Page 31 of Playing the Neutral Zone

“What are you doing?”she questioned.

“Come on over, I’ll keep you warm.Be just like old times.”

She softly smiled, then shivered again as another gust of cool wind came off the water, then moved in closer.

She leaned back against the rolled-up comforter behind us and lay back, her body sheltered from the wind by my body and looked up at me.

It had been forever since we were this close, and the scent of her perfume enveloped me.

“I’m so sorry I hurt you,” she whispered as she looked up at me.

I didn’t even need to second-guess what she said, I could already see the genuine look of regret in her eyes.I could also see the want in her eyes and, without thinking, I lowered myself and pressed my lips against hers.I didn’t need anyone to tell me that this wasn’t right; I felt it deep in my soul.I wanted it, and so did she.

The moment I was about to pull away was the same moment she brought her hand to the back of my head and snaked her fingers into my hair, kissing me back.

Chapter 9

Scarlett

His kiss was like a bolt of electricity moving through my body.The second his lips touched mine, my body felt alive.I closed my eyes, concentrated on my breathing, and ran my fingers through his thick hair.In a moment, everything we’d been through had been erased and we were right back where we were supposed to be.

He broke the kiss, looked down at me, and pushed my hair from my face and cupped my cheek.I didn’t want this night to end, even though our conversation only moments ago had been serious and I’d wanted to shy away.Most of the night had been full of laughs, just the way it used to be.

“We should probably get going,” he said, smiling down at me, before leaning down and placing another kiss on my lips.

Disappointment flooded me, but he was probably right.I glanced at my watch, seeing it was close to ten.

“Yeah, I guess we should.”I smiled, pulling myself away from him and sitting up.“Work comes early, especially for you.”

“Not because of work.I promised the sitter I’d be back before ten.”

I nodded, standing, and began folding the one blanket we’d been using as a pillow.

Levi was quiet as he stood too, first adjusting himself and then taking the other blanket and quickly folding it, then grabbing the basket and glasses.Minutes later, we’d packed up the car and were on our way back to the condo.

When the elevator opened at my floor, he didn’t step out, instead he just wished me a good night with a kiss on the cheek and I made my way to my unit and headed inside.

Monday morning came faster than I’d expected.I walked into the office on Monday morning feeling like I was walking on air, until the receptionist approached me and told me Carol wanted to see me.Immediately, the air that was under me holding me up evaporated as I walked into Carol’s office.

She sat behind her desk, her glasses perched on the end of her nose.The second I entered she looked up at me from her seat.

“I heard you wanted to see me?”

“I did.Close the door, take a seat.”

I did as she asked and watched as she opened her top desk drawer and pulled out an envelope and placed it in the centre of the desk, then looked at me.

“What’s that?”I questioned.

“That is an envelope containing two tickets to the next two away games held by the Dominators.You have an outgoing flight leaving tomorrow night, returning on Friday morning.”

I nodded and went to reach for the envelope when she cleared her throat, which made me pause.

“Scarlett, I have been doing some digging.”

“Okay.”

“As stated, I want an interview with Levi, but what I want more is to find out some things about his past.”

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