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Carolyn and Meg look at me for a beat, then simultaneously turn to Winona, who nods in reassurance. “He can do it. I’ve seen his work.”
My heart swells a little. Of course I know without a shadow of a doubt I can do it, but hearing Winona’s faith in me makes me puff out my chest that much more. I’ll do anything to keep her happy, and the hopeful smile playing at the corners of her lips tell me that this would put her and her sisters over the moon.
“I’ll pull my truck around back.” I head for the door. “You’ll have it by tomorrow night.” As I leave the room I hear Meg say, “Nowthat’stoo good to be true.”
“Do not slap me.” Winona replies, and I’m glad I’m out of the room for whatever comes next. I grew up with no women other than my mom and I do not get sisters. What I do get, however, is that I’m going to be even further behind on the orders I’ve promised. It’s worth it. Anything that makes Winona smile at me like she does is worth any discount I’m about to give for a late delivery.
5
Winona
“I’m just saying becareful, honey.” Meg puts her car in park as I hop out in front of my house. “Just because we lost Carolyn to a big, bearded softy doesn’t mean they’re all like that.”
I roll my eyes. Meg’s cynicism can be overwhelming at times. When she puts that pessimistic attitude away, she’s actually the life of the party. “Not everyone’s a True Crime tale waiting to happen. Besides, I can take care of myself.” I lean over and give my sister a big hug. “But I love you for not wanting me to be cut up into a million little pieces and fed to bears.”
Meg pulls back, eyes darting around the car. “I didn’t even think of that.”
“Put on a Rom-Com tonight!” I close the door before she has a chance to respond. Up the stairs and into the house, it occurs to me that I didn’t even get to thank Levi for offering to fix the table. He was out of there so quickly. Still, I thought about him all day. How can a man that stone cold fuck-able still be single? Maybe Meg’s right. Maybe there is such a thing as too good to be true.
I shake the thought from my head and throw on a pair of jeans and my favorite t-shirt. Then I grab a pair of Chucks, dab on a coat of lip gloss, and free my hair from its top knot. It falls in long waves down my back as I give myself a well needed scalp rub. As much as I love working with my sisters, being on my feet all day in a bakery is not exactly the life I had planned. I thought I’d be designing the world, not serving it baked goods.
I turn on my bedroom light and glance out the window. Levi is out there, either in his house or in his woodshop. Would it be crazy desperate if I went over there? To thank him, I mean. I rest my forehead against the glass and try desperately to talk myself out of what I’m about to do, but I’m just not strong enough.
Why waste good lip gloss?
I grab my keys and head back out the door and across the property line that separates my house from Levi’s woodshop. My heart races ninety miles a minute. Am I overstepping my bounds? He was definitely flirting with me and dammit I have to see him.
It’s quiet when I get to the door. When I rap my knuckles against the ornate wood, it echoes and there’s no doubt he can’t hear it if he’s inside.
Crickets chirp all around me. The almost full moon beams down overhead, casting a glow on the side of the building. I take a deep breath, but don’t have time to exhale. The door flies open.
“Winona.” His deep voice, a whisper.
“Hi.” I clear my throat. “I didn’t get a chance to thank you.”
“Come in.” He holds the door wide and I catch a whiff of pure testosterone and pine needles as I brush past him. It intoxicates me, dulls my nerves which is exactly what I need right now. “I was just about to call it a night.”
When I finally come back to my senses I see it. Over Levi’s shoulder sits my mother’s antique table. It looks better than it has in years. “Oh my God, Levi.” I rush to it, run my fingers down it. “It looks like a brand new table.”
“It’s a beautiful piece.” My body vibrates when he steps closer to me. “I went ahead and stabilized the other legs, and put a fresh coat of varnish on it. That’s why it looks so new.”
I turn to him. He’s closer than I expected. My hands fly upward, gripping onto his rock hard chest to keep my balance. A tiny gasp escapes my mouth, but Levi braces my weight, keeping me upright.
“Thanks.” I whisper.
“It’s my pleasure.” The way the word leaves his full, sexy lips sends an electric current deep into my core. Neither one of us moves. The warm glow of the lighting around us makes his eyes sparkle as he stares down at me.
“You’re so big.” I say before I can stop myself. Levi shoots me that dimpled grin that turns my knees weak. “I mean—”
“Is that a problem?”
He leans down closer. I shake my head no.
“I like you, Winona.” His lips brush against mine when he speaks.
“I like you, too.”
“Like more than just a neighbor.” His hungry eyes burn into mine. “Much, much, more.”
