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As she stepped forward to intercept Levi, she got a hard shove to her back from behind. Stumbling, she slammed into Levi’s side.
He jolted and turned. Thankfully his reaction was to wrap his arms around her to steady her, rather than let her fall in a heap to the hardwood floor.
“Faith?” he whispered. It was a husky, beautiful whisper, tinted with that fabulous Augustine accent that created more yearning inside to never leave this spot.
She wrapped her arms tightly around his firm lower back and blinked up at him. “Forgive me. I had a little shove from behind.” She smiled to show that no harm was done. Bless Kiera. Faith hadn’t known it was coming, but it had been timed perfectly and Faith could not complain about the results.
Levi released her, deftly unwrapped her arms from around him, ushered her behind him, and said, “Stay here while I search for the perpetrator.”
“Levi!” She spit out in exasperation, forcing herself not to get distracted by his lyrical voice. Faith loved America, but this man with his Augustinian accent could easily convince her to trade nationalities.
“It was Kiera,” she explained. “She was only trying …”
Levi whipped around to face her. His dark eyes pierced through her, sharp and probing. “Trying?” He prompted.
Faith bit at her lip. How to explain without sounding as desperate as she was to get his attention? She looked over his tall, manly frame, the dark eyes framed by thick lashes and brows, the shadow of a beard on his jaw. He was enthralling, and he looked at her as if concerned for her sanity or maybe he thought of her as a child. She wasn’t certain, but it made more sense why he kept his distance.
Glancing down, she lost her bravery and realized she needed a different scheme than a snowball fight to entice a soldier this manly and perfect. She could only imagine how many distinguished and proper Augustinian women pursued Captain Levi.
“Faith?” He questioned and then he gently tilted her chin up with just the edge of his forefinger. It was a simple touch. Nothing to faint about. The warmth of his finger and the depth of his gaze made her lightheaded.
They studied each other. A long, beautiful moment where hearts connected, birds sang, and heaven smiled down on their future union.
He cleared his throat, yanked his hand back, and clasped his hands behind his back. Even through his black uniform she could see the muscles outlined in his chest, shoulders, and arms. She designed feminine workout gear not male. Looking over Levi she created in her mind the ideal clothing to showcase his irresistible frame and well-developed muscles.
“Come on, Captain Levi!” Kiera performed a front flip through the double doors of the ballroom and into their space in the hallway. The child could rarely walk into or out of a room. “We want you to have a snowball fight with us.” Her blue eyes lit up and Faith was grateful the princess was firmly on her side. Nobody could resist Kiera.
Levi bowed, military stiff, to the princess and then glanced from Kiera to Faith and back. “A snowball fight?” he repeated, as if he’d never heard of such a thing.
“Yes. You make balls of snow and you hurl them at each other. Faith and I made a fort in the gardens yesterday. With all the trellises, benches, and fountains everywhere there are lots of spots to hide. We’re all on our own team. It’ll be epic! Though you might have bruises.”
For just a moment, Faith could see the raw longing in Levi’s eyes as he focused on her, but then he put that familiar shutter over his emotions and gave an insincere smile. “It does sound epic, Princess Kiera, but with apologies I have a meeting at the military training center.”
“Ah, darn it!” Kiera wrinkled her nose. “You adults are only fun in the two hours after dinner. All day long its work, work, work. Except for Faith.” She beamed at her. “Faith is my best friend.”
“Ah, right back at you.” Faith grinned. Little did Kiera know that Faith worked until late in the night and all hours that Kiera was in school so she could be fun when Kiera was home.
She focused back on Levi and the look in his eyes was interesting. He thought she was whimsical, cute, and young. Faith prayed she was reading that wrong but she felt she knew him so well.
“I hope your snowball fight is epic.” He nodded to each of them. “Pardon me.”
Even with the dismissal, Faith’s stomach swirled with warmth simply from him looking at her and using the power of his accented voice on her.
He turned to go. Kiera gave Faith a look of desperation that Faith felt all through her soul.
“We’ll walk you to the garage,” Kiera declared.
He swallowed, obviously not wanting to agree but he bowed slightly. “Thank you, Princess Kiera.”
Kiera rushed to Levi’s right and linked her arm through his. She was almost five feet tall and he had to be at least six-three. The height discrepancy and the muscular soldier overshadowing the young teenager was adorable.
“You come on his other side,” Kiera instructed Faith. “Captain Levi will love escorting two ladies.”
Captain Levi studied her as she sidled in and slid her hand through the crook of his arm. She didn’t know if he loved it, but she loved every moment. Her hand grasping his arm, the bump of his bicep pronounced, the sandalwood and cedar scent. He smelled like autumn in these incredible mountains.
Their gazes locked. So close to him she could see the pulse point in his neck. Was it racing for her? She swallowed and prayed she wasn’t the only one affected by this simple touch.
He focused forward and escorted them down the hall. His bicep tightened under her hand and he kept himself military straight as they walked. Faith feared this entire idea had backfired. What if he held himself aloof from her because he relegated her to Kiera’s age in his mind?
