Page 96 of Burning for You

Levi

A couple of weeks later, thinking about Carolyn confronting Josh inside that Brilliance meeting room still makes my heart pound. She fought using every ounce of energy she had, and she came through—for me, for the Holts. Josh Bright certainly had messed with the wrong woman.

I watch Carolyn curling her lashes with mascara, resting my chin on her left shoulder.

“I love having you here. It makes this place feel like home again,” Carolyn says, looking around her bedroom. It perplexes me that she came back to this townhouse of hers. I thought she’d prefer a fresh start and to live at my place.

But she’s my hero. Wherever she wants to be, there I’ll be.

Much as I wanted it to be just the two of us, I have to face the inevitable—that being with Carolyn Meyer means living with the media. Her life runs at a different pace, and I have to swallow the brutal truth that it won’t change just because she’s with me. More so because of me—whom the press often calls ‘her Random boy toy’—public interest about everything Carolyn and me has surged. I can’t go out without being photographed or asked questions, while she herself has hired Josh’s former bodyguard to protect her during public appearances.

So far, though, the name Anton Mendez hasn’t been mentioned.

“Are you wearing a dress?” I ask her.

She slopes her head, perhaps wondering why it matters.

We decided to postpone our trip to Montana, and tonight we’re having dinner at her parents’ place. She’s genuinely excited to introduce me to her mom, and to give me a chance to know her dad following our brief meeting at Sass. In an attempt to make tonight special for her, I’ve prepared a surprise for Carolyn.

“What would you like me to wear?”

“Pants.”

She smiles. “You want me to wear pants?”

“If that’s not too much to ask,” I say.

“Never for you.”

Tonight isn’t about me. It’s about making Carolyn shine—it’s about showing her parents that she’s made a wise choice being with me.

After finishing her makeup and brushing her glorious hair, she gets dressed.

“Do you like this look?” she asks.

She doesn’t need to wear a dress to turn heads. To top her black jeans, she’s put on a silk shirt with a cute bow over a low neckline.

“You look very yummy,” I say and kiss her exposed cleavage. I stand next to her, looking into the same mirror she’s facing. “Do I look okay?” I say, adjusting the collar of my white polo.

“You look very handsome,” she says, thumbing the Sass logo embroidered on my top.

I put on my leather jacket, and then guide her out of the house. After Sam Kelleher manages to stop the few paparazzi from getting close to us, I usher her to the back alley.

Looking at the BMW motorcycle parked there, Carolyn stops. Her shoulders lift and stay lifted. She sighs, “Levi…”

“Come on,” I say, inviting her. I rented the cruiser bike this afternoon to get her to start riding again.

She takes a step back. “You first, then I’ll jump on.”

“No, no. You drive.”

“What?” she says. “Levi, you remember my accident, right?”

“Of course, Carolyn. You’re with me now. I want you to take us to your parents’.” She cringes while giving a small shake of her head. But I’m not giving up. “I’ll keep you safe.”

“I won’t forgive myself if something happens to you.”

“Nothing will happen to us.”

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