Page 55 of Code of Heart
And nothing in Estrella’s meticulous dossier had prepared him for the woman on his balcony now. She was so real, so sharp-edged and soft-spoken all at once. Nor had it warned him how quickly he would feel the weight of the rings she wore…rings he had given her. His chest swelled with a sort of primitive male pride knowing she worehisrings.
His wife.
The word still felt foreign and impossible. But here they were.
Running a hand down his face, Levi exhaled slowly, grateful for one small mercy—it was Friday night. No work, noobligations. Just an open weekend ahead with a beautiful, sexy stranger who, against all odds, didn’t feel like one.
He slung the bag over his shoulder.
It was time to leave this house behind. For now, maybe forever.
And for reasons he couldn’t fully name, leaving had never felt more right.
CHAPTER 29
Aurelia
He’s here. In my house. Myhusband.
Aurelia kept repeating the words in her head, hoping they would feel less surreal each time she said them. Levi Lockwood was no longer a hypothetical. He wasreal.
And currently standing in the middle of her kitchen.
Her husband.
She held her breath, gripping the edge of the island with white-knuckled fingers, watching as he took in her space. Part of her braced instinctively for criticism. Maybe he hated it. Maybe it was too small and too humble…likeher.
He had arrived in a different vehicle, this time opting for a more low-key, sleek black SUV, though still undeniably high-end. Her white sedan was tucked neatly into one of the two garage bays. The second, currently a half-finished workshop, was scattered with tools and materials for the attic renovation, for an office she now realized she would need sooner than expected.
She had led the way into her home in silence, right up until a startled yelp escaped her lips. Her feet had left the ground without warning, and it took a breathless moment to realize Levi had swept her into his arms just before they crossed through the door.
“What kind of husband would I be if I didn’t carry my wife over the threshold?” he murmured, his voice a rich, decadent rumble that skimmed across her skin. The heat from his hands felt like a brand wherever they touched.
Her mouth went dry at the sound of it. Embarrassment flushed hot across her face, but it did nothing to dull the ache blooming low in her belly.
Now, Levi stood silently in the center of the open space, hands in his pockets, slowly turning in place, his impassive gaze wandering over everything in quiet contemplation.
When his eyes finally landed on hers, they sparkled with what looked like delight.
“Could I entice the lady of the house,” he said, his tone light and flirtatious, “to give her husband a proper tour?”
Cheeky bastard.
Aurelia playfully rolled her eyes, but the smile tugging at her lips gave her away. Without a word, she pushed off the counter and approached him, ready to show him her little slice of heaven.
Levi
Levi washome.
He hadn’t known what to expect, but the overwhelming sense of belonging was undeniable. It settled into his bones like something long-missing had finally clicked into place. A soft, internalsnapechoed inside him, a puzzle piece sliding into position.
He had made the right call not to stay in his own house.
Like his, Aurelia’s property had a long, secluded driveway. Dense greenery masked it from the road until, all at once, her cottage came into view.
A charming white structure with a terracotta-tiled roof, an intricately carved turquoise door, and a two-car garage greetedhim, perched above the lagoon like it had risen from the water itself. String lights glimmered across the back porch, casting reflections on the dark surface of the water. Flowers bloomed in planters and along the dock, their vibrant colors standing out against the twilight.
And he hadn’t even gone inside yet.
