Page 15 of The Love Ambush (The Sullivans #1)

Levi

G entry would be so mad to find out she’s fallen asleep on me, but I don’t have the heart to move her. As soon as she drifted off, I moved to the middle seat, and I might have helped steer her to lay her head on my chest.

I just want her to be comfortable. It has nothing to do with how good she smells, of lilac and green grass, or how amazing she feels lying against me, and everything to do with Emily telling me Gentry was up with her until four in the morning.

Which was when Emily’s room stopped spinning enough that she could fall asleep.

I have a feeling Gentry was up even later than that, probably getting last-minute things together for the trip, if the dark circles under her eyes are anything to go by.

Up front, Emily is chattering away, telling Brodie all about her life and her friends and school.

Brodie’s listening and commenting, though it’s clear he’s distracted.

He’s probably stressed beyond belief about the wedding, and he’s never handled stress well, but I’m still pissed about the way he talked to Gentry.

If I have any shot of Gentry forgiving me for ghosting her three years ago, I need Brodie to tell her everything that happened that week. The Lendews are not a family that shares, but he owes me. And it’ll probably be good for him to share his trauma…

I shake my head at my own stupid hopefulness. The last thing Brodie wants is me dating his sister. He’s not going to tell her about his week from hell.

“So,” Emily goes on. “I get why you don’t want to send us money anymore and everything, but I have a life, Brodie, and it will end if I can’t get new soccer cleats.

Not to mention that I need a present for Ashley’s birthday party next month.

And Sophie really needs gymnastics. She’s so boring and sad all the time since her boyfriend dumped her. ”

When Emily insisted on sitting up front, I figured it was just another foray in her mission to push me and Gentry together. I didn’t realize she’d be asking her brother for money. That girl is persistent as hell.

“Uh-huh,” Brodie says.

“Brodie,” Emily screeches. “Are you even listening to me? God, you used to be cool.”

Gentry stirs against my chest, but I rub her arm and squeeze her tighter against me. She relaxes with a sigh and snuggles closer.

“Sorry, Em,” Brodie says, sounding exhausted and truly sorry. What is going on with him? “I’m focused on driving. What did you say?”

Emily sighs, but she doesn’t give up. “You have to keep sending us money. Sophie and I are impressionable youths.”

Brodie laughs. “You’re a firecracker, kid. But you’ll be fine. Gentry’s got you covered.”

“She doesn’t. She’s barely keeping it together as it is, and she works really hard. I don’t want to have to move out of our house, and the dress I want for prom isn’t cheap.”

“You’re too young to go to prom.”

“You’re not listening.” Emily’s yelling now, and her face is red with anger. “We need your help, Brodie. You can’t just abandon us.”

“Stop being dramatic and calm down,” Brodie says. “With a little bit of saving and hard work, you’re all going to be fine. Sophie can get a job, maybe you can babysit, but honestly, I think you’re all just used to a certain level of spending that’s unnecessary and wasteful.”

“We aren’t wasteful,” Emily says, fully insulted. “We buy most of our clothes from the thrift store.”

“That’s great. It’s not like you’re going to starve, Em. I know you don’t understand this now, but someday you’re going to get married, and you’re going to want to give all your attention, time, and money to your spouse and whatever family you decide to have.”

Emily takes three deep breaths, just like I’ve seen Gentry do, usually when she’s fed up with me. “What’s Daphne like, anyway? I can’t wait to meet her.”

And just like that, Brodie’s fully back in the conversation and telling Emily all about his fiancée.

It’s clear he’s head over heels for her, something I never thought I’d see from him.

Brodie once told me humans aren’t meant to be monogamous, and he was determined to sleep with one hundred women before he turned fifty.

Gentry stirs just as we near the summit of yet another mountain.

She gasps and pushes herself off my chest, swiping at her face. “Oh, my God, Levi. I’m so sorry.”

“I’m not,” I say. She’s adorable with her eyes still sleepy, her cheek red from where it was pressed against my chest, her hair mussed.

Her brow creases in confusion for a moment before her eyes widen. She rubs my chest. “I’m so sorry. I can’t believe I drooled on you.”

I look down to see the tiniest circle of dampness on my sweatshirt and shrug. “It’ll dry.” I wish I could pull her back against me and hug away her embarrassment. Maybe tease her about it until we’re both laughing. Maybe kiss her warm lips and tangle my fingers in her messy hair.

Unfortunately, that’s not the relationship I have with Gentry.

“This is so embarrassing. I bet you can’t wait to get away from me…” She flushes all the way to the tips of her ears. “I mean us.”

I grab her closest hand in mine and give it a squeeze because I can’t help but touch her. “Gentry. Stop. I’ve loved getting to spend time with you and your sisters. There’s nothing for you to apologize for.”

She goes still, her expression confused and upset, before she gently pulls her hand from mine. “You have to stop flirting with me, Levi. I—” She glances away and gasps. “Oh, wow. Look at that view.”

Brodie begins the descent into a picturesque valley that, judging by how long we’ve been in this vehicle, has to be the valley town of Yuletide.

There’s a light dusting of snow on the ground even this early in the season.

It covers the houses and roads in a pretty white frosting, and the sun is setting with a pink glow in the west.

“That’s Yuletide,” Brodie says, his chin lifting with pride. “Wait until you see where you’re staying. There are reindeer on the property.”

“Reindeer?” Emily asks. She might be too old to believe in Santa, but she’s clearly not too old to be excited about seeing reindeer.

“A whole herd of them,” Brodie says. “You’ll be staying in the original farmhouse, which has been converted into a bed-and-breakfast. Daphne says it’s very rustic, so you should feel right at home.”

Damn, he can be a dick.

“And where will you be staying?” I ask.

“Daphne, her family, and I will be staying at a resort right up the road from the reindeer farm. Where the wedding’s happening.” He looks back at me. “Sorry, man, you’re at the farm, too.”

“No problem,” I say, teeth gritted in annoyance. How can he push his own family off like this?

“Brodie,” Gentry says. “You can’t make room for Levi? He’s just one person.”

“Sorry,” Brodie says. “Daphne’s got a huge family. And her parents needed an extra room for their dogs.”

“Seriously,” I mutter, getting more annoyed with him by the minute.

“Don’t worry, man,” Brodie says. “You and I will get tons of time to hang out. The bars in town are supposed to be lit.” He pokes Emily’s shoulder. “Isn’t that what the kids say these days?”

“No,” Emily says.

Brodie doesn’t deflate. “We’ll stop by the reindeer farm so you can drop off your stuff, then we’ll head to the inn.

Daphne needs help getting some things together for the wedding.

I told her the wedding planner can do all that stuff, but she’s got some idea that people will notice a personal touch. ”

“Happy to help,” I say.

“Not you,” Brodie says with a guffaw. “It’s women’s work. You and me are going to play a round of golf before the family dinner tonight.”

Gentry shoots a glare at her brother, but he’s oblivious.

“Why are there Christmas decorations up already?” Emily asks as we drive into downtown, past shops with Christmas-themed window displays and wreaths on every light pole. “Don’t they celebrate Halloween?”

“In Yuletide, it’s Christmas every day,” Brodie says. “Daphne wants a Christmas wedding, and we didn’t want to wait until Christmas to be married.”

“I never thought I’d hear you say you can’t wait to be married,” I say. I have got to meet this woman who’s converted my best friend.

Brodie laughs. “Me neither, man. Of the two of us, you should be the one getting married first. You’re the romantic.”

Next to me, Gentry snorts. “Romantic? Brodie, you were always telling me about all the girls Levi played and la—” Her eyes widen as she realizes there are children in the vehicle.

“Played and laid?” Sophie asks. “Sounds like Emily’s boyfriend.”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” Emily shrieks. “And it’s Gentry’s fault.”

As the two girls continue to bicker, I stare at Gentry, who’s trying ineffectually to get them to stop. That’s what she thinks of me? No wonder she wants nothing to do with me.

“That’s what you told her about me?” I ask Brodie.

Don’t get me wrong, Brodie and I had fun together.

We often teamed up to gain the interest of whatever woman either of us was interested in, and I was no shrinking violet.

I had my fair share of casual flings and one-night-stands, but I was always clear about my intentions from the start.

Very few women my age were looking for long-term either when I was in my late teens and early twenties.

Brodie laughs like I’ve just told the best joke. “She’s so easy to shock,” he says. “I couldn’t resist.”

“I have never in my life used the phrase played and laid,” I say, turning to Gentry.

She won’t meet my eyes.

“The girls know I’m joking,” Brodie says. “And we all know I got way more women than you did. But you were an awesome wingman, bro.”

“Thanks. Bro .” I’m more than a little annoyed, but also glad to have the truth out for Gentry to hear. Not that I’m sure it’ll make a difference. She’s already made up her mind about me.

“You ought to thank me. You should have seen the way Gentry used to look at you. I had to keep her off you somehow.”