Page 13 of What the Heart Wants (Desires of the Heart 1)

I understood. We all miss Bethany. I can’t help but feel the ache in my chest when I think about her.

I miss the soft curves of a woman, and having someone to round us out when we got too hot headed. Sometimes we can butt heads, and Bethany was that calming presence. But I also want someone who will challenge us and not be afraid to speak their mind.

No one has to understand why we have each other, but also would love a woman to focus on and take care of. This is something just for us though, and fuck what other people think.

“I need these reports done by the end of the day. You think you can handle that?” Levi asks in a tone that’s a little too cool for my liking. I almost walk back to say something, but I see Kyla’s back straighten and she looks Levi dead in the eye with a serious expression.

“Of course, Mr. Matthews. Was there anything else I could get for you?” she says returning the exact cool tone he gave her.

I don’t miss the use of his last name, and neither does he because his body stiffens. We usually don’t like to be called by our last names. We made a point to Jenny when she started to call us by our first name. When I see Kyla giving Levi the exact same treatment he is giving her, I can tell that she is going to give him a run for his money.

“Levi,” he bites out through clenched teeth. “Call me Levi. We don’t do formalities here, or weren’t you aware?” he asks, and I see his hands clench into fists.

I look and see Ethan and Grayson standing at their doors watching the exchange too.

“Why would I call you that, Mr. Matthews? You don’t seem like the type to care what I think about you,” she states, and I kind of want to applaud her for her boldness towards him. I don’t remember the last time a person called him out for his cool exterior.

The office is silent as they stare each other down, like they are waiting for the other to back down first.

I see Levi’s shoulders sag in defeat. “I care,” he murmurs so quietly that I have to strain to hear him.

“Why should I believe that? You act like I’m the gum on the bottom of your shoe,” she says raising an eyebrow at him.

“Listen, I’m sorry okay. This is hard for me. I haven’t been attracted to a woman for a long time,” he says. I’m kind of shocked that he was that honest.

“Why?” she asks, her face going softer at his confession.

“Come over for dinner and we will tell you about it. It’s not something that I should explain on my own. It’s not just my story,” he says softly.

She eyes him for a moment before nodding her head. “Fine, I’ll come for dinner. You better explain or I’m walking out of there,” she states.

I can’t help the slight panic that comes over me at the thought of her walking out and never seeing her again.

He nods his head. “Tonight. Can you do these reports for me now, please?”

She chuckles and shakes her head slightly. “Yeah sure, Levi. I’ll get right on it.”

I can see the relief on his face when he turns around. When he sees all three of us watching, I see his lips twitch as he shakes his head.

I go into my office now that I know that everything is okay and we will have her at our house tonight to talk.

I hope this goes the way I want it to.

There’s something special about Kyla and I can’t wait to find out what.

Ethan

We all left the office early so that Levi and I could get dinner ready for Kyla, and Asher and Grayson could tidy up. I really don’t know what food she likes, so I hope she likes what we are making and isn’t allergic to any of it.

We have steaks on the grill with asparagus and oven roasted potatoes. Levi went to grab some wine from the cellar.

We take turns having a shower so that we aren’t distracted by each other, but I can’t help but feel nervous. Tonight will either turn out to be a good thing, or Kyla will walk out of here and I’m afraid we won’t see her again.

Just when Asher and Grayson finish setting the table, the doorbell rings. We all still.

I snap myself out of it before the others do and head to open the door.

My breath catches when I see Kyla on the other side.

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