Page 50 of Well Played

“Shit,” Levi grumbled. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and turned our backs to them. “The vultures already heard. Let’s move over here.”

We walked to the big tree on the front lawn and stood behind it as much as possible. But just when we thought we were safely shielded from attention, the fire department threw on a huge spotlight. They aimed it at the house, but we were standing right in the line of fire, now completely illuminated. Levi’s eyes dropped to my chest. “Uhhh…” He swallowed. “Your shirt is see-through.”

Looking down, my eyes bulged. The flimsy pajama top I had on did nothing to cover anything. I might as well have been standing outside fully naked.

“Oh my God.” I folded my arms across my chest. But then it dawned on me that my flimsy topalso had a matching bottom. And I wasn’t wearing any underwear. I squeezed my eyes shut. “Levi, please tell me my shorts aren’t as see-through as my top right now.”

He said nothing for a few heartbeats, until… “Hands up.”

Confused, I opened my eyes. I was about to remind him that Icouldn’tmove my hands because I was busy covering my boobs, but then I saw why he was asking. Levi had already pulled off his shirt and had it above my head, ready to slip over me.

“Raise ’em up,” he grumbled.

The material fell to my knees like a dress, covering all the important stuff. Although Levi was now shirtless.

“Thanks,” I said. “But the reporters are going to have a field day with you half-naked. Pretty sure your bare chest attracts more ogling than mine.”

The corner of Levi’s mouth twitched. “Stay here. I’ll be right back. I think I have a jacket in my car.”

He jogged off, ignoring two reporters trying to ask him questions and multiple neighbors whipping out their cell phones to take videos. Couldn’t say I blamed them. Levi Miller’s muscles were a hell of a lot more interesting than a fire. When he returned, he had a Broncos blanket in his hands.

“No jacket, but this should work.” He wrapped it around my shoulders.

“Let me give you back your shirt. Just hold up the blanket to shield me so I can slip it off.”

“Keep it on. You’re safer with two layers.”

“I don’t think the cameras are going to see through a blanket.”

Levi caught my eye. “It’s not the cameras I’m worried about.”

My brows furrowed for a second, but the intense look in his eyes gave all the unspoken explanation I needed. I felt a flurry of excitement in my belly that Levi thought I needed to be safeguarded fromhim—while the house is currently on fire. I really,reallyneeded my head examined.

Luckily, Captain Morales walked over again, which helped refocus my attention. He put his hands on his hips. “So it looks like wires were indeed the culprit. You’re very lucky you were home to catch it when it first started. Sometimes old wiring can act almost like a fuse and facilitate travel behind the walls. Next thing you know, the entire house is up in flames. We had to tear down the wall you just put up, and the room is pretty wet, but at least the damage is contained to the one area.”

I let out a deep breath. “Thank you so much.”

“Is it safe to go back inside and take a look?” Levi asked.

“You can for a minute or two once we’re done. But I’d find somewhere else to stay tonight. Soot’s gonna rain down like light snow for a while. Small particles get into the air and settle over the next few hours. You’ll find it in most rooms in the house by tomorrow morning. Sometimes it even gets inside closed cabinets.”

Levi extended his hand. “Thanks, Captain. I really appreciate it.”

Captain Morales smiled, and the men shook. “No problem. But do me a favor?”

“Anything.”

The captain rested his hand on Levi’s shoulder. “Go easy on my Panthers next year. You’re killing the confidence of our defense.”

Levi chuckled. “Anythingbut that.”

It took another hour or so before the fire department departed and the crowd that had formed thinned out so Levi and I could take a peek inside at the damage. The electricity was off in that part of the house, so we grabbed a flashlight and went down to see how bad things were. My heart sank when the light illuminated the wall we’d just put up earlier today. Half of the nice, new sheetrock was torn down, and the parts that remained were charred black. Not to mention, the entire ceiling was dripping water, and the beautiful oak floors were covered in a sludgy mix of water and ash.

I sighed. “God. Is this a sign, Levi? It feels like the universe might be trying to tell us something.”

He turned to face me. “It’s just a slight setback. That’s all.”

I shook my head. “I don’t know.”

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