Sweet Southern Nights Read online

  “Hey, you,” she said, crooning her usual greeting. Bending slightly at the knees, she pressed her cheek to Angela’s. “Nice surprise,” she whispered in Angela’s ear. “You look fabulous,” she continued in a normal tone.

  Angela smiled and nodded. “So do you.” Looping her arm through Levi’s, she pressed closer to his length. “Levi, this is Traci Freeman. Traci, Levi Eaton.”

  Jackpot! Traci mused as she exchanged a handshake with Levi. She couldn’t wait to get the details from Angela as to how she happened to hook up with a man who seemed to be the total package.

  “Charmed,” she drawled, while fluttering her eyelashes.

  Levi went still, trying to remember where he’d seen her before. Realization dawned when he remembered seeing her in fashion magazine ads. A smile touched the corners of Levi’s mouth. Traci Freeman was a flirt. She was pretty, but much too thin for his tastes. Her short curly hair, makeup, body-hugging little black dress and designer shoes screamed supermodel.

  “The pleasure is all mine,” he said politely.

  Traci turned, craning her neck. “I sent Reggie to get me something to drink, and he appears to have gotten lost. That’s one of the reasons I divorced the man. He would take off and then forget to come back like I was an afterthought.” As soon as the words rolled off her tongue he appeared by Traci’s side carrying a martini glass and a cold beer.

  Levi stared at the man standing six-six and weighing close to two hundred sixty pounds. He was an imposing figure in a dark suit designed to conceal his massive size. He could hardly believe that Traci’s date and ex-husband was the same man whose football career he’d followed since becoming a number one draft pick until he’d been forced to retire because of injuries. Their wedding had been a lavish spectacle, and their breakup had become fodder for the tabloids. Neither had divulged details of their split, citing irreconcilable differences, but they continued to see one another after their divorce.

  Angela made the introductions, Levi pumping the hand of the former Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive end. “I tried to make every home game during football season just to see you play,” he said.

  Reggie’s round face softened when he smiled, his dimples creasing his smooth cheeks. Large dark eyes twinkled. “Where you from, brother? You don’t sound like someone from Philly.”

  “I lived in Philly for six years before my folks moved to Miami.”

  “Do you…” Whatever Reggie was going to say was preempted when they were directed to another ballroom for the wedding ceremony. “We’ll talk later,” Reggie promised Levi, as Angela and Traci engaged a knowing look.

  Angela sat next to Levi on the bride’s side of the room, in chairs covered with white organza secured with black satin ribbon tiebacks. The ballroom was exquisitely decorated in flowing white fabric with black accents. Levi’s shoulder touched Angela’s bare one when he leaned to his left.

  “Why didn’t you tell me your cousin was once married to pro-football-player Reggie Goddard?”

  “Traci and I promised each other that we wouldn’t discuss the men in our lives. Traci is as close to me as a sister, and we’re very careful to maintain separate personal and professional relationships.”

  Levi glimpsed at Angela’s well-toned thighs when she crossed her legs. He still found it hard to believe any man had cheated on her. Even though she had five brothers and a father who wouldn’t hesitate to step in and protect her, Levi felt responsible for her. He’d agreed to be her escort and that meant he would make certain Robert Gaskin kept his distance.

  Resting his arm over her shoulders, he pulled her close. “Will you forgive me?”

  She turned her head, their mouths inches apart. “For what?”

  He stared at the outline of her sexy mouth. “For telling your mother that we’re coming to her house next Sunday.”

  “There’s nothing to forgive. You’ll learn that once Dianne Hitchcock Chase sets her mind to something, only a natural disaster can make her change it.”

  “So we go to your mother’s next week, and the following Sunday you’ll hang out with me.”

  “Are you asking or telling me, Levi?”

  He smiled. “I’m asking.”

  “Well?”

  “Well what?”

  “Ask me, Levi?”

  His smile faded. “Will you please share Sunday dinner with me?” he said, his tone contrite.

  Angela leaned closer, her mouth pressed to his ear. She closed her eyes, unable to believe he smelled so incredibly good. “Humility doesn’t suit you,” she whispered.

  “What does?” he asked.

  “Arrogance.”

  He pulled back, giving her an incredulous stare. “You think I’m arrogant?”

  “You’re a doctor, aren’t you?”

  He nodded.

  “Then you’re probably arrogant with a God complex. I’ve never a met a doctor who wasn’t, and that includes Duncan.”

  “More than judges?” Levi countered.

  Her eyes narrowed. “I know you’re not talking about Daddy.”

  “Could be yes, could be no.”

  Angela went completely still. “What did my father say to you?”

  Levi trailed fingertips down the length of her bared back. “We didn’t talk about you.” He felt her shiver under his light touch.

  “Then who did you talk about?”

  Levi gazed longingly at her, as a strange feeling made it virtually impossible for him to formulate a reply. He suddenly realized just how sexy Angela was. Her sexiness wasn’t obvious as with some women, but her femininity was.

  As he sat through the ceremony, he recalled some of the Eaton weddings he’d attended over the past three years. He had lost count of the number of Eaton babies that had been born. Whenever he opened an envelope it was either a wedding invitation or a birth announcement. The last wedding he’d attended was a year ago in Dallas, when Mia Eaton had exchanged vows with Kenyon Chandler. Mia made it known then that she and Kenyon planned to wait a year before starting a family.

  “Levi?”

  Angela’s voice shattered his reverie. “Yes?”

  “You didn’t answer my question.”

  He blinked. “We discussed my father.”

  “My dad knows your father?”

  The melodious sound of an electronic keyboard filled the ballroom.

  “I’ll tell you later,” he whispered when Benton Chase, clad in a black robe walked in and stood in front of the altar.

  Angela watched, unable to move, as she witnessed the procession of the best man and Yvette’s twin sister arm-in-arm down the length of the white-carpeted aisle.

  She closed her eyes when the familiar notes of the “Wedding March” echoed in the room as Levi reached for her hand, threading their fingers together and giving hers a reassuring squeeze. His touch communicated silently that he was there for her, that everything would be all right.

  Angela knew she couldn’t sit through the entire ceremony with her eyes closed, so she opened them and stood up when Yvette’s father escorted her down the carpet to where Craig stood with his best man. A wry smile twisted her mouth. Her cousin was an absolutely stunning bride. She’d waited, endured several breakups, but in the end she’d managed to get her prince and her happily ever after.

  She hadn’t based her plot on Yvette and Craig’s off-and-on romance, but rather she lived vicariously through her protagonists experiencing her own happily ever after.

  However, her life was very different from those of her heroines. She didn’t have an ex-husband or children. What she had was a supportive family, a twenty-five percent interest in a small business, and instead of a therapist she had a hobby in which she could vent her frustrations.

  Somehow she managed to remai
n calm, staring at her cousin’s hand-beaded gown. But when Yvette extended her hand to her groom, and Craig kissed her fingers the floodgates opened for Angela. One tear found its way down her cheek, followed by another and before she knew it, they flowed unceasingly.

  Levi glanced over at Angela, his heart turning when he saw her tears. Letting go of her hand, he reached into his breast pocket and took out a handkerchief. Cradling her chin, he carefully blotted her face, taking care not to smudge her makeup.

  “Are you all right, baby?” he whispered in her ear.

  Angela sniffled softly, resisting the urge to blow her nose. “Yes. I always cry at weddings.”

  Giving her a skeptical look, Levi forced a smile, aware that Angela hadn’t been completely honest. Not only was she crying, but she was also trembling. Was she, he mused, thinking about the time when she should’ve walked down the aisle?

  He stared deeply into the brown eyes that reminded him of rich dark coffee, and it was in that instant he promised himself that he would make certain that during their time together, if she cried again, it would be because she was happy.

  He pressed his mouth to her forehead. “I want you to remember something,” he said.

  Angela’s eyebrows lifted inquiringly. “What’s that?”

  “As long as I’m in Kentucky I’ll take care of you.”

  Chapter 6

  As long as I’m in Kentucky I’ll take care of you. Levi’s words settled in Angela’s mind like a mantra. She sat through Yvette’s wedding and the reception that followed as if she was in a trance. She laughed at the appropriate times, engaged in conversation, barely touched the food on her plate and sipped water instead of the wine, champagne and cocktails at the open bar.

  Robert was seated at a table close to where she was, and every time she glanced around he was staring at her. She was surprised that Savannah hadn’t come with him, which made Angela wonder if they were still together. But she recalled him saying that he and Savannah were moving to Louisville. Had he convinced her to stay home because he knew it would be socially awkward?

  Dianne Chase didn’t want to believe her sons, who were raised to behave like perfect gentlemen, could become thugs when it came to their sister. Thugs or not, it kept guys with ulterior motives at a distance.

  “Come, Ang, get up!” Traci said, pulling her onto the floor when the all single women were encouraged to gather in the center of the ballroom to catch Yvette’s bouquet as Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” blared from the speakers. “Get up, Angela!” she shouted, when Angela didn’t move.

  Clutching Levi’s hand, Angela whispered, “Get me out of here.”

  Levi heard the panic in her voice before seeing the look of fear seize her. “What’s wrong?”

  “You promised to take care of me. If you don’t want me to have a meltdown and ruin my cousin’s reception you will get me out of here now.”

  Levi needed no further prompting. Cupping her elbow, he helped her to her feet and placed his hand at the small of her back. “She’s not feeling well,” he said to those who turned to stare at them. Angela leaned against limply his body as he escorted her out of the ballroom.

  “Shall I call for a doctor, sir?” asked the maître d’.

  Levi shook his head. “I’m a doctor.”

  “You can use the business office if she needs to lie down.”

  “Please just take me home, Levi,” Angela said under her breath.

  Levi nodded. “Thank you for the offer, but I’ll take her to my office.”

  Ten minutes later she sat in the BMW, eyes closed, the back of her head pressed against the leather headrest. It was as if she couldn’t draw a normal breath.

  She reached over and pressed a button to lower the passenger-side window, letting the cool night air wash over her face. Angela thought she could’ve been able to attend the wedding and be unaffected, but she had failed miserably.

  Levi gave Angela a sidelong glance. “Are you all right?”

  Her eyelids fluttered. “I will be in a few minutes.”

  Slowing, he maneuvered over to the shoulder, coming to a complete stop. Lines of concern appeared between his eyes. “Are you sure you don’t want me to check your heart?”

  Her head came around. “Why would you want to do that?”

  “Your pulse is racing.”

  “How can you tell? “ she said quickly. “Of course, you’re a doctor, so you would notice something like that.”

  Levi leaned in closer. “Don’t forget an arrogant doctor,” he teased.

  “That, too.”

  Removing his seatbelt, he turned toward her in his seat, staring intently at her. “If you’re all right, then I’d like to know why you wanted to leave.”

  Angela averted her eyes so he wouldn’t see the tears welling up. “I thought I could do it, Levi.”

  “Do what, Ang?”

  “Attend the wedding and pretend everything was okay. It felt as if I was reliving what should’ve been my wedding day. It was as if nothing had changed. And when Traci wanted me to get up and stand with all the single women in the hope that one of us would catch the bouquet and be the next one to marry, that was the last straw.”

  Levi massaged the nape of her neck, kneading the tight muscles. “I don’t know why you thought you had to put up a brave front. You could’ve declined the invitation and sent her a gift like your brothers.”

  “My brothers had a different reason for not attending.”

  “Yes and no, Angela. They didn’t want to lose control when they saw your ex. What he did to you was humiliating and traumatic. And his moving back to Louisville is certain to complicate your life. I know you wanted to support your cousin, and also show Robert that you’d moved on. But the best way to show that you’ve moved on is to be yourself.”

  “Keep dating a different guy every two or three months?”

  “No, Angela. That’s the only thing that’s going to change.”

  Shifting slightly, she turned to stare directly at him. The light from the dashboard cast shadows across Levi’s face. There was hardness in his lean face that hadn’t been there before. “It’s only going to be us?” she whispered.

  He nodded. “Just us. And if he comes anywhere near you I’ll tell your brothers to kick his ass, because I’ve taken an oath ‘to do no harm.’ What I might do is to postpone giving him medical attention until the last possible moment.”

  Angela managed a smile when she felt like crying. “My brother Zane was in the military and runs a security company. He employs professional bodyguards who protect wealthy people around the world. All he has to do is send one of them to Robert’s house and it’s lights out. So, I’m not that worried about him harassing me.”

  “By the way, where was Mrs. Robert Gaskin tonight?”

  “I heard someone say she was home with the flu.”

  How convenient, Levi thought. “You should’ve told Duncan to make a house call.” Angela laughed. The sound was so infectious that Levi couldn’t stop his own laughter.

  “I don’t know how well you know my brother,” she said, sobering, “but Duncan isn’t as passive as he seems. He’s also taken an oath ‘to do no harm,’ but when provoked he can be one nasty hombre.”

  “Enough talk about your loser ex,” he said, deftly changing the topic of conversation. “Where do you want to eat?”

  Angela stared numbly. “You want to eat?”

  “I’ll settle for coffee and dessert, but you need to eat something. You barely touched your food.”

  She knew Levi was right. She’d had a cup of tea and two slices of toast earlier that morning and nothing else since she’d planned to eat at the wedding reception. However, anxiety had her stomach in knots and she’d only managed to eat the salad. />
  “I’ll eat something once I get home.”

  Levi buckled his seatbelt, then shifted into gear and maneuvered off the shoulder onto the roadway. “You need more than leftovers. Is there someplace nearby where we can get a quick bite?”

  “I know a truck stop that serves incredible food but…”

  “But what?”

  “It’s not fancy and it’s on the other side of the interstate.”

  “My hotel is closer,” he said, accelerating into the flow of traffic. “Besides, what you’re wearing is a tad bit fancy for a truck stop.”

  “Hotel?” Angela asked, giving him an incredulous stare.

  “I checked into a hotel downtown last night rather than make the drive between here and Maywood.”

  She settled back in her seat. “Don’t bother to reserve a hotel room during Derby week, because my parents will put you up at their place.”

  Levi gave Angela a quick glance. “Why can’t I stay with you? After all, you have more than one bedroom.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “What don’t you believe, sweetie?”

  “You’re inviting yourself for a sleepover at my house?”

  “What’s the big deal, Angela? When you come to Maywood for dinner you can stay with me. I’m renting a place with two bedrooms. The only thing I’ll say is that room service at the Eaton Inn is exceptional. We offer clean linens, turndown service, fluffy towels and a breakfast menu that’s guaranteed to please the palate. It will be so sumptuous that it may be impossible for you to move for an hour or two.”

  Angela laughed. “I like the sound of that.”

  “It sounds like we’re going to have a lot of fun, Ang.”

  Angela gave him a dazzling smile. “That’s something I’m looking forward to.”

  He winked at her. “When do you want to start?”

  “How about now?” she asked. Levi slowed the car, pulled over, and then without warning executed a U-turn. “Where are you going? Downtown is the other way.”