Page 10 of Sin in the Mountains

Chapter 5

Scarlett

This was not supposed to happen.

The look I saw etched across Levi's face as he said those horrible words plays on a loop, squeezing my heart painfully. Why would he regret something so incredible? I have never been touched like that. I've never had sex likethat. It felt like—good lord, I can barely bring myself to think it—it felt like making love.

I cringe remembering the way I ran as fast as I could. Away from him and his big...regrets.

I ducked in the elevator and up to my room. I washed my face, because why not keep my streak alive while my world is crumbling, and tried to make myself look as normal as possible before meeting the ladies for manicures. Even drunk, Betty can sniff out juicy gossip like a pig hunting truffles. But I haven't been able to stop our sexy moment from playing on repeat in my brain.

"Addy, did I show you the video I found recently from Alex's Quest & Odyssey event last year? The one with Teddy at the lumberjack station?" Melody asks, as she scrolls through her phone.

"Oh no, did you get one?" Addy grins, switching her two-month old daughter, Cleo, to her other breast to feed. "He was mesmerized," she says to me with a little grin.

Betty walks to the couch to sit next to Addy. "I'll take the little pumpkin when she's done eating."

"Thank you, Betty," Addy says, giving her a grateful smile. "Paige is going to need extra time to make me look good today."

"I heard that, and no I won't. You look beautiful," Addy's sister Paige calls out as she puts the finishing touches on Cole's sister, Brynn. "We're going to be the sexiest bridal party Duhring Park has ever seen."

"You certainly picked some hot dresses." Paige's friend, Caitlyn, gestures to the rack of sparkling bridesmaid dresses near the window, before she continues working on Miranda's eyeliner. In the end, Miranda let us each pick our own dress, as long as it was long and had some shine to it.

Miranda, hair up in massive curlers, sits still as Caitlyn works. "Yes. I want all their guys desperate to get them naked."

The memory of Levi's hand sliding up my dress last night has my cheeks heating. The way his short, scruffy beard tickled my skin as he sampled my goods has me squeezing my thighs together with the memory.

"You're a good friend," Caitlyn says with a little laugh.

"After the ceremony, ladies," Betty cautions. "Let the photographer get some decent pictures before your mountain men make youindecent." She wiggles her eyebrows, and Cora hoots.

"No promises," Cora warns. "Foster's ready to stake his claim in front of Cole's friends, Miranda."

Miranda laughs. "Those guys are big flirts. Did you hear they're all moving to Duhring this coming spring? Jameson is starting his own construction business, and he's hiring Max, Hayes, and Emmett to work for him."

"Excellent." Betty claps, nodding happily. "We need some new young blood to replace all the men you ladies have taken off the market lately."

"One hour warning, ladies," Violet calls out, as she pops her head into the room. "Oh, Miranda. Cole is going to die when he sees you." She blows us all a bunch of kisses and hustles away.

"I think Violet's found her calling. Good idea hiring her for your wedding." Betty smiles at the now closed door, and Miranda nods.

"When Brooks suggested it, I was like,say less." Miranda laughs.

"Here it is!" Melody holds out her phone. Teddy's little voice, tinny from the speaker calls out, "More!" and adult laughter mixes with a repetitive banging sound.

Just what I need. Adorable kid videos to distract me from the fact I had hot once-in-a-lifetime sex with my brother's ex-best-friend last night.

I stand and hover behind Addy and Betty as they laugh at the video on Melody's phone. My heart stalls, and I let out a little gasp when I realize the banging sound is coming from a hot lumberjack splitting logs like it's nothing.

The same lumberjack who was doing a different kind of banging last night.

In a supply closet.

With me.

Levi's brawny muscles strain against his tight t-shirt as he chops one piece of wood after the other with seemingly no effort. I watch mesmerized by his strength. This explains how he was able to hold my curvy ass against the wall as if I weighed nothing.

My skin heats, and I pull the soft robe away from my neck, trying to fan down the flames. In the video, little Teddy once again demands, "More!" and Levi turns toward him with a brilliant grin and tells him, "You got it, bud."

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