“I know, it’s nuts, but yes.” I half laugh, half cringe as I sit on the porch holding Toto’s leash, watching Austin load boxes. “It’s pretty embarrassing.”
“Good timing, too. Not like you had to move this week or anything,” he says as he tosses the last box into the bed of his pickup truck and reaches for one of the three suitcases I’ve got packed. “You know, you don’t have much out here for a woman who’s moving into a new space today.”
“It’s only temporary. The rest of my things are being picked up by a moving company later today and taken to a storage unit.” Not that they need to be saved; I mean, the bed maybe, but the rest of it is due to be replaced. But since my rental company did finally pony up and say they’d pay for storage and reimburse me up to two thousand dollars for the inconvenience, I decided to take the storage unit.
Austin picks up the last piece of luggage and closes the back of his truck.
“You and your brother are being really nice to offer me this place,” I call out from my perch.
Austin turns and looks at me, cocking his head to one side. “Well, considering you’re marrying him—”
“Let’s not get crazy.” I cackle, nervousness teetering in my laugh as Levi’s SUV appears on the street. He slows and blocks the road as he flickson his hazards and jumps out. Mary, his mother, is right behind him. Is it wrong of me that I hope she brought some ice cream?
“Hey,” he says easily, his smile fading as he sees the state I’m in. “Oh, wow, you’re really hurt, aren’t you?”
“Did you think I was making it up?” I tease back. Holding out my crutches, I hop around in a circle, slowly, like a supermodel showing off the latest in bespoke crutch-wear. “It’s very sporty, but also sleek with the right pair of shoes.”
“This is exactly why cell phones are dangerous,” Mary says as she wags a finger in the air. She comes over and gives me a hug.
“Tell me about it. I’m rethinking having my landline put back in.” I eye the older woman suspiciously. “What are you doing here?”
“I had to come by and say hello, considering you’re now engaged to my son.”
My eyes slam into Levi’s and he cuts his to the side, avoiding me. I look back over her way and force a tiny smile. “Yes. Well, I see the cat is out of the fake bag.”
Mary holds a hand up in the air, cutting me off. “I don’t want to be privy to any other info other than what I know now. Best to not tell me anything.”
“We get why you guys are doing it, but Mom doesn’t want to be guilty by association.” Austin laughs as he hops behind the wheel of the truck. Luckily, the windows are rolled down because he realizes he forgot something. “Hey, is Toto coming with me?”
“Yes, please,” I say, handing the leash off to Levi who leads him to the pickup truck. The plan being for me to ride with Levi, and Mary, too, I guess, over to the new place. “Thanks again.”
Austin eyes my baby as he walks toward the truck, drooling. Toto can’t help it, it’s a Rottie thing and I love it.
“Don’t be scared, Austin,” I call out playfully. “He’s onlyinjured one man in my life and that’s because he was making fun of me.”
Austin grimaces as Levi opens the passenger-side door and helps hoist my big old, dragon-like dog into the seat next to Austin. “You look good with a dog in that truck, Austin. They’re a lady magnet, you know.”
Austin and Toto give each other side-eyes. “If this dog is a lady magnet, I’m the governor of North Carolina.”
We watch in silence as the odd couple pulls away and makes their way down the street. My eyes flick from Levi to his mother and back to the SUV. I really want to be in that car right now, in the backseat, without her inquiring eyes watching me. I feel very judged right now for my decision and part in this whole situation.
It’s temporary, Georgie. It’s a fake engagement for a friend and we’ll go back to normal…right?
As if he’s read my mind, Levi reaches out and takes the crutches from me, handing them to his mom. “Come on, let’s get you moved in.”
Laughing, I watch as my walking utensils disappear with Mary into the SUV. “How am I supposed to get in the car now?”
In one swoop, Levi wraps his arms around my waist and cradles me close to his chest, carrying me down the sidewalk to the SUV. I can feel his strength when he does, biceps flexing under his soft cotton T-shirt.
And it’s also quite nice to be pressed up against his chest.
Startled, I go to wrap my arms around his neck to hold on, but find my hands stopping as they graze one of his biceps instead. I can’t help it, I am such a bicep girl. I palm his bicep and then, the audacity, I keep it there for a second or two more just because of the thrill it sends into my system.
What is it about theflex and bulge of a man’s muscle that can make a woman quiver deep inside in a way she simply can’t control?
“Like what you feel?” Levi growls in my ear as he approaches the vehicle. Snapping to look his way, I find him chewing back a grin.
“Can’t argue,” I manage to say, my voice a touch shaky. “It’s a nice, ah, muscle you’ve got there, friend.”
