Page 67 of Reckless Love

“You’re perfect. So ready for me,” he says. “I can’t wait to?—”

Despite the euphoric state I’m in, I think I hear the doorbell, but he doesn’t seem to. When it rings again, I pull back and he looks at me, eyes dazed. Then his focus clears and he curses and sets me down.

“I’m so sorry. That’s Levi. I—I’m off because we changed days. I?—”

“It’s okay. Go. I’m good.”

He smirks when I let out a shaky breath. “You’re so good.”

I shoot him a look, and he just laughs.

“Not funny. Carrie is right outside with your son and we were just?—”

“Hold that thought,” he says, holding up his finger when the doorbell rings a third time. He turns around, eyes on me as he walks backwards. “We are notfinished.”

“Yes, we are,” I hiss.

He just grins and shakes his head. “You look so fucking beautiful when you come.”

My cheeks flame and I’m glad when he finally turns and jogs toward the door.

I try to sneak into the mudroom off of the garage, so I won't have to see Carrie, but just as I’m rounding the corner, Levi comes running into the kitchen and spots me.

“Elle!” he yells.

He comes barreling into me. I bend down and hug him.

“Hi, little man.”

“What the hell?” Carrie says from the other room.

Rhodes doesn't say anything. I know I'm putting him in a bad position. It would be normal for him to let the mother of his child know when a woman is moving into his house, especially the woman she's always hated.

Rhodes calls Levi into the other room.

“Go say bye to your mama,” I whisper.

“I want to stay heah,” he says.

“I’ll be here when you come back. Just go say bye to your mom.”

He shakes his head and buries his face in my stomach when I stand up.

“I stay wif you,” he says.

Carrie comes into the kitchen and Rhodes is right behind her, shooting me an apologetic look.

“I thought it must be you,” she says, coldly.

“Yep. How are you doing, Carrie?”

“Fabulous, Elle,” she says.

The snark in her voice is impossible to ignore.

“Come say bye to Mommy,” she says to Levi when he holds on to me.

I pat his back and kind of push him gently forward,encouraging him to go to her. When he doesn't, she huffs and walks over, bending down to kiss him.