If only it were that simple.
Levi may have said all the right words, but I can’t help but still feel uneasy. The man had never even kissed a woman before me! Obviously, he isn’t someone who dates casually for fun since he’s reserved himself for so long. Probably until he was ready for commitment. And here I am, Miss Have-No-Future, robbing both him and the woman who should have been given that gift and privilege like a wanton little seductress.
Okay, maybe I need to lay off the historical romances for a bit.
The point remains, however, that even though Levi says he’s okay taking things between us one day at a time, I’m not sure he’s being truthful with himself. Also, there’s still the issue of whether I can be content with that anymore. I have in the past, true, but I’ve also never been with Levi before now.And since he’s made me start thinking about all the things I realize I want and can’t have, I’m not sure I can push myself back into the carefully contained box I resided in previously.
“Mail delivery for a Miss Hayley Holt.” Jack grins at me, holding out an envelope.
I reach for it, realizing I’d been so wrapped up in my thoughts that I hadn’t even been aware that he’d walked over. I squint against the brightness of the sun behind his shoulder. “General Store owner and postal worker? I didn’t know you were such a renaissance man.”
“I only do special deliveries.” He laughs and throws me a wink.
I look down at the addressed envelope. Beneath my name, the direction readsUnder the Elm,General Store Parking Lot,TN. I laugh and look back up. “What’s this?”
He points to the return address.
You’re Not-So-Secret-Admirer,You Know Where to Find Me,Anywhere You Are,TN.
“I can see why someone would need to use you to deliver this. The United States Postal Service wouldn’t know what to do with this thing.”
Jack grins. “Probably the same thing they do with letters to Santa.” He gives me a two-finger salute. “Enjoy your letter.” With that, he turns and marches back into his store.
My lips curl in a smile as I flip the envelope over so I can slide my finger under the sealed flap. When did Levi even have time to write a letter and get it to Jack? It hasn’t been that long since he left me sitting here, lips swollen from his convincing kisses and mind trying to rediscover its equilibrium after he’d left it and all my thoughts spinning off their axis.
My phone rings, startling me. I set the envelope down, disappointed, and dig my phone out of my purse. Evangeline’s name is on the screen, and I tap on the green accept button, holding the phone up to my ear. “Hey, aren’t you at work?”
Evangeline will sneak texts here and there when the library is slow, but she doesn’t usually make personal calls during work hours unless there’s an emergency.
I try not worry, but it feels like this perfect little bubble I’ve been living in has suddenly popped. Had I really forgotten, even momentarily, about the rockslide? If something is wrong, if one of my parents are hurt or Tai’s had an episode with his asthma, I can’t rush over there.
“Yes, but Martha and I snuck away for a minute to call you.Of Rosesand Lilieswas just returned.” Her voice is pitched high with her excitement, and it takes me a second to realize this isn’t an emergency call.
“What?” I ask, a bit dazed, needing to hear a second time she’s not calling because someone is in mortal danger but because ... a book was returned? I’d care about this why again?
“Of Roses and Lilies,” Evangeline squeals. “Did you find the page yet?”
I realize she’s talking to Martha, who must have been turning to a specific page while Evangeline called me. Then I remember.
ORAL, p. 286, l. 12. Levi’s clue to a hidden treasure.
My heart pounds against my ribs, and I clutch my phone tighter, holding my breath in anticipation.
“Got it,” Martha says. “What line was it again?”
“Twelve!” Evangeline and I both yell at the same time.
“Okay, okay, calm down. Sheesh.” I can picture Martha rolling her eyes at us. “Let’s see here.” She draws the words out absently as she searches for the right passage. “Ten, Eleven, Twelve. Here it is.”
“Let me see,” Evangeline says.
“Ouch!”
“What happened?” I ask as sounds of fumbling and a muffled apology comes over the line.
“Evangeline has a very hard skull, that’s what happened,” Martha grumbles.
“We may have knocked heads when I leaned in to look at the book,” Evangeline explains sheepishly.
