Jilly stared at him a moment. There was nothing but genuine interest when he spoke to Ollie. He didn’t look at Jill and gauge her response or see if she was impressed.
“Sorry I didn’t get you one,” he said, then one side of his mouth curved up in a sexy smirk. “I haven’t forgiven you for the lazy lasagna yet.”
Jilly laughed. He couldn’t know that this was better than a gift. So much better.
“Okay,” Levi said. He clapped his hands together. “Let’s get started. Have you ever made biscuits?” He didn’t speak to Ollie like she was a little kid, something grown-ups tended to do.
She could see Ollie noticed it as well. “Mom and I make the Pillsbury ones. Does that count?”
Jilly bit her lip, fighting her smile when Levi’s gaze met hers again and he groaned.
“It doesn’t. Though I’m not too much of a food snob to admit they’re yummy.”
Ollie nodded. “They’re delicious. And I’ve made pancakes. And once, Pete let me help him make waffles.”
Levi stood straighter. “He did not,” he said, his tone full of shock.
Ollie nodded quickly. “He did. He said I was the best helper.”
“He won’t let me anywhere near his waffles,” Levi said, his tone low and awestruck for her daughter’s benefit, which had the effect of turning Jilly’s heart to mush. “You must be a pretty great helper.”
“I am. I work here at the lodge, too. If you visit this summer, I can take you for a hike.”
Levi glanced over Ollie’s head toward Jillian. She saw affection mixed with amusement. “As long as it’s easier than the one your mom took me on.”
Jilly’s phone buzzed in her hand. Unknown number again.
“If you have things to do, we can handle this,” Levi said.
“Yeah. We got this, Mom.” Ollie grinned at her.
“Why don’t you go grab the stool so it’s easier for you to reach everything,” Jill suggested.
When Ollie ran out of the room, Levi stepped closer, leaned in, and kissed her cheek.
“I like your kid,” he whispered.
Mush. “I think she likes you back,” Jilly said, putting one hand on his chest, mostly because she liked touching him but also because it steadied her.
“How about her mom?”
Jilly shook her head, looking up at him. “She likes you a little too much, I think.”
He made a low sound in his throat before sealing his mouth over hers in a quick, electric kiss. Like he heard Ollie coming, Levi stepped back and turned toward the counter, leaving Jillian somewhat dazed as her daughter set up the stepping stool.
“I’ll just…” Her words didn’t work properly. “I’m going to make some phone calls.”
“Sounds good,” Levi said.
She watched for a moment as Levi showed Ollie how to set up her ingredients to make better use of her time. As she backed away through the swinging door, she realized that Ollie had her uncles and grandfather but this felt different. Ollie got along with everyone. She had an easy way about her and a genuine interest in so many things. She wondered how she’d feel about Jillian including Levi in more of their activities, or if that was even wise at this point.
Her phone buzzed again and this time she answered it as she walked through the dining room toward the front lobby.
“Hello,” she said, thinking about the things she wanted to get done while they were here.
“Jillian.”
Andrew’s voice stopped her in her tracks. She looked around the high-ceilinged room that both welcomed the guests and offered them a place to relax, like he might materialize out of thin air.
