The Apple Tree (30 page)

She wanted Levi much more than this arrogant jerk beside her, but apparently, Levi no longer wanted her. Judging by the way Peter’s eyes caressed her, despite her shabby sweatpants, Peter desired her and no matter how hard she fought it, she was attracted to him.

“
I didn’t answer because it’s none of your business,” she said.

He pulled an invisible piece of lint off his gray, long sleeved henley shirt, nodding. “I was only trying to help and I didn’t mean to offend you. You’re always beautiful.”

“
So, why did you come here?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I heard a little rumor… that you’re getting married.”

Her throat grew dry. She avoided his eyes and pretended to straighten out the quilt. “Where did you hear that?”

“
Levi told me.” He leaned back, supporting his weight with his arm. “But I wondered if it occurred to you that Levi will not grow older with you.”

“
Of course it did,” she said.

He raised his eyebrows. “And you think he’ll still want you when you’re old and wrinkly?”

She fiddled with her t-shirt, ignoring his question.

“
Levi may not be willing to put the effort in to so you can be together forever… but I am.” He leaned toward her.

She tore her eyes away from the quilt and looked into his gorgeous face. “What do you mean?”

He lowered his voice, making the words sensual, seductive. “If you chose me, I’ll find a way to make you immortal.” The corner of his mouth turned up.

That damn sexy dimple. She bit the inside of her cheek. “How is that possible?”

“
Levi knows how I became like this and I bet you could get him to tell.”

She shook her head. “Even if you knew how, doesn’t someone have to die?”

“
My father has the best scientists in the world working for him. He can isolate illness and toss it out, I’m sure of it.”

Was that possible? Why hadn’t Levi mentioned that before?

“
And then you and I can be together.” He reached his hand toward her, and placed it on her cheek. “It would be mind-blowing.

She took a deep breath. Levi didn’t want her, at least, he wasn’t willing to let her eat an apple or even marry her. And now, she was tempted by this delicious hunk of man candy. Not as delicious as Levi, but still, here, sitting next to her desperate self.

Peter’s hand slid down her neck and he inched closer.

She closed her eyes. Maybe she should just let go and let Peter help her forget her aching heart. Bianca opened her eyes and gazed into his striking bright blues.

It didn’t feel right.

Anybody other than Levi would just be a cheap imitation. It would be like eating an orange for dessert when what she really wanted was cheesecake. Fake, like those stupid banana cookies she’d made. She sighed, placing her hand on his and pulling it away from her neck.

“
I have a question for you,” she said.

He cocked his head to the side and raised his eyebrows. “Shoot, baby.”

“
How do you know that Levi knows how the curse started?”

“
Because he made his friend immortal in the nineteen-forties.” He leaned back on his elbows.

Her mouth fell open. Levi made his friend immortal, but he wasn’t willing to do the same for her. An invisible fist punched her stomach. “Oh.”

“
You’re disappointed?” He placed his hand back on her cheek. “He told you he couldn’t change you?”

She nodded.

“
But if I knew how, I would.” He lifted his other hand so that both now cupped her face. “I would always want you. Think how much fun we could have together.” He raised his brows, evidently aware of the moonlike pull of his eyes.

She took a deep breath. “I don’t want to live forever without Levi.”

Peter pursed his lips and closed his eyes, with an expression that seemed to be silently cursing Levi. His eyes opened and his hands dropped from her cheeks. “Think about it then. I’m not going to pressure you. I learned my lesson last time, but… remember my offer.” Standing, he leaned over her and gently kissed her forehead. “Take a shower. It’ll make you feel better.” He turned and walked out the bedroom.

Bianca dropped her head on the pillow. She sighed and reached over to the bedside table. Grabbing her cell phone, she did what she should have done a long time ago, called Stephanie.

She sat cross legged on the quilt and tried to explain the events of the last few days to Stephanie, which proved difficult considering she couldn’t mention the apples.

“
So, you guys just all the sudden decided you’re in love and were going to get married?” Stephanie said. “And then he says he can’t marry you because he has some genetic thing where he can’t have kids?”

“
Yep.”

Stephanie released an exaggerated sigh. “Bee, do you want to know what it sounds like to me?” She didn’t pause long enough for Bianca to respond. “He freaked out. You guys were moving too fast and he used the kid thing to slow it down.”

Bianca rested her head in her palm.
“
But he’s the one who asked me.”

“
I know, Chica, but you found him sitting outside your apartment and now you’re surprised he can’t be trusted?”

Bianca fiddled with the hem of her sweatpants. She couldn’t think of any way to defend Levi without explaining the apples. “Yeah,” was all she managed to say.

“
Forget Levi for now. Get out of bed and take a shower!”

“
Fine.” Bianca grumbled. This was the second request for her to take a shower in the last thirty minutes. Did she smell so rank it was obvious through the phone? A whiff at her pits confirmed that it was that bad.

“
Call me later. I’ll take you out to do something fun.”

“
Thanks, Steph.”

After hanging up the phone, Bianca trudged across the hallway to the bathroom and undressed for her shower.

Standing under the hot water, her muscles relaxed. The steam helped clear away the fogginess in her head and it became clear. She wanted Levi, and no one else. Maybe, maybe, Levi still wanted her. Maybe she’d been so overcome with disappointment that she’d taken it too personally.

Grabbing the shampoo bottle, she squirted a dollop of the strawberry scented gel into her palm and massaged her head. If she somehow got Levi to take her back, she’d have to come to terms with never having children. Her soapy hands ran along her stomach, letting the loss sink in. She imagined a little person, growing inside her. Her mother had told her once that it felt like a butterfly fluttering in your belly, until it grew bigger, and then it felt like an octopus. She laughed at the thought, until tears ran down her face and she let herself cry, leaning against the cool tiles of the shower stall.

The tears subsided around the same time as the hot water. She washed her face and then quickly rinsed her hair, shivering as the temperature dropped lower. Turning the faucet off, she stepped out and took a deep breath, letting everything go. She’d never be a mother, but she had Owen and she would be happy.

The decision was made and now all she needed to do was carry it out. She would get Levi back.

F
ootsteps on the gravel outside caused Levi to sit up from his slouched position on the couch. He stood and peeked through the curtains. A head of red hair danced in the breeze. His breath caught and he jogged to the front door, swinging it open.

Bianca gave him a shy smile and wiped her hands on her jeans. “Hi.”

An intense magnetic force pulled him forward, urging him to wrap his arms around her, but he fought it, forcing himself to stay put. “Hi.”

“
I hope you don’t mind me stopping by.” The strap on her messenger bag slipped off her shoulder and she yanked it back in place.

God, she was beautiful, so much more so than he’d remembered. “Not at all, it’s good to see you.”

She glanced behind her. “Can we talk inside? I keep thinking a mountain lion is going to come through the trees.”

A nervous chuckle escaped his lips and he stepped aside. “Come in, but I’m sure you killed the only one out there.”

As she walked past, her shoulder brushed against him and it took all of his strength not to take her in his arms.

Aldo wagged his tail and sniffed her jean pockets as she came inside and sat on the couch. Afraid the pretty blouse she wore would get covered in dog hair, Levi snapped his fingers and pointed toward the cushion by the fireplace, to which Aldo complied.

Bianca slipped off her sandals and pulled her legs underneath her on the sofa. “I’ve missed you, Levi.”

He sat next to her, temporarily distracted by her dark butterscotch eyes. “I’ve missed you too.”
Missed her terribly.
But how could he let his own selfish desires get in the way of her happiness? He couldn’t give her what she needed.

She took a deep breath and turned to face him. “I don’t care about a baby. I’ve thought about it, really thought about it… and I only want you.”

His gaze swept over her face, taking in every detail. It would be so easy to just kiss her and say everything was okay, but it wasn’t the right thing to do.

Her cheeks flushed. “Do you still want me?” she asked, barely a whisper.

It was more than he could take. He leaned forward and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pulling her to his chest. “Yes, I want you. I want you more than anything.”

She tightened her arms around him. “I’ve made peace with never having a baby and if you don’t want to get married, I’ll understand, but I want to be with you, anyway you’ll let me.”

His eyes closed and he inhaled the sweet, strawberry scent of her hair. “Oh, Bee. I want to marry you.” He lifted her chin with his finger until their eyes met. “But I couldn’t live with you resenting me in ten or twenty years.”

“
I won’t.” Her fingers slid up his neck, caressing the bare skin and sending tiny electrical pulses through his body.

“
You say that now.”

She grabbed his face in her hands, surprising him with her forcefulness. “I’ve made peace with it. I want you more than I want to be a mother. And I have Owen. And we could adopt.”

He took her hands and removed them from his cheeks, sitting back. It was impossible to think logically when they touched and he needed a clear head. “I don’t know if we could adopt. The child would eventually find out about me… It’s a possibility, but I can’t promise anything. It’d be a huge risk.”

“
Then we won’t adopt. We’ll just be together.”

No matter what she said now,
there was still a good chance she’d resent him. In ten years, she’d be used to his caress and she’d think about the things she’d missed. The things he took from her.

He brushed a strand of hair away from her face. But today, today she wanted him and he’d lost his strength to resist her. The fight gone, he lowered his head, bringing it inches away from her lips, then tilted and closed his eyes.

She clutched the back of his neck and
her lips slammed into his.

Pure heaven. He chuckled, surprised by her eagerness and just as eager himself. She tasted better than he remembered, like cinnamon and nutmeg. His hand rested on her hip and he hesitated before yanking her onto his lap, running his hands up her back and forgetting all about his worries for the future, relishing the sensation of her soft lips, her smooth skin, her fiery hair. Her. Bianca.

Was he doing the right thing? Probably not. But he only had the strength of one man. He released her swollen lips, resting their foreheads together. “You’re sure you’ve thought about this? Absolutely sure?”

Her honey brown eyes gazed into his. “Absolutely sure.”

“
Wait here then.” He scooped her off his lap and set her gently on the couch before standing and retrieving a black box on the fireplace mantel. Kneeling in front of her, he opened the box as a bout of nervousness suddenly overtook him. “Bianca Phillips, will you marry me?”