Page 23 of Next Level
“Ray?”
I shake my head.
“Ray?”
I clear my throat. “Yeah, jump in.”
As she opens the door, her short ass has to jump to get into the cab of my truck.
“You good?” I ask.
She chuckles. “Fuck, that’s a leap.”
We both laugh, making it not as awkward.
I turn my attention back to driving so we can exit this hectic airport.
“Thank you for picking me up. I told Sunshine I’d take a cab. I knew you’d be worried and want to get to the cabin,” she immediately explains.
I need tofocuson the mission, not on the fact that this woman is fine as fuck.Focus.
“Thank you. Can you tell me about Garrett? We have a few hours to go over everything.” I watch the road, not allowing myself to look her in the eyes. I might wreck.
Stay focused, motherfucker.
Where the fuck has this girl been hiding? She can’t live near us, can she?
Christ.
I shift in my seat, trying to calm the big guy in my pants. I need to stayfocusedon my daughter not getting laid.
The wordfocuskeeps repeating in my head.
“Ray?” Cherry says softly.
Realizing she’s talking to me, I look over and meet those tantalizing emerald eyes.
Fuck.
“I’m sorry. What?”
“Do you like to be called Ray or Level? Sunshine told me your club name is Level, but your real name is Ray.”
“Oh, I…” I clear my throat. “Whatever you want. Most people call me Level, but Ray is fine too.”
“Is Ray your real name?” she inquires.
Without hesitation, I answer, “My full name is Marco Raymond Amato III. My dad was a JR., and my grandfather was Marco, so I went by Ray. But no one really calls me by that, except my ma and family members.”
I think of Tink and Brooke. They’re the only ones who still call me Ray.
What the fuck is happening? I’m spilling my whole life to this person.
I see her turning in her seat to face me.
Don’t look.
Don’t do it.
