Levi pushed aside her trembling hands and quickly did up her buttons. Linda tucked the garment back in where it had come out of the waistband of her skirt. She straightened her skirt and took a deep breath. Levi raked his fingers though his hair.
He looked exactly as he had before this started. Well, except for the prominent bulge in the front of his jeans. She, on the other hand, felt hot and sticky. A complete mess.
“You look fine.”
She narrowed her gaze and glared at him. The man always seemed to know what she was thinking. It was disconcerting. His eyes, usually so solemn, seemed to twinkle in the light from the overhead fixture. She sighed, knowing she couldn’t really be mad with him. And why would she be? The man had just given her an incredible orgasm. She felt relaxed and loose, in spite of feeling ruffled.
He leaned down and kissed her. It startled her. What had happened between them had happened so fast they hadn’t even kissed.
His lips were warm and firm against hers and she could taste herself on them. Her pussy clenched. Levi groaned and pulled away. “Later. There’s no time now.”
“Right.” Throwing her shoulders back, she turned the knob and opened the door. “I’m going to run upstairs for a minute. Can you open up?”
“Sure.”
As she started for the inside entrance a heavy banging came on the front door. “What in the world…” She automatically glanced toward the sound and froze, her insides turning to ice, as she saw who was standing on the other side of the heavy oak and glass door. She so did not need this. Not now.
“Who is it?” Levi was beside her, his face set in its usual stark, unemotional lines. The playful lover from moments ago was gone.
“Someone from my past.” The banging came again. She knew he could see them. There was no escaping upstairs to change. Whether she wanted to or not, she’d have to deal with him now.
“Who?” Levi repeated, as she sighed and headed to the door.
“Simon Dyson.”
Levi’s gaze narrowed as she unlocked the door. She had no doubt he recognized the last name from the letterhead of the note her brother had sent her.
Yanking open the door, she came face-to-face with her ex-fiance. “Hello, Simon.”
Chapter Seven
The man didn’t reply when Linda opened the door and greeted him. Levi didn’t like him already. Obviously, Simon Dyson had a history with Linda.
He strode into the shop like he owned it, looking here and there, and frowning as he did so. Levi might prefer to wear jeans or fatigues, but he knew expensive clothing when he saw it.
The suit Dyson wore was definitely not one he’d bought off the rack. The cufflinks and tie clip were set with a large onyx and a small diamond. Nothing too flashy, but just enough to show wealth. The watch strapped to his wrist would easily pay for a new car and his shoes cost more than Levi’s entire outfit put together. His blond hair was short, but styled, his fingernails buffed and the scent of expensive cologne emanated from him.
Levi had seen Dyson’s type before. Well educated, privileged and from a background of money, the Simon Dysons of the world coasted through life assuming everyone else lived to serve their whims.
Crossing his arms over his chest, Levi leaned against the edge of a heavy, oak dining room table and watched. Dyson worked out. He was fit beneath the expensive suit, but it was the kind of fit that came from an expensive gym and trainer and not from honest physical labor. There was no way he was leaving Linda alone with this guy. He’d seen the expression on her face when she’d seen Simon. It was a look of resignation.
“Why are you here, Simon?” Linda closed and locked the door, obviously not willing to open the shop until she found out what was going on.
Simon glanced in Levi’s direction, swept him from head to foot with a contemptuous gaze and turned back to Linda. “This is a private matter.”
Levi kept one eye on Simon as he watched Linda. She took a deep breath, one of her hands coming to rest on her stomach. Son of a bitch. This guy was making her ulcer act up. His eyes narrowed as he imagined all the nasty things he’d like to do to Dyson.
Linda gave a bitter laugh. “Nothing between us is private, Simon. Our relationship, our breakup and the subsequent fallout was fodder for all the gossips back home.” She strode over to the counter and straightened up some papers that were resting there. “You made certain of that.”
He shrugged as he glanced at his watch, giving the impression that he had somewhere better to be. “I thought you’d want to keep this conversation private, but that’s your prerogative.” He raked his gaze over Linda, obviously taking in her frazzled air, her disheveled hair and the slight reddish mark on her neck. “You seem a bit scattered this morning.” He shot Levi a smirk before returning his attention to Linda.
Levi cursed the stubble on his jaw. He’d marked her skin without meaning to. His muscles clenched with the need to do something. Anything. In a perfect world, that anything would include his fist connecting with Dyson’s face. But Levi didn’t move, didn’t blink. There were better ways to deal with men like Dyson who would run to the cops at the first sign of physical violence.
Linda flushed, a pink tint creeping up her cheeks. Her blue eyes snapped with annoyance. “Say what you have to say, Simon. I’m busy.”
“I can see that.” He let his gaze wander around the store. “Selling trinkets and second-rate antiques. Quite a comedown for someone of your lineage.”
Anger, slow and steady, burned in Levi’s gut. He’d been gathering intel on Linda’s family, but he was starting on Dyson the second he was gone. One way or another he was going to pay for the look of pain that flashed across Linda’s face.
“I know neither you nor my family can accept my choices in life, but they’re mine to make.” She put her hands on her hips and glared at Dyson. “If you have nothing more to add, you should leave.”
Dyson shrugged. “I’m here on behalf of your family. Your poor mother and father are concerned about you—leaving law school, breaking our engagement, moving away from home, working in sales. He raised a finger with each point he listed, as if ticking off an imaginary list. When he finished, Simon shook his head in mock concern.
“Get to the point, Simon.”
He tugged at the cuffs of his shirt, straightening them. The diamond in the cufflink glittered briefly. “Well, some might wonder about your emotional state of mind.”
Linda gave a harsh laugh. “That’s pushing it, even for you Simon. I left law school because I didn’t like it. It was my family’s dream, not mine. I found a job I liked. I ended our engagement when I discovered you sleeping with one of my so-called friends.” She broke off, her chest rising and falling heavily.
Simon shrugged again. “What did you expect me to do? You’re a cold woman, Linda. It didn’t mean anything.”
Linda snorted, “It meant something to me. It meant you were a two-timing, unfaithful louse.”
“Men aren’t faithful and anyone who says differently is lying. I expect we both would have had affairs over the years once you’d presented me with a son to carry on the tradition at the firm.”
Levi ignored the pain in his chest. Linda had been engaged to this guy, which meant she’d slept with him. The thought of Linda, with her open and honest sexuality, in bed with Dyson made Levi want to hit something. Hard.
And Levi couldn’t believe this guy. He’d had Linda in his bed and he’d cheated on her. Levi knew firsthand what a sensual, giving lover she was. If there was a problem in their relationship, it obviously stemmed from Dyson.