And when he touched me—when he touched me my entire body sang. I melted into him. I wanted to drown in the feeling of his body pressed against mine. In his bed. Between the sheets. Every sleepy sigh and pull me closer.

God, I could never be close enough.

I wanted that with Levi once. I wanted our Hallmark Christmas special. I wanted to fall in love the way it happens in the movies. Starry eyes and happily ever afters. But the man in front of me is not the man from the screen.

He never belonged on the pedestal I put him on. He was a figment of my imagination. Someone I dreamed him to be. He’s the reality check I never asked for.

“Will you join me for a drink?”

“I’m with friends,” I say.

“Just one drink.” He moves his hand lower. “I can never get you alone.”

“And why exactly do you need me alone?” I ask. “Because you’re certainly not concerned about privacy when you’re touching my ass.”

“My apologies,” he says and removes his hand. “I don’t know where I left my manners. Do you need me to get on my knees and beg for forgiveness? Because I will. And I promise I’m very sincere.”

“Sincere,” I scoff.

“Very sincere,” he says. “I promise no one has ever apologized to you the way I will.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

“At least let me buy you a drink,” he says.

“Really, it’s okay. I reached my limit a glass of champagne ago.”

“Please, I won’t be able to live with myself if I know you think I’m anything less than a gentleman.”

I glance around the club. I don’t see Natasha or Joey. Anouk is consumed in a conversation.

I know how to take care of myself. I’ve been doing it for as long as I can remember, but that doesn’t mean I’m opposed to being rescued. I know when to ask for help. This is one of those times.

But tonight, I have to handle Levi on my own.

“One drink,” I tell him.

“One drink here and then another drink at my penthouse? In my hot tub? Overlooking the Manhattan skyline?”

“One drink.”

“Then I choose the drink at my apartment. It’s clothing optional.” He smiles and it’s so convincing. If I didn’t know any better, I would have gone with him. I probably would have fallen out of my clothes long before we got out of the car and into the hot tub.

I probably would be unconscious too.

“One drink,” I repeat. “Here.”

“I guess I have to take what I can get, Ms. Langley.”

I don’t like the way that sounds coming out of his mouth.

“I’ll have a scotch neat,” Levi says to the bartender. “And whatever this gorgeous woman is drinking.”

“Club soda with lime, please.”

“Livi.”

“Levi.”