I turned to see Levi, a deep furrow in his brow, and Ripley’s head popping out of his sweatshirt.
“Levi?” I blinked.
I looked at where Kevin kneeled in front of me. Then, back at the man who I absolutely loved. I studied the strong line of his jaw covered in a five o’clock shadow, his deep, emotional hazel eyes that instantly made my knees weak. A flutter exploded in my chest. I had missed him so keenly that it was a physical pain. Handsome as ever. My arms ached, desperate to reach for him before I remembered our last interaction.
“Who is this?” Kevin asked, getting off his knees and finally putting that absurd ring box away.
“How did you even find me here?” I blinked in shock, still focused on Levi.
“Pace. Your dad wasn’t kidding when he said he knew people up in Cozy Creek.” Levi scratched at his chin, studying Kevin. He didn’t seem annoyed. If anything, he seemed slightly amused. I wondered how much he had heard. “I can come back if it’s a bad time.”
“What is happening right now? Can’t you see we are having a moment?”Kevin yammered.
Levi gave his most intimidating stare down his nose at Kevin. God, how could I have ever let Kevin touch me? Seeing them standing side by side wasn’t even a competition. One made me feel physically ill, the other, well, damn, the other lit me up and made me ache for him.
“Is that a dog in his shirt?” Kevin guffawed.
“No. He’s leaving,” I said, unable to break my eyes away from Levi and ignoring Kevin.
“Can anybody hear me?” Kevin said.
I stepped closer to pet Ripley. She wiggled wildly, trying to break out of his shirt as she licked my hand. I missed her. I missed him.
“I just wanted to try to catch you before you left for Chicago,” Levi said.
My shoulders slumped slightly. I couldn’t show my disappointment. And also, wasn’t I just saying that I didn’t want him to save me? He had hurt me. I wished my heart would remember that. Now my head and my heart weren’t even communicating. This was so frustrating. What was the correct balance to all this?
“Where’s your dad?” Levi asked. We still hadn’t broken eye contact, even as Ripley had moved into my arms. We were inches apart.
“His flight was canceled because of snow.”
At that, a little frown formed on Levi’s brow. “Are you okay?” he asked.
I felt my demeanor cracking. It was the dairy caseall over again. One soft question and I felt my insides wanting to burst out of me.
Kevin moved closer to us. “Who is this guy, Claire?”
“I fucked up so incredibly bad, Claire. I have known your honor and your worth since the moment I met you. I should have never doubted it for a second. I didn’t. Not really. I messed up.”
“I’m sorry, what’s happening here? Are you groveling?”
“Why are you still here?” I asked Kevin, even as Levi’s words started to settle in.
“I’m here togroveland get my fiancée back,” Kevin said.
“On what planet?” I scoffed.
“You should go,” Levi spoke to Kevin for the first time.
“I don’t know who you are?—”
Levi stepped an inch closer to Kevin, hardly even moving, but it was enough. Kevin flinched back.
“Screw this. I’m glad you got fired. I hope you’re happy together.” He stomped away, mumbling about what sort of woman meets a new guy in a few weeks or something along those lines. I had stopped listening. I was glad to have him gone.
“Please, carry on,” I said to Levi.
Ripley wiggled free from my arms, finding the blankets I brought to pack around the furniture for cushioning.
