The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife novel Chapter 125

125 More Than a Little Attraction

125 More Than a Little Attraction

And that kiss… my body was still humming from it.

The comment was forward but didn’t feel presumptuous. It felt… nice.

“Your usual, Mr. Carter,” he said, placing the drinks down before disappearing.

“Definitely pleasure.” He stood and held out his hand. “Dance with me?”

When he finally drove me home, it was almost three in the morning. The city was quiet, streets empty except for the occasional taxi.

“Boss is here!” called a bartender when we entered. Several staff members waved or nodded respectfully.

Maybe this was what moving on felt like–not forgetting, but finding joy elsewhere. Finding someone who made it clear they wanted me, without complications or

hesitation.

I pretended to consider. “Hmm, maybe an eight?”

“I like things to run smoothly.” His eyes held mine over the rim of his glass. “In business and in pleasure.”

Levi listened intently as I shared stories about Leo, asking questions that showed genuine interest.

“So,” Levi had asked as we drove through downtown Haven Harbor, “on a scale of one to ten, how attracted are you to me right now?”

I smiled against his shoulder. “Maybe a seven.”

“Well,” I teased, “the night’s still young.”

The evening had started with Levi picking me up from my apartment. The moment he saw me in my navy blue dress, his eyes had darkened appreciatively.

My pulse quickened at his words. “And which is this? Business or pleasure?”

Now, as we walked into the/comedy club, his hand rested lightly on the small of my back, guiding me through the crowd. The place was packed, with dim lighting and

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small, intimate tables.

When we finally broke apart, we were both breathing hard.

His lips brushed mine once more, gentle this time. “Goodnight, Hazel.” He whispered against my lips.

I smiled, typing back: I’m safe. And feeling the same way.

Levi: Just checking to make sure you made it inside safely. And to tell you I’m already looking forward to seeing you again.

As I drifted off to sleep, I wondered what tomorrow would bring. And for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t afraid to find out.

His eyes darkened, and he spun me slowly before pulling me back against him, closer than before.

“I had an amazing time,” I said as we stood outside my apartment building.

“Lead the way.”

“He sounds like a great kid,” he said when I finished. “I’d like to meet him someday.”

“Would’ve been a ten, but I’m saving that for when you really knock me off my feet.”

“Impressive,” I said, taking a sip. The wine was exquisite. “You run a tight ship.”

“So,” he murmured near my ear, “about that attraction scale…you never answered.”

I entered my empty apartment, kicked off my heels, and collapsed onto the couch. My phone chimed with a text.

We danced for what felt like hours, talking and laughing between songs. With every minute that passed, I felt lighter. The weight of my complicated feelings for Liam seemed to lift, if only temporarily.

“Good enough to do it again?” Levi stepped closer, his hands finding my wais

His smile was slow and confident. “And where are we on that attraction scale now?”

As I got ready for bed, I caught sight of my flushed cheeks and bright eyes in the bathroom mirror. I looked… alive. Happy.

“Your eyes.” He reached across the table, his finger lightly tracing the skin beneath my

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eye. “They give you away.”

Levi led me through the crowd to a reserved booth in the corner. “Perks of ownership -always have the best seat in the house.”

The dance floor wasn’t crowded, just a few couples swaying to a slow jazz number. Levi pulled me close, one hand on my waist, the other holding mine. Our bodies fit perfectly together as we moved to the music.

“You look stunning,” he’d said simply, taking my hand and pressing a light kiss to my

knuckles.

Levi’s bar, Afterhours, was sleek but welcoming. Even on a weeknight, it was busy with well–dressed patrons enjoying cocktails and low music.

“Leo is everything to me,” I said simply. “He’s smart, funny, and has this way of seeing the world that just amazes me.”

“Tell me about your son,” Levi said as we sat back down for another drink.

He pulled back to look at me, his expression mock–wounded. “Only a seven? I’m slipping.”

The show started before I could respond, and for the next two hours, I laughed harder than I had in months. The comedians were brilliant, and Levi’s own laughter–deep and uninhibited–was infectious.

“That was amazing,” I said as we stepped back onto the street. “I needed that more than I realized.”

“How about now?” he asked, his voice rough.

When the headliner finished his set, my cheeks hurt from smiling.

mouth i kiss that

Before I could respond, he pulled me against him and captured my stole my breath. This wasn’t the polite kiss from earlier in the evening. This was hungry, demanding, full of promise. His hands tangled in my hair, angling my head to deepen the kiss. My body responded instantly, pressing against his as heat pooled low in my belly.

As the night wore on, we fell into easy conversation about our lives. I found myself telling him things I rarely shared–about my dreams before becoming a mother, about the move to Haven Harbor for a fresh start.

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125 More Than a Little Attraction

“Challenge accepted.”

I’d laughed, surprised by his directness. “That’s pretty forward.”

A server immediately appeared with two glasses of wine.

“Only an eight?” He raised an eyebrow. “Guess I need to try harder.”

As I watched him walk back to his car, I touched my tingling lips and tried to process what had happened. For the first time in weeks, I hadn’t thought about Liam for hours. Instead, I’d laughed, danced, and felt genuinely happy.

“I thought you might need to laugh,” he said as we were seated near the stage. “You seemed like you’ve had a rough week.”

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