Page 21 of Kringle and the Kraken

“Uh-huh. Kris’s nephew Kyle even drew tattoos on his arms just like mine with a purple marker.” There was pride in Levi’s voice that made my heart melt for the man a little more.

Kori laughed. “Good thing he doesn’t know what thosetattoosmean.”

Levi’s expression faltered, and Kori slapped a hand over his mouth. “Uh, I mean, that’s really cute, man.”

My gaze darted between Kori and Levi as they both gave each other significant looks I couldn’t decipher. Once again, I got the feeling I was missing something that was supposed to be right in front of me, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.

Levi cleared his throat. “It really was.”

Back in the car, Levi was quiet, and by the time we pulled into the parking lot near the barn, I couldn’t stand it.

“Are you really going to make me ask?”

Levi’s head swung my way, his eyes stormy. “Ask what?”

“What do your tattoos mean?”

He closed his eyes, and for a heartbeat, I thought Levi wasn’t going to respond. Maybe it wasn’t really any of my business. But then he sighed.

“I promise it’s nothing bad. I don’t want to get into it right now, so can that be enough for the time being?”

“I guess.”

He reached over and took my hand. “I’m not trying to keep secrets from you, Kris. I swear. It’s just there are things aboutme that are…complicated, and I haven’t figured out how to share those parts of myself with anyone else yet. I haven’t ever had to.”

“But you shared with Kori?” I couldn’t keep the slight edge of jealousy out of my tone.

Levi squeezed my fingers where he held them between us. “I didn’t. Members of Kori’s, uh, family know members of my family.”

“So he already knew what you can’t tell me?”

“Exactly. I swear I’m going to tell you everything. I have to, but I just can’t do it right this second. Okay?”

“I guess it’s going to have to be.” I wanted to be annoyed, but a small voice in the back of my mind reminded me that this was only our second date. Maybe I’d jumped into the deep end bringing Levi to meet my family. Maybe this was moving too far too fast. We barely knew each other, even if it felt like Levi had been missing from my life forever. I needed to get my head out of my ass. Levi didn’t owe me his life story on day one, just like I didn’t owe him mine. “I’m sorry. I’m being a dick.”

Levi’s rich melodic laugh echoed around the cab. “You’re not. I get it.” To punctuate his point, he used his grip on my hand to pull me across the bench seat, his lips landing on mine in a quick kiss. “I think it’s cute you were jealous.”

“It’s not cute. Do we need to slow this down?”

“Do you think we need to?”

“I asked you first.”

“What I want is to kiss you again.”

I didn’t respond. I just shoved my fingers into his hair and pulled him closer to me, our lips and tongues tangling as the kiss went from sweet to hot until I was straddling Levi’s lap and his hands were shoved under my jacket. The same swirling warmth I’d felt during our first kiss on the sidewalk outside the record store pulsed through me. I’d never felt anything like it, and Iwondered if I would feel the same rush like the world I knew was rearranging itself every time I kissed Levi.

“Stop making out and bring in dinner. We’re wasting away in there!” Kevin’s voice popped our little bubble, and I rested my forehead against Levi’s as we caught our breaths. We’d fogged up the windows, and I could barely see my brother through the mist.

“Leave us alone.”

“Give me the food.” Kevin moved, and I knew he was going to go for the door handle.

I slammed my hand down on the lock. “Never.”

“Then get your ass inside.” He shook his head. “Seriously, man. We’re hungry.”

For his part, Levi was trying to hold in his laughter, but he just ended up snorting, which made me laugh, my body rocking against his. Levi groaned beneath me. “I think you’d better get up before the food gets any colder or your family stages a mutiny.”

---