“It’ll be okay,” Kyle said.
“You don’t know that.”
“It will. They won’t hurt her, Levi. They have no reason to. If they want the money, they won’t hurt her.”
Levi nodded. He knew these things, but he still couldn’t fathom the idea of strangers taking Taylor. Thumping his head against the truck’s window a few times, he looked up at the sky.
“This is such bullshit,” Levi growled.
“It’s not what we planned, but it’s a way for us all to get paid. A much smaller payout, but still paid. I’ll have enough for a year’s subscription to kink.com and a bitchin’ flat-screen TV.”
Levi gave him a hollow laugh. “Porn and a giant TV to watch it on. The American dream.”
“Go home. Get drunk and forget about it. At least you’ll still be in the house when they come, right? You can make sure she’s safe.”
“And what about when she’s gone? Who knows what kind of animals these guys will be. If they touch her…” Levi’s voice drifted off and the rage inside built again. “I can’t let that happen. I won’t.”
Levi shrugged Kyle’s reassuring hand off his shoulder. His chest heaved as he fought to remain in control of his emotions. This job, Taylor, the money—it all turned out to be a lot more than he bargained for. He couldn’t bear being the one responsible for putting her in harm’s way.
“I know you have an attachment to the girl, man, but use your head here. Don’t screw up this job. It’s not only your life you’re fucking with.”
“You think I don’t know that?” Levi roared. “We’re in over our heads. We fucking failed and now Taylor could get hurt. Who knows if her piece of shit father will even pay the ransom. Ever think of that?”
“Think about this, Levi. Henry Hudson is all about appearances. If he’s hesitant to pay the ransom right away, we leak it to the press. What choice would he have then, huh? He’ll do anything to preserve the Hudson name.”
Levi exhaled and leaned against his truck. He thought about Kyle’s strategy and was satisfied with the theory. It wasn’t the best plan of action, but it was the best they had. He nodded at his friend.
“How’d you become the level-headed voice of reason here?”
“All part of my charm, you emo bitch.”
They shared a grin and Levi climbed into his truck. “So, Monday it is,” he said.
“Monday,” Kyle agreed. “Good luck.”
* * *
Taylor left her house after lunch to go shopping for Suzanne’s birthday gift. This would be the last birthday they would celebrate together. Suzanne was all she’d ever known, and while the thought of going off to college felt liberating, Taylor was devastated to lose that bond.
In August, she would be in Massachusetts and Suzanne would be out of a job. Henry had tried to get rid of Suzanne a few times before, but Taylor had thrown fits and threatened him. When the threats didn’t work, Henry told her that if she wanted to keep Suzanne around, her salary would come out of Taylor’s trust fund. That was six years ago.
Taylor hadn’t told Suzanne any of this and hoped Suzanne didn’t find out. She had no idea where Suzanne would go or what she would do. Taylor only wanted to make sure she was happy, because all the best moments of Taylor’s life had been because of that woman.
As she browsed from store to store, nothing jumped out at her. Nothing felt special enough to say good-bye to the woman who loved Taylor as her own child. Just when she’d given up, Taylor came across a pair of beautiful champagne diamond earrings at Tiffany’s. She purchased them and had them wrapped before heading back home.
Taylor sat at her desk. Sheets of engraved stationery waited beneath her hovering pen, and her eyes glazed over as she stared at the blank page and wished for the right words to come to her. How could she condense eighteen years of gratitude into one small note?
Suzanne was her only example of what a caring mother should be. She was Taylor’s rock, her best friend, the only person who understood the inner workings of the complicated girl. Taylor knew that her life would have been unbearable if it weren’t for Suzanne. And yet, she couldn’t find the right thing to say to express all of that. So she simply wrote what she felt, in the most basic terms.
For the last eighteen years you’ve raised me as though I were your own. You took me to the park where we played in the sand and had stick sword fights. You played house and let me be the mommy every time. You taught me how to ride a bike and kissed my scraped knees and elbows. You made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with the crusts cut off and drove me to school in the mornings. You helped me survive the mortification of starting my period at the sixth-grade dance, while teaching me about tampons and where babies come from. At every school play, you were in the front row, cheering me on and clapping the loudest. You held me after Dylan Watts broke my ten-year-old heart and, years later, took me to the doctor for birth control when I started having sex. Through all your lessons, I’ve grown into a better person—someone I hope makes you proud. In all aspects, you are my real mother. I love you, Kitty. I’ll miss you. Be happy.
She signed it Boo.
* * *
Levi parked his truck behind the garage and cut the engine. He sat in the quiet darkness for a few moments, gathering his strength for this party. He was okay with celebrating Suzanne’s birthday, but he hated that he was at this house. Even the slightest chance of seeing Taylor again sent his pulse soaring. All the hurtful words and declarations between them had brought nothing but confusion. What they had was complicated, passionate, and completely frustrating. Levi knew he wouldn’t trade it for anything.
He walked to the front door and paused. Levi wasn’t sure if he should knock or just walk in. Before he could decide, Mandy swung the door open.
“Levi, come in,” she said.
She wore a tight black dress and a smile just for him. The heels gave her normally petite body a lift. Her hair was pretty brown curls that hung around her shoulders. Her smile grew twice as wide when she caught Levi appraising her.
“Thanks,” he said immediately, dropping his gaze to the guitar in his hands.
“Oh! And you brought your guitar! Sweet,” she said. “You look great, by the way. That shirt makes your eyes look…”
Mandy never finished her sentence as she escorted him through the foyer and into the kitchen, as if he didn’t know the way. Suzanne looked up and waved from across the room, seemingly surprised, when she saw him. He smiled and returned the gesture.
Levi set his guitar down and grabbed a beer from one of the ice buckets on the counter. He popped the top off and took a long pull. Mandy slid in next to him and wrapped her arm around his elbow.
“This is great, isn’t it? I love parties.”
“Yeah,” he said, his eyes traveling across the room, through the foyer, and to the stairs.
Taylor stood there, leaning against the banister. Their eyes met and neither showed any reaction to the other. Levi turned his attention back to Mandy and her endless chattering, but he could feel Taylor’s gaze on him, feel her body drawing closer.
“… and then, I told him to get the good stuff in the back. This is a special occasion,” Mandy continued. Taylor moved past them and approached Suzanne. “What is she doing here?”
“She does live here, Mandy,” Levi answered.
“Doesn’t mean she’s invited.”
“Suzy?” Taylor said. “Sorry for interrupting.”
“Did you need something?” Suzanne asked, her full attention on Taylor now.
“No. I just wanted to give you your present.” Taylor handed over a small blue box with a white bow and a note card.
“Thank you, sweetie. You didn’t have to get me anything.”
“Yes, I did,” Taylor said. Suzanne started to open the card, and Taylor placed her hand over Suzanne’s to stop her. “Please read that later.”
A pink blush stippled Taylor’s cheeks and Levi grinned at the sight. That was something he’d never se
en before and he quite enjoyed it.
“Sure, sweetheart,” Suzanne said.
She placed her hand on Taylor’s shoulder and pulled her in for a tight hug. Levi was not surprised by the sweet moment between them. He knew how important Suzanne was to Taylor, and vice versa.
“Okay, everyone. Let’s head into the dining room for dinner,” Mandy announced.
All the guests made their way into the other room, bringing their drinks with them. “Levi, can you grab that tray and bring it with you, please?”
Levi nodded as his eyes followed Taylor to the door. “You’re not joining us?” he asked.
Taylor shook her head. “I don’t think anyone would have much fun with the boss’s daughter around.” Levi shrugged and picked up the tray of food. “I’ll see you Monday,” she said.
He froze, his feet rooted to the ground, his stomach flipped inside.
“Yeah, Monday,” he confirmed.
Dinner was delicious, the conversation comfortable and easy. Soon after, the group moved to the back patio for cocktails. Mandy lit the fire pit while Levi took a seat near the pool, his trusted guitar in his lap.
“You guys are in for a real treat,” Mandy announced.
“This evening is supposed to be about Suzanne,” he said, embarrassed by Mandy’s enthusiasm.
Levi plucked a few strings, trying to find the perfect song. Even though he was used to performing, for some reason it felt unnerving in such an intimate setting. He placed his fingers on the frets and strummed the opening chords of “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?”
As soon as he started singing, all conversations ceased. Every pair of eyes focused on Levi and his guitar. The words came easily as he sang his father’s favorite song. And when the chorus hit, he closed his eyes and felt the music in his very soul.
I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain …
When the last note was plucked, Levi was met with enthusiastic applause. A couple of the ladies even jumped to their feet. He gave them a nod and quickly moved on to another song. After a few more songs, he saw Mandy leave and reappear with a cake, candles aflame.
Levi broke into a round of “Happy Birthday” and was accompanied by the other party guests. Mandy held the cake in front of Suzanne, who blew out the candles when the song was finished. The rest of the group cheered and raised their glasses into the air.
Levi ate his cake and wished everyone a good night. He placed a kiss on Suzanne’s cheek and slung his guitar over his shoulder.
“You’re leaving?” Mandy said, scurrying to block the door.
“Yeah, I’ve got to go. I’ll see you on Monday.”
“Well,” she said, twirling a piece of hair around her finger and looking up at him. “Do you want to come back to my place? We could continue the party there.”
“Uh, I’ve actually got somewhere to be. Maybe another time,” he said.
Mandy dropped her hands to her sides and blew her bangs from her eyes.
“Yeah, okay.”
She frowned at him as he waited for her to move aside. Finally free, Levi tore through the house, and before he even knew what he was doing, he was halfway up the stairs. He decided not to overthink his actions. He needed to see Taylor. He needed it like air and poetry and music.
Her door was open. Levi knocked twice and entered, finding Taylor on her bed reading.
“Hi,” he said. He shuffled his feet and switched his guitar to the other shoulder.
“Hey. How’d you manage to escape Mandy?” Taylor asked.
He chuckled, propped his guitar against the wall, and closed her door. “I was about to leave for the night, but I wanted to see you first.”
Taylor scowled at him and turned back to her book. “Well, you’ve seen me. Now you can go.”
Levi exhaled and held his hands up in a gesture of surrender. “I deserve that. I do.”
Taylor nodded but did not look at him. “Forget it. Apology accepted. I heard you playing. You’re so talented, Levi. What are you doing at a job like this?”
“I’m earning an honest living,” he defended. The guilt from that statement sat heavy on his tongue like a mouth full of lead. “Music is too sacred to me to commercialize it. It’s just a passion that I don’t want diluted by rich executives in suits who sit behind their desks and make educated guesses at what teen girls want to listen to.”
She looked at him now, really looked. He felt as though she could see right through his skin to the underlying deceit and regret that ached with every breath, as if it was carved into his ribs. His chest heaved, expanding with all the lies he’d told to find that safe, and deflated with the despair of never seeing her again. It made Levi want to hide himself away.
“I guess I’ll get going,” he said.
Levi walked toward the bed and held out his hand for Taylor. Her confused gaze went from his formal and stiff outstretched hand to his face.
“It’s been a pleasure, Miss Hudson.”
She placed her hand in his and let his long fingers embrace hers. Taylor’s eyes became slits, and he could almost see her mind working out this cold farewell.
“What happened to your knuckles?” she asked, flipping his hand over and inspecting his injuries.
“I lost a battle with a rusty 1995 Chevy.”
“Wow. Your truck is older than I am.”
With their joined hands still hanging between them, Levi felt like he could never let go. He didn’t want to give up the feel of her soft skin beneath his calloused fingers.
“I should go,” he said.
“Why does this feel like good-bye, Levi?”
He shook his head and took his hand back. Levi walked to the door and gave her one last look over his shoulder. Her pretty face held no anger or suspicion. From the hairpin line of her lips to the small indentation between her furrowed brows, she looked utterly terrified.
With that one look, he knew he’d never let those bastards kidnap her come Monday. He didn’t know how he’d stop it, but in this moment, he knew he would. Even if it meant sacrificing his role in this game and his promised fortune.
“Levi,” she whispered breathlessly. He turned to fully face her now, waiting for something, anything, to keep him there. “Stay,” she said. “Please, stay.”
Those words hung in the air as both of them held their breath. Time seemed to still and wait for a decision. Levi stalked forward, his footsteps heavy. For a moment, Taylor looked shocked. She wanted him to stay only because she had no idea how he’d failed her. Monday he would lose his mind with worry and probably betray his closest friends, but today, he would stay.
He pulled Taylor from the bed, his lips on hers before she’d even gotten her footing. The moment he touched her, he knew that he needed this one last time. Her hands wrapped around his neck and slid into his hair. Taylor kissed him back. She kissed him like she knew all his secrets and still wanted him anyway. Levi moaned when her tongue entered his mouth.
His mind was frantic with thoughts of claiming her, but his body moved slowly as he worked to retain every memory of her taste and sound, every poetic movement of this last dance. Levi felt dizzy with need, his usual guilt erased by her lips.
Taylor’s shaking fingers moved to the buttons on his shirt and popped each one open. She placed her hands against the muscles of his stomach, ran them over his chest, and pushed the shirt from his shoulders. Circling him now, she placed kisses along Levi’s shoulders and across his back.
He spun, needing to see her face, to commit to memory the curve of her cheek and the exact shade of blue of her eyes. There was an emotion there he recognized but vowed to deny. Instead, Levi focused on his immediate physical need for Taylor. He slid her shirt off before placing a kiss over each nipple. His hot breath soaked through the lace of her bra and she hummed at the feel.
Levi flipped the button open on her shorts and pushed on the material until it fell away. He groaned at the satisfying torture when he noticed her lace panties. Taylor fumbled with his belt buckle
until he pushed her hands away and pulled it free himself. He slid out of his jeans and kicked them away.
Taylor looked crazed as she attacked his lips again, pulling him onto the bed. They fell together and rolled until she was pinned beneath Levi. Their hungry mouths devoured each other, exchanging sighs and throaty whispers.
“Romeo,” Taylor whispered, “you kiss by the book.”
He moved his mouth down to her cleavage, leaving a dark, possessive mark on the swell of her left breast. His fingers rubbed over the mark, a look of wonder on his face.
“What are you doing to me?” Levi whispered against her skin. His desperation was tangible. It was a fiery lead weight that sat heavy on his shoulders, reminding him that this would be his last touch, last taste of Taylor Hudson. “Give me my sin again.”
He unclasped her bra and pulled it from her body. Levi’s lips and hands slid over every inch, giving equal attention to all of her anatomy. He kissed Taylor’s neck, her jaw, her chin, and finally her lips—lips that through all their smiles and frowns and sometimes hateful words had always been asking him to stay.
* * *
Taylor exhaled as Levi traveled down her body. He placed kisses along her ribs, the longer pieces of his hair falling forward and tickling her like feathers. His tongue trailed a path from her navel to her hip, where he let his teeth scrape against her tan line. Taylor bit down on her bottom lip when he placed soft kisses on the insides of her thighs. She couldn’t help but slide her hands into his hair and look down at his face.
Levi held her gaze, the fiery look between them sending the pair farther into their desire. His tongue flicked out to taste her, and Taylor cried his name. She rocked her hips against him, the feel of his stubble against her sensitive skin driving her wild. Taylor felt like she was floating. A euphoric feeling pooled in her belly like falling over the first crest of a roller coaster. She screamed out when her orgasm hit, her fingers curling through Levi’s hair. She pushed him away and pulled him closer, undecided about how much pleasure her body could endure.
When Taylor could breathe again, Levi crawled up her body, his strong arms caging her in. She took in everything that he was—his love of poetry and fools like Romeo, his colorful tattoos, his hurt and loss, his talent and soulful voice—and was overwhelmed. She brought her lips to his in a slow kiss that only stoked the fire inside her.
Perfect Betrayal Page 19
