Levi: Ryan Brothers Renovations, #4

By Kali Hart

Kate

After a year away, I'm back home to stay.
My brother surprises me with a house.
Only it's undergoing extensive renovations.
And when I learn who's leading the project, I panic.
I gave myself to Levi Ryan a year ago.
But I'm the one who ran away.
I've never stopped thinking about him.
But how can I possibly face him now?

Levi

Kate and I shared one amazing night together.
I thought it was the beginning of something.
But she begged me not to tell her brother.
Then she disappeared on me.
Now that she's back, I have no plans of letting her get away a second time.

Sweet & steamy short story insta-love romance with an older alpha blue collar man and younger curvy woman with an HEA. NO cliffhangers. NO cheating.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jackie M. Wallick
• Release date: Jul 9, 2020
• ISBN: 9798223457008

Book preview

1

KATE

That waiter’s totally checking you out, Sadie says to me from across the booth. Still grinning, my best friend uses her nearly empty margarita glass to point him out.

I give a half-hearted smile and shake my head. I’ve been back in town all of twenty-four hours and she’s already trying to find me a man. I blame her overzealous matchmaker impulses on her own newfound happiness. She hasn’t stopped smiling since the minute I met her at the airport. He’s too young.

"He’s your age," she argues.

Exactly. I’ve always had a thing for an older guy—just like Sadie—but really, I’ve had a thing for Levi Ryan. Coincidentally, in my year-long absence halfway across the country, my bestie managed to snag one of Levi’s brothers for herself.

You’re blushing.

Shit, I am. I take an emergency gulp of my otherwise neglected ice water. I never told Sadie, or anyone for that matter, that I slept with Levi the night before I left town to intern at a prestigious art museum. As far as my bestie knows, my virginity is still intact.

Leave him your number, Sadie encourages.

No.

He’d be a good warm-up.

Warm-up?

For you to get back on the dating scene. Maybe work up the courage to finally ask Levi out.

You know that’s not going to happen. I’m truly happy for Sadie and this whole hearts and flowers thing she’s got with Duke. I’ve never seen her smile more. But it’s a bit annoying right now. I tried dating while I was away, but nothing stuck past a few awkward first dates.

The only man I want is Levi—the one man I can’t have.

Why not? Sadie presses. You two are obviously hot for each other.

"Were."

Liar.

Let me find somewhere to live first, okay?

Sadie taps my hand. You can stay at my place as long as you need to. Even if Duke and I weren’t getting on a plane in a couple hours, I don’t stay there much anymore.

Duke is meeting us at the restaurant shortly to whisk Sadie away on some tropical adventure. The minute she’s gone, the apartment hunting begins. Someday, I want a roomy ranch-style house with a special room to paint in. Someday. But today, an apartment with ample sunlight is the only luxury I can afford.

"I can’t believe you’re leaving me after I just got back," I jab lightheartedly, hoping to change the subject from my nonexistent love life. Duke should be here any minute now. With any luck, I’ll escape this fiasco without Sadie jotting my phone number on our bill. Yes, he’s my age, but to me, he looks like a kid.

It’s not just the twelve years between me and Levi that makes him all man. It’s the whole package. The way he’s not afraid to get his hands dirty. The way he carries himself. The assertiveness he showed in bed.

Kate, I promise I’ll make this up to you, Sadie says, grabbing both my hands across the table. "Duke had an opening between