Tempting Levi (Cade Brothers Book 1)

by Jules Barnard

  “When my mom was alive, she brought out the softer, more approachable side of my father,” Levi said. “I think he believed he needed to always be strong for us after she died. Which meant he never gave us an inch. My brothers and I were as stubborn as he was, so that left a lot of room for arguments.”

  “I’m sorry you fought,” she said quietly. “I don’t know what a normal dad is like. Mine was pretty much never around, but yours was so kind to me. I just thought…”

  “He’d been kind to us too?”

  She nodded.

  “He wasn’t unkind. And he wasn’t absent in the sense your father was, but work always came first. We’re all so different and headstrong. Our father was never happy with the choices we made, particularly if they didn’t coincide with what he wanted.” He brushed a lock of her hair aside and gazed down at her face, eyes dipping to her chest, which made her face heat. “I’m sure he was kind to you because you’re a very sweet person and you bring out the best in people.”

  “I do?”

  “Mm-hmm.” He nuzzled her neck. “Except with me… You make me want to be bad. But don’t give me ideas. I’m trying to be good.”

  Right now she didn’t want him to be good. But he’d also said something she’d been worrying about. “What if I took some part of your dad that was meant for you and your brothers?”

  He lifted up on his elbow. “You couldn’t have. Think about it; you didn’t even come into the picture until I had moved out and started dating…”

  “My sister?” Her throat suddenly locked up and her chest lost all its warmth. She didn’t want to think about her sister with Levi.

  He nodded. “My brothers and I were pigheaded and prideful. I understand why my dad felt he could be himself around you. You’re not like us; you’re sweet. I’m glad he helped you out”—Levi tried to tug the blanket away, but he was saying such kind things that she clung to it, not wanting the moment to end—“because I’m reaping the benefits now.” He grinned suggestively.

  “I hope you’re referring to my help at work.” She swatted at his hand inching its way under the blanket.

  He blinked innocently. “Of course. But I wouldn’t mind if you went topless at work too. It would make my day so much brighter. Though only topless in my office. No need for the vultures at Club Tahoe to get a look at what I have.”

  What I have. She liked how possessive he sounded.

  She punched him lightly in the shoulder and wrapped her arms around his neck. He had the blanket off her in seconds. “You’re bad.”

  “Not usually, but I really want to be with you.” He pulled her close and kissed her lightly on the lips.

  “So why can’t you be?”

  Levi let out a heavy sigh. A dark cloud came over his features. He leaned back, reached his long arm over the side of the bed, and picked up her top and bra off the floor, handing them to her. “I told you, I don’t want to hurt you. You’re important to me.”

  Emily grabbed her clothes and reluctantly put them on. The moment was over, and she desperately wanted it back.

  He stood, and she considered his words while she dressed. Was he saying he wanted to take things slowly? Given their situation, that wouldn’t be such a bad thing.

  She climbed to her feet and leaned into him, tracing the scar above his eye. “I like this scar.”

  He chuckled and dropped his cheek into her hand. “Glad it pleases someone. It didn’t feel too good when it happened.”

  “I don’t like it because you were hurt. It’s just—it brought you to me. And it reminds me that you’re not the same person I met years ago. That we’ve both changed… However”—she grinned saucily—“scars are pretty hot.”

  He tugged at her top and kissed her collarbone, tickling her with his lips, because the naughty man had quickly discovered a sensitive spot. “My scar looks hot, does it?”

  She laughed as he continued to pepper her skin with light kisses. She lifted her shoulder in defense. “Very sexy.”

  “Hmmm, don’t give me ideas, Emily, or I won’t let you go home.”

  That was one threat she wanted him to follow through on.

  Chapter 21

  Sadly, Levi did let Emily go home Saturday night, but he’d followed her in his car to make sure she made it back safely. She’d waved at the door and he’d driven home, a goofy smile on his face the entire way. Sunday had been the longest day of his life. It was the first time he’d looked forward to Monday since working at Club Tahoe.

  In his office, while Samuel, the red-haired lawyer, whose name Levi remembered for once, droned on about plummeting revenue, Emily crossed her legs, the silk of her skin making a soft swishing sound in the quiet office. Levi shifted in his seat, heat flowing to his groin.

  “As the advisor your father hired me to be,” Samuel said, “I feel it only prudent to tell you that it would be foolish to do this children’s program. You’d be spending money the company doesn’t have.”

  “But that doesn’t make sense,” Emily said, her hands gripped together, her expression one of agitation. “The program isn’t costly, and if my numbers are correct and we market effectively, which I think we can, we’ll end up with a positive return. We’d use our newsletter list to promote the program, which costs us nothing, and we have the space for a dedicated children’s zone. Ethan Cade overbuilt, anticipating growth and the need for such things in his luxury resort. We could start by hiring one person, and if the program does well, we could convert one of the off-pool party rooms into a kids’ space.”

  “And where would the parties we currently host go?” Samuel said, his irritation showing. Which did not sit well with Levi. Not well at all. Emily was trying to find solutions, and this uptight ass was shooting every one of them down.

  “The parties,” she said, “can be moved to other, more luxurious meeting rooms inside the hotel, many of which lie vacant a good deal of the time.”

  “But that won’t be the case once you pull in new corporate clients. Am I right, Levi?” Samuel’s gaze moved smugly over to Levi.

  Now the ass called him by his given name?

  “Do you have any new ideas on that front?” Samuel said. “To make up for the Shin Electronics loss. I assume they’re not coming back after things got out of control during their stay.”

  Samuel was grating on Levi’s last nerve. Was he suggesting that Levi had screwed up the Shin deal? And if Levi had, that was none of his lawyer’s business. The man was here to advise, not judge performance. That was Levi’s job. “I’ll let you know if anything pans out.”

  Samuel huffed out a sigh. “I would prefer to be kept abreast of the situation.”

  Levi stood and Samuel tipped his head back, eyes rounding at Levi’s height. Was it Levi’s fault if his physical stature tended to intimidate people?

  He walked to the window and gazed out. He was already pissed that Samuel had suggested cutting the children’s program before it had even gotten off the ground. It was for kids, for God’s sake. And if Emily and the finance director were in favor, it would be a nice addition. “We’re doing the children’s program.” He looked over his shoulder. “If it doesn’t earn back after a quarter, we can consider cutting it or revamping the marketing.”

  Emily gave him a quick smile. One that sent heat to his already overheated body. Just being in the same room with her had lit a fire in his blood.

  Levi cleared his throat. “That’s all for now.”

  His attraction to Emily wasn’t going away. It was growing, shifting into something that felt out of control.

  He waited until both his lawyer and Emily had walked out, not daring to change his stony expression and give away his thoughts. Then Levi sank into his plush office chair and stared out at the Club Tahoe grounds.

  Mike the groundskeeper was pruning not far away. He’d been a fixture at Club Tahoe for as long as Esther. As a former Navy SEAL, Mike had taught Levi and his four brothers boat safety—through drills and boot-camp tactics. Levi grinned.
It was the best damned parenting he’d received from a father figure. If there was one thing Levi’s dad had done right, it was keeping good people around.

  The rest of the day was a slog. While Emily set things in motion for the children’s program and worked on bringing in more entertainment to the resort, Levi researched companies to offer free nights’ stays to in exchange for a look around Club Tahoe. Between the club’s financial stress and trying to keep his hands off Emily, Levi was in a foul mood when the end of the day rolled around.

  The clock read ten. He rubbed his eyes and stood, stretching his back. He leaned over and put the computer into sleep mode, then walked out of his office, locking the door behind him. He was about to turn toward the employee exit when he glimpsed a dim light down the hall. In Emily’s part of the offices.

  Levi moved in that direction before he could think twice. Just to check things out. No harm there. It was a good idea to know who was still around.

  Or it was an excuse to see Emily. Because her office was the one lit up—and he’d known it would be. No one else besides the two of them ever stayed this late.

  Levi paused outside her open door. He would check in, then go home. At least, that was what he told himself.

  He knocked lightly and entered the room. “You still here?”

  She looked up from her computer and smiled wearily. “Yes, but I was about to leave. You?”

  “Just leaving.”

  She nodded and stood, her hands restless at her sides as her gaze dipped down his body, then away.

  It seemed he wasn’t the only one holding back. Was she waiting for him to make a move?

  He should leave. Make it easier on the both of them. They could pretend that Saturday night hadn’t happened.

  Right. Just like he was able to pretend the kiss the night of the ball hadn’t happened.

  He walked over to her desk at the same time she rounded it. They hesitated for a split second, neither speaking. A quick glance at her mouth, her breasts. The gentle touch of her eyes on his shoulders, his chest, and on down to his waist before darting back up.

  And then Levi was pulling her into his arms and kissing her.

  “I missed you this afternoon,” she said.

  His heart hammered. As good as it felt to hear that, a small part of him worried that this was going too far.

  But she pulled his shirt from his dark slacks, tugging it up his chest, and his reservations quickly vanished. Maybe he was wrong and she was okay with something casual.

  Levi stopped kissing her long enough to pull the shirt over his head, then he was gripping the bottom of her top and sliding it up and off. Her bra went next.

  Emily undid his belt and the button of his pants, then palmed him above his slacks.

  He sucked in a breath. His blood was already running hot. Having her in his arms was like setting kindling to a flame.

  She slid down the zipper, cool air hitting his overheated skin. Her small hand gripped him and his jaw tightened. She was driving him crazy—because the next thing he did was pick her up and prop her firm little bottom on the desk. He hiked up her tight, yet thankfully stretchy, skirt high on her thighs.

  Levi ran his hand up her leg to her panties, where he slid his fingers across her center.

  Emily gasped. “Don’t stop.”

  His hand was beneath her panties, his finger sliding inside her a second later. They both let out a groan.

  She was ready—so ready and wet.

  Why stop? They were adults. “I want you.”

  “Yes.” Emily slid her hand up and down his length, which was really unnecessary. He was harder than a mallet.

  He grabbed a condom from his wallet in the pocket of his slacks that were barely held up by his thighs. He put it on, kissing her chest and neck as he did. “You smell so good.”

  He dragged her panties down her legs and past her heels, tossing them aside as he positioned himself at her center. She gazed up at him with a sexy, loving smile…loving.

  He swallowed and doubt eked its way into his fuzzy one-track mind. He had to make sure she wouldn’t regret this. “You’re okay if this is casual, right?”

  By the time the words had left his mouth, he knew he’d fucked up.

  Her body tensed and her smile fell. “What we have is new, but… Are you saying this”—she waved at the fun parts still touching, yet not nearly close enough—“is all you want?”

  “I’m saying it’s all I’m capable of right now.”

  Emily covered her chest, and Levi mentally groaned. Should have kept his damn mouth shut.

  But then it would have felt like a lie. As much as he was attracted to her, dating Emily would complicate things.

  “Why?” she said.

  He pulled off the condom and tucked himself in his pants, no matter that his body was still primed for release. “Isn’t it obvious?” He tried for a gentle tone, but frustration overrode everything, making his voice sound tense. “You work for me, and I’m trying to keep the club from going bankrupt. And there’s my past with your sister. It would be strange for us to date.”

  “Strange.” Fire lit behind her pretty gray eyes. She slid off the desk and reached for her top and bra. She pulled her top over her head and tugged down her skirt, bending to grab the panties he’d removed. “Funny, I don’t find us strange. It feels really good to be in your arms.”

  “I wholeheartedly agree, but you have to admit, there are other things that should take precedence over our attraction for one another. I have to take care of my brothers and the resort. And you and I don’t really make sense as a couple.”

  She nodded, but it wasn’t a friendly nod. Her lips were pressed together, her movements choppy. She looked like she was about to unleash serious wrath. “I see. So my sister is good enough for you, but I’m not?”

  “No, that’s not what I meant.” Damn his mouth. He should have kept that last bit to himself. His body thought they made perfect sense. His mind, however, couldn’t puzzle it out. “I just don’t see how we could have something lasting with all the baggage.”

  “I don’t have baggage, Levi.”

  “My baggage.”

  “Because you’re not over my sister?”

  He ran a heavy hand down his face. “No—I mean, yes, I’m over your sister. But that doesn’t change the fact that I once loved her.” He winced. “Given what I knew about love at the time.”

  “So because you once loved her, you can’t love me?”

  He didn’t answer. Which was probably answer enough. Though the reason he’d remained silent was that he hadn’t been thinking in terms of love with Emily. He’d been thinking about want, and desire, and need. Not love.

  “So it’s only sex for you?”

  That was basically what he was saying, but in reality, he wanted more. He just didn’t think they could have more. They weren’t meant to be together. If they had been, he would have noticed Emily from the start and not her sister. He wouldn’t have forgotten Emily’s existence before she’d crashed back into his life.

  She grabbed her bag and ran out of the office.

  “Wait.” He fumbled with the condom still in his hand and tossed it in the trash for the cleaning crew. Probably not the best move, but he didn’t give a shit right now.

  He strode after the woman trying to leave him. “Emily,” he said. “The whole reason I said anything is because I don’t want to hurt you.”

  She stopped but wouldn’t look at him. “Don’t worry about it. I’m a big girl.” She continued walking and pushed open the employee exit, disappearing into the night.

  His chest burned. He pitched his fingers low on his hips, chin sinking toward his chest. What had he done? This felt all wrong. The last thing he wanted was to upset her. But that was the only way this could have ended. He’d known that. He’d simply ignored it because he’d wanted her.

  Emily deserved better. More. He just couldn’t give it.

  Only, he didn’t want anyone else giving it to her
either.

  And suddenly, after all these years, the quiet, studious girl he’d once forgotten was the one woman he might never forget.

  Chapter 22

  No way could Levi go home after what happened in Emily’s office—and nearly on her desk. Jumping in the lake wasn’t enough. He texted his brothers. He even included Hunt in the message, he was that desperate.

  They’d agreed to meet up at Blue Casino, ironically, given the problems Blue was causing Club Tahoe. Blue was hosting a big event, and Adam and Hayden were still working despite the late hour, so Adam had asked everyone to meet in the nightclub.

  Levi didn’t bother changing. He walked into the casino’s nightclub and spotted Adam and the rest of his brothers in the lounge area. The volume inside was deafening, the place crowded and packed for the event—which look liked some kind of disco theme—but Adam had secured them a reserved table in the corner.

  Adam stared as Levi approached. “What’s up? Why the emergency drinks?”

  Levi took the seat that faced the room. Watching drunken people in seventies wear seemed as good a way to get his mind off Emily as anything. “I didn’t say there was an emergency.”

  Bran absently pushed his fingers through his blond hair, receiving an admiring look from the woman who sat at the table next to them. “No, you said in the text message, ‘Meet up ASAP,’ which we took to mean emergency, but not of the life-threatening variety.”

  Levi drummed his fingers on the table. So he’d been desperate for his brothers’ support. Which he was second-guessing by the minute. They’d give him a hard time, and he couldn’t talk about what was actually bothering him.

  Adam sipped what looked like a girly blue cocktail. “Spill it, already.”

  “Nothing to spill.” Levi eyed the drink in Adam’s hand. “Aren’t you a little old for Smurf drinks?”