his hand over Levi’s on the bar top and I watched curiously as he stroked his fingers softly. To my utter surprise, I saw some of the tension leave Levi’s shoulders, his jaw unclenching too. “Vodka neat?” Colton asked after he noticed it too.

“Yeah, all right. Thanks.”

As Colton headed off to take care of the order, I took in Levi out of the corner of my eye as I sipped at my drink.

He wasn’t wearing the usual black hoodie and cargo pants that I’d come to think of as his uniform.

Instead, he was clad in a pair of black jeans with a bold red zig-zagging design down the legs that matched with the V-neck muscle tee he had on that was clinging a little too appealingly to his basically carved-from-stone torso. I had to blink away images of seeing it in all its glory a few days ago. His curly hair was wilder than usual—crazier. There was days’ old stubble covering his jaw and he rubbed his hand roughly over it back and forth, something it appeared he was doing to try to calm down a little more.

Suddenly, his striking pale blue eyes snapped to mine.

“Colt doesn’t spend more than a few minutes talking to an outsider. Unless he’s fucking them.”

“An outsider?” I asked, ignoring that last part.

“Anyone who’s not me or Mason. Means he likes you.”

“And that’s why you’re pissed?”

“I was until I realized something as I observed the two of you while I was distracting you with some bullshit arguing.”

“You’re another level of manipulative, you know that?”

“I can be if it proves necessary. And I told you, you’re making it necessary.”

I rolled my eyes. “And what is it that you supposedly realized?”

The corner of his mouth turned up. “That him liking you is actually an asset.”

“In what sense?” I asked, worriedly. Really worriedly when I saw that creepy glint in his eye quickly follow.

“To me with you, of course.”

“What?”

“You’re comfortable with him. Rare for you with a man.”

“You don’t know—”

“Vodka neat,” Colton’s voice came as he returned and slid a glass across to Levi, who caught it easily in his palm, then snatched it up and took a couple of large gulps.

“Mmm, top shelf. Nicely done. Appreciated, cupcake.”

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