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“It’s quite large for just one person,” I said under my breath, suddenly feeling overwhelmed by my recent outlays of cash.
“I’m thinking of buying it as an investment property. The lowest level has tenants who’d like to stay on. I’d keep the upper apartment as a place to stay when I visit my parents, and I’d let the other, perhaps to a budding sculptor.”
I studied him, not knowing how to react, let alone what to say.
He put his arm around my waist and turned me so I faced him. “I’ve overwhelmed you.”
“More, it’s my recent expenditures. The studio on top of the money I blew at Claridge’s.” I’d been thinking out loud and realized I’d said far more than I should have.
Levi’s eyes bored into mine as if he already knew what I’d done.
“I stayed seven days,” I blurted. “It was a few weeks ago, and my tenants hadn’t yet moved out. I’m not usually so extravagant.” I tried to wriggle from his arms, but he held me tighter.
“Why does this admission make you so uncomfortable?” he asked.
“Please don’t make me say it,” I whispered.
“Say what? I’m just trying to understand?—”
I pulled away, and this time, he released me. I folded my arms and looked out at the sea.
“If only I could rewind the clock to when we were sitting on the sand. Before?—”
“I ruined it?”
Levi shook his head. “I pushed things too far, too fast. I’m sorry I suggested purchasing the house. I feel like my doing so has made things awkward between us.”
“You’ve done nothing. It’s me.”
“Eliza—” Levi stepped in front of me, cupped my cheek, and gazed into my eyes.
“I’m sorry. I feel like such an idiot.”
“For what?”
I looked down at the sand. “I hoped to see you again. That’s why I stayed at Claridge’s.”
“I see.”
“I’ll call Niven and ask if I can stay at the cottage tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll make my way home.”
“Please don’t pull away from me, El.”
“It’s you who’s pulling away.”
Levi cocked his head. “I’m doing nothing of the kind. I’m merely trying to apologize for making you uncomfortable.”
“And I’m trying to apologize for becoming a stalker.”
The ridiculousness of the conversation must have hit us both simultaneously, given we burst out laughing at the same time.
“You said you didn’t have to be back in London right away, yes?”
“Levi, in case you haven’t figured it out, I don’t need to be anywhere for anything. My life is in a bit of a flux presently.”
“Good. I mean, not that your life is in flux…Here I go again. Look, there’s somewhere I want to take you.”
“Where?”