Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 95712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
“She did not!” I barked, standing up and putting my hands on my hips. “Did she follow us, for fuck’s sake?”
Gatlin lowered the paper. “What time did you get home last night?”
“I got home by eleven. Plus, Sam and Oliver were home, we weren’t alone. We played dominoes.”
Caden grinned at Levi. “Oh man, I loved playing that with our grandparents and your parents. Remember how your dad used to get so mad when we stacked the dominoes all up on each other and looked at them that way?”
Levi laughed. “I do remember that.”
“What is wrong with you two?”
Three sets of eyes flew to me.
“Emeline, it’s not that big of a deal. It’s not like it’s your first time being in the paper,” Caden said.
Levi frowned. “I didn’t think you’d care if people knew. I’m sorry if I put you in a tough spot.”
Shaking my head, I replied, “I’m not upset. I guess I’m just surprised you’re okay with it.”
“Why wouldn’t he be?” Gatlin asked.
I looked at Levi again. “You’ve been gone for so long. I just didn’t think you’d want to be the center of attention so soon.”
He gave me a gentle smile as he took my hands in his. Kissing the back of each one, he said, “I don’t care who knows we’re dating, Em. I had to learn a hard lesson. Life is too short to worry about shit like that. The only thing that matters to me is that Rhett is happy and healthy, and that we get to…”
Levi glanced at my brothers, who both raised a single brow.
“Get to what?” Gatlin asked.
“Continue to get to know each other,” Levi finally said, still looking at Caden and Gatlin. When he faced me, I saw the twinkle in his eyes.
Smiling, I said, “If you’re not bothered by it, then neither am I.”
Gatlin cleared his throat. “Um, there’s one more thing.”
I managed to drag my gaze off of Levi to ask, “What?”
“There’s a picture of you.”
Gasping, I reached for the paper. “Let me see!”
Gatlin held it up. “Trust me, you don’t want to see it.”
I blinked rapidly.
“It’s worse than the Easter picture,” Caden said with a wince.
My hand slapped over my mouth as I mumbled, “No!”
Both nodded.
Levi’s brows lowered. “I’m so confused right now.”
Gatlin sighed. “If I must be the one to tell the story…”
Levi went to take the paper, and I quickly grabbed it and gasped when I saw it.
“Oh, come on, Em. Now I have to see and hear this,” Levi laughed.
Caden leaned against the desk, a smile on his usually grumpy face.
Levi made a quick move and got the paper. I attempted to grab it back, but it was too late. His eyes went wide, and he looked at me. “What happened?”
I lifted my chin. “I fell.”
“Into what?” he asked, laughing.
Sighing, I closed my eyes and said, “A pig’s feeding trough.”
My two brothers burst into laughter, while Levi at least attempted not to. He lost the battle when he looked at the paper again. “The picture makes sense now. Who took this?”
I folded my arms over my chest. “Probably Logan Miller.”
Levi’s eyes went wide. “Why do you think that?”
“Because she is always there when something like this happens.” I growled as I threw my hands in the air and let them slap down at my sides. “She’s had a problem with me since…since…”
“Forever,” Gatlin added.
Looking at the photo again, I felt my anger building once more. Of course, the picture they used of Levi was one taken at camp this past week.
“Wait, how did they get this picture of you?” I asked, pointing to his perfectly gorgeous photo.
Levi shrugged. “No clue.”
I looked at Gatlin and Caden, who both seemed just as confused. Gatlin leaned over and said, “It’s a great picture. The slight profile shot is flattering to you.”
“Thanks,” Levi replied with a grin.
“You guys aren’t seeing the bigger picture here. We hire a photographer to take photos each year. They’re vetted and have been working for us for the last six years. There is no way they would have given Logan, Janet, or whoever wrote this article any pictures from the campgrounds. It’s strictly prohibited in their contracts. Someone who was at camp took this photo—yesterday.”
“Maybe one of the parents took it? It was the last day of camp,” Caden suggested.
Worrying my lower lip, I nodded. “Maybe. But how did Janet get it?”
None of us could come up with a reasonable answer to that question, and although the three of them brushed it off, I couldn’t shake my uneasy feeling. Someone had taken a photo of Levi, before anyone even knew we were dating, and sent it to The Daily Dirt.
Who would have done that? And the bigger question…why would they have done it?
Levi
The feel of my mattress shifting woke me. Rhett was literally standing on my bed, looking down at me.