Page 84 of The Rogue

I’m in a plain white t-shirt and sleep shorts as I head downstairs. Levi put Jackson to bed an hour ago and just before he went up with him, he told me to meet him down here later.

He’s in the kitchen pouring two glasses of red wine. His face unreadable. And maybe a little tired.

“Long day?” I ask, forcing a grin to mask my nerves.

He sets the bottle down and comes around the counter to me. His hands stretch as he grabs hold of my waist. “You have no idea.”

“Indie.”

“Whiskey.”

“Last night was…amazing,” I say honestly, my face twisting anxiously.

“Don’t say but.”

“But I can’t stay in your room again.”

His scowl says he agrees, but when his eyes flick to mine, his words are completely different. “Why not?”

My lashes fall as I consider how to answer. “It wouldn’t be right.”

“Neither is sleeping with your kid’s nanny.” He frames my face with his hands. “Tessa, look at me.”

He’s so goddamn gorgeous.

And right now, he’s looking back at me like he’s thinking the same thing about me. “I’d never make you do anything you don’t want to do. But I’m not the type to ask a woman to leave after having her in my bed.”

“You wouldn’t be—”

“And Ilikedholding you all night. I plan on doing it again tonight if it’s alright with you.”

Warmth spreads through me and my core pulses. I glance at the wine. “Am I off the clock?”

He turns, reaching for the glasses, and that’s when I notice the spread. Crackers, cheese, grapes, a honeycomb, and other delicious gourmet assortments on a massive board.

“Are you wining and dining me after we just had dinner?”

“It was two hours ago and we’ll be here for a while.” He wraps an arm around me.

“Hmm…what would we talk about?”

His face sobers. “Anything you want.”

The back door knocks, and I sprint back like a firefly.

Levi checks the clock on the kitchen wall. “The fuck?” Running a hand through his hair, he stalks to the door and pulls it open, allowing in two very chatty girls and their grumpy men behind them.

Chase, Pepper, Noah, and Charlie pile into the house rowdy and intrusive despite their whispering.

Levi growls a reminder that he’s got a kid sleeping upstairs before asking them to get what they came for and get out.

“What’s up your ass?” Chase mutters, opening up the fridge and reaching for a beer.

“Can I get anyone else anything?” I offer, feeling flustered and caught off guard.

“No,” Levi says flatly. “You’re off the clock and they’releaving.”

Charlie perks her little blonde head between us. “Pepper and I were coming over to steal Tess away for a bit, but then theguysthought we’d make a thing of it and just hang out here instead.”

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