Page 19 of How Sweet It Is (Willow Shade Island #3)

I gape at Levi. “What? That’s not information you should be spreading around.”

I’m actually relieved that Levi has money in a trust. I was so worried he would spend through his inheritance and lose it all. I don’t know why, but I’m feeling quite protective of him, which is silly. I’m just working for him while I wait for the trial.

He leans against the glass counter in a classic Levi move. I don’t know how he does it, but he’s sexy even when he’s wearing an apron that says Crumb and Get It with cherry pie stains on it. “Relax. I just wanted to razz her a bit, that’s all.”

“Oh, you totally razzed her, that’s for sure,” Kiera says. “Nice going.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “And you wanted to brag.”

He stretches his arms out. “Yes. So what? I wanted to brag, okay? Lisa dumped me. It just messed with my head. But I’m over her. I didn’t know I was over her until I saw her today. But you know what? It feels good.”

I slowly nod. “I’m glad.”

“Me too,” Kiera says. “She looks like trouble on a stick.”

He steps toward the door to his kitchen then stops and grins at us. “She’s got to be so mad she dumped me for Mr. Medical School Loans. It’s going to be years before he pays them off.” He laughs and disappears into the other room.

Kiera snorts. “That’s funny.”

I turn to her. “I know Levi doesn’t care, but don’t tell anyone about his trust fund. He really shouldn’t be talking about it. It’s for his own safety.”

Kiera shrugs and looks disinterested. “Who would I tell? I hang out with my sister.”

“Thanks.”

I go into the office and work on my computer for a couple of hours.

I get the accounting done, and I take some new photos and post them on the socials I set up.

I work through lunch and don’t think much about it until Levi comes into the office with a sack from the sub sandwich place down the street and plops it on my desk. “You haven’t eaten, have you?”

I stare at the sack. Did he forget I can’t eat gluten? Before I can ask, he sets a plate down and takes a sub sandwich from the sack. “I made the bread with my gluten-free flour. The place down the street finished off the sandwich.”

My heart jumps into my throat, and I look up at him. “You made me a gluten-free sub sandwich?”

He shrugs. “I guessed on the kind of meat. Hope you like ham and cheese.”

I stand and throw my arms around him, so excited I can’t even think straight. “Oh, my gosh.”

Levi hugs me back, and electricity crackles where his hands touch me.

It feels good to be in his arms. Even better than our dance, because we weren’t this close.

His body is muscular—I could kind of tell when I was clinging to him on his motorcycle—but it’s even more apparent now.

Like rolling out all that cookie dough has given him a great body.

He chuckles. “If you’re not careful, I’m going to take this the wrong way,” he says in my ear.

I jump back from him, heat rising to my face. I totally just gave my boss a bear hug. A lingering bear hug, checking out his muscles. I can’t believe I did that. “Sorry.”

He grins and leans against my desk. “Don’t be. I’ll keep that on replay in my mind for a long time.”

More heat rises to my cheeks, but I don’t care. I grab the sandwich and take a bite. It’s delicious. Of course it is. Levi’s gotten really good at making gluten-free everything.

“You could totally sell this bread to the sub shop down the street,” I say around the food in my mouth. Gah. I really should chew and swallow before talking, but my brain is so happy I can’t think straight.

Levi’s eyes grow wide. “I didn’t think of that. You’re brilliant.”

I pretend to be bashful. “Aw, shucks.”

He stands there watching me scarf down the sandwich for a few moments before he shoves off from my desk and walks to the door. He turns back to me before he leaves. “Glad you liked it. I’m worried now, though.”

“About what?”

“That you won’t eat unless I’m making you food.”

“That’s valid.”

He laughs and leaves me to the last bite of my sub sandwich. I’m really embarrassed that I accosted him like that, but part of me liked it a little too much. I need to be careful. Levi’s too smooth, and I could easily fall for him.

As I’m in the storefront, taking photos for more advertising, Kiki comes into the bakery. Her hair is up in a messy bun, but it’s more messy than bun. She comes up to me.

“Amelia, can I ask you if you were serious about watching Skyler for me?”

I nod. “Of course. What’s going on?”

Kiki lets out a breath and brushes her hair away from her eyes.

“I’ve got a zillion half-made centerpieces all over my living room, and Kiera and I are going to finish them tonight, but Skyler keeps playing with them, and I’m afraid they’re going to get ruined.

Could you possibly watch her at your place tonight? ”

“Sure. I can do that. Text me, and I’ll send you my address. Just drop her off whenever you want. I’ll be home by four thirty.”

Kiki grins at me. “You are my lifesaver. Truly. Thank you so much.”

“I’m happy to.”

She buys a dozen cupcakes from Kiera and leaves.

We finish the day selling out of several of Levi’s creations.

I gather the leftovers to put in the refrigerator and take them in back as Kiera cleans the storefront.

Levi’s got the kitchen clean when I walk in.

I notice he’s been keeping it cleaner, which makes me wonder if he’s just more aware of my gluten allergy.

“What are you doing this weekend?” he asks as he wipes the counter down.

“I’m watching Skyler for Kiki tonight.”

Levi’s countenance changes, and he shifts his weight. “Oh.”

“Why? Is that not a good idea?”

He shakes his head. “It’s fine.”

Levi has no poker face. I can tell something is bothering him, and I want to know what. “What’s wrong?” I press.

He takes in a breath. “I just know how Skyler is sometimes.”

“What does that mean?”

“I mean, she’s a handful. Do you want me to help you?”

“I don’t need help.” I say it confidently, even though I’ve never watched a little girl before. I have one older sister, and she’s been the bane of my existence. Growing up, I helped a lot at my parents’ flower shop instead of babysitting like other twelve-year-old girls.

“I’m not trying to say you need help.” He seems frustrated. “What if I just come over and hang out with you? Then if Skyler has any issues, I can be there.”

I don’t know why this irritates me, but it does. I want to dig in and tell him I’m fine on my own, but there is a small part of me that thinks his help might be good. “All right, fine.”

He smiles. “Great. I’ll come to your apartment.”

I pack up my laptop and leave. Thirty minutes later, I hear Levi’s motorcycle outside, and my pulse jumps. I remind myself that he’s not coming over for me. He’s coming over because he doesn’t think I can babysit his niece.

He knocks on my door, and I let him in. He takes in my small living room area, decorated with several thrift store items Rafe hung around the room. Levi stares at the faded wall hanging that looks bohemian to me. He nods. “Nice. Where’d you get this?”

I can’t tell him this is just a temp place until I go back home, and these thrift store pieces mean nothing to me. So, I tell him what I made up in my head the first night I had to stay in this apartment. I was practicing my fake background in case anyone came over.

“I picked that up in a market in Marrakesh. It was hanging in the back of this spice vendor’s tent. He swore it was handwoven by his grandmother.”

“Really?” Levi peers closer at it. “It’s got a Made in China sticker.”

Embarrassment heats my cheeks, and I do the only thing I can. “Well.” I fold my arms. “That vendor is going to hear about this next time I’m in Marrakesh.”

Levi shakes his head and laughs, a warm and rich sound. “You’re so full of?—”

My doorbell rings, cutting him off. I push past him to open the door. “Hello, Skyler. Come on in.”

Kiki brings her in. She still looks as frazzled as earlier. Skyler’s wearing a pair of pink-and-white-polka-dotted leggings and a white T-shirt. Her hair is in pigtails.

“Thank you so much for watching her.” Kiki’s gaze lands on Levi. “Oh, I didn’t know you’d be here.”

He puts his arms behind his back. “Yep. Just hanging out with the girls tonight.”

He winks at Skyler, and she giggles and runs to him. “Uncle Levi. Let’s make cupcakes!”

He laughs. “I’ve been in the kitchen all day. Let’s order DoorDash for dinner, and we can see what they have for dessert.”

“Oh boy!” Skyler says.

I turn to Kiki. “Do I need to know anything about her routine?”

Kiki shakes her head. “No. She’s pretty easy to take care of. I’ll come get her around nine, if that’s not too late.”

“That’s fine.”

Kiki hesitates as if she’s having doubts about leaving Skyler.

“Don’t worry. We’ll have fun together,” Levi calls. “I thought we’d build a bomb, do a little skydiving, then practice our knife juggling.” He winks at me like he and I came up with these activities together.

“We will not,” I assure her. “We can watch some age-appropriate television or play a game.”

Levi chuckles. “Boring,” he says to Skyler, and she giggles.

Kiki grins at us, mouths “Thank you,” and leaves.

I turn to Levi, who now has a little girl climbing on him. “What should we order for dinner?”

Levi pulls out his phone. “A new Indian restaurant just opened up downtown. Do you like curry?”

“I love it, but it might be too spicy for Skyler.”

Levi waves his hand. “She’ll eat anything.”

“Are you sure?”

He shrugs. “I think so.”

He orders food while Skyler attempts to scale him like a mountain, peppering him with questions. “What did you make today?”

“Cupcakes, cookies, croissants, tarts, and bread.”

“What kind of bread did you make?”

He glances at her from over his phone. “Gluten-free bread.”

She wrinkles her nose. “What kind is that?”

“It’s the only kind I can eat,” I say.

“Oh. Was it good?”

“It was delicious.” I grin at her, suddenly unsure of what to do all night with a five-year-old. “Should we do something fun?”

“Yes!” Skyler shouts.

“What would you like to do?”

“Let’s build a fort!” She goes to my thrift-store couch and pulls off a cushion.

“Great idea. I’ll get some blankets.”

Levi finishes on his phone and joins us, and soon, we have a fort made for a king, with cushions, blankets hanging from a rope, and a flashlight. Skyler climbs in then pokes her head out. “You come in, too, Amelia.”

“Really?” I eyeball the small space I would have to crawl into. “I don’t know if there’s room for me.”

Levi nudges me. “Don’t disappoint the little lady. Go on.”

I’m not really dressed for crawling on the floor, in my business skirt and dress jacket, but I slip out of the jacket and hang it in the closet before I crawl into the small space. Levi crawls in after me. He grins at me and says in my ear, “Scoot over, Spreadsheet. My rear end is hanging out.”

Heat flushes through me. I shouldn’t have given in to Levi coming over. This is going to be bad for me, I can tell right now.