Page 41 of Sangria

“It’s not your fault. I probably shouldn’t have kissed you.”

As soon as I’m out in traffic, I look at her. “Don’t say that.”

She grimaces and shows me her phone. Sure enough, there’s a picture of us kissing while inside the place. It was taken from one of the other patrons or staff. I shake my head and take her phone from her hand, setting it on my dash as I pull her to me. Zara rests her head on my shoulder, not caring that we’re in traffic and that people can see inside my truck.

“So maybe venturing out in public isn’t what we do just yet,” I say as I navigate us home.

“I’m not embarrassed to be with you if that’s what you’re saying, Levi. I like you a lot, or I wouldn’t be with you right now, and we definitely wouldn’t have slept together.”

“I know I’m just—”

“Worried?” she asks.

I nod. At the same time, both our phones start going off. My console tells me that Barbara is calling and when Zara takes her phone off the dashboard, she shows me that the name is Laura.

“That’s my bitch publicist,” she says with a sneer.

“I’ll answer mine,” I tell her, pressing the button on my steering wheel. “Hello, Barb.”

“Levi, what have you done?”

I look at Zara and wink. “You’ll have to be a little more specific. The past few days I have done quite a bit of stuff.”

“With Zara? It’s all over the wires. My email is going crazy. My phone is ringing off the hook. I thought she was just a friend.”

“She was,” I say. “And now she’s not.” I kiss Zara on her temple and return my eyes to the road. The last thing I want to do is put her life in danger or leave my children without a father. Although, there’s a good chance that Stormy may hate me after this.

“Levi, believe me when I tell you, this has disaster written all over it. No one is going to understand how America’s Country star ended up with a rocker from Los Angeles who is heading for a nasty divorce.”

“No one needs to understand anything, Barb. This is the stuff my songs are about, finding love when you least expect it. I can tell you right now, Zara and I didn’t expect to have a connection.”

“No we didn’t,” she says softly.

“Wait, is she in the truck with you?”

“Yes, ma’am. Why don’t you come over for dinner and let’s chat? See you in a few hours.” I don’t give Barbara a chance to reject my invitation before hanging up. I pull over to the side of the road and turn to face Zara.

“I don’t care about what others say,” I tell her. “I want to be with you, to explore where we can take this. I haven’t been this happy in a long time.”

“Me either,” she says, pulling me into a kiss.

zara

Twenty-Three

For a brief momentI think about running away, finding someplace to disappear where no one will know me, but that means leaving Levi and the thought of not being with him or even near him puts an ache in my chest.

I shouldn’t feel this way about him so soon. Days. . . that is how long we’ve known each other, and I’ve already given him more in a short amount of time than I did my own husband. Granted, Van and I met when we were teens, and I made him wait a year before I slept with him, but not Levi.

No, I threw myself at Levi. I never backed down and bore all for him to take or leave. He took and took greedily as if I were the fountain that kept him fed for all eternity. Yet, here I am contemplating an escape because someone took a photo of us and put it on social media.

Deep down I knew that would happen, despite what Levi said about people being cool in Nashville. No one in their right mind isn’t going to post a picture of Levi Austin out and about with some wild-looking woman on his arm. I wasn’t shy about holding his hand either. Hell no, I wanted to stake my claim. Let all the women staring at him know that he chose me.

And it backfired. I let my guard down. I knew better than to kiss him in public. Holding hands is one thing, but sealing the deal is another. The moment his publicist’s voice echoed through the cab of his truck, I knew it was only a matter of time before mine would start calling. Sure enough, Laura’s deceiving face lights up my phone. Her smug smile mocks me, reminding me that I need to fire her but can’t do it unless the band is on board. Somehow I doubt that will happen.

Levi gives me a sideways glance, no doubt hoping I won’t answer the call. Nothing good can come from Laura and me speaking, especially about the picture online. As much as I don’t want to talk to her, I should, because if I don’t answer now, she won’t give up.

“Hello, Laura,” I say in a snide voice that is very unlike me. I make sure to have her on speakerphone so Levi can understand the difference between her and Barb. I know Barb isn’t fond of Levi hanging out with me, but I’d take her any day over the publicist I have.

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