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They reached the door that led to the massive garage. Levi gently disentangled his arms from each of their grasp and backed toward the door. “Thank you for escorting me.”
“Thank you, kind sir.” Kiera waved, turned, and sprinted down the hall. “I’ll be in the kitchen.” Then she somehow ran up the side of the wall and did a twisting flip off of it. She laughed happily and dodged through one of the kitchen doors.
“That girl.” Levi shook his head, pushing a hand through his short hair. “It’s hard enough keeping her safe from external influences, then she has to risk her life every other minute doing crazy stunts.”
“It’s impressive how you protect everyone, but …” Faith tilted her head and studied him. “You aren’t a big risk-taker, are you?”
“Me?” His brows lifted.
She nodded.
“I rock climb, ride dirt bikes, paraglide, and cliff dive. Why?”
“Wait a minute. You’re a crazy maniac and that’s okay, but Kiera can’t take a risk?”
“It’s quite different for a lowly soldier to take a risk than the favorite princess.” His gaze traveled over her. “And I definitely don’t want you taking any risks.”
His gaze had made her warm all over, but his words made her want to defy him.
“Why not?” She jutted her chin out and planted her hands on her hips.
“You are young, innocent, and a bright light, Faith. The world needs the illumination only you can provide. You have your whole life ahead of you. Don’t ruin it by following Kiera down a tube of death and killing yourself.”
The concern in his dark gaze was touching, as if he cared deeply for her. There was a darkness in his eyes that scared her. Why wouldn’t anyone tell her how his sister or fiancée died? She also didn’t like the way he acted as if she were some young, innocent child.
“How old do you think I am?” she demanded.
He looked her over, his dark eyes unreadable now. Finally he shrugged. “Far be it from me to hazard a guess at a woman’s age.”
Even his romantic accent couldn’t distract her from being annoyed. She stalked toward him. He was probably eight inches taller than her and double her weight, but he straightened and backed into the wall at her approach.
Faith reached him and poked a finger into his chest. His well-muscled, lovely chest.
“I am not a child,” she said, drawing herself up to her full height. “I am twenty-seven years old, and I am a highly successful millionaire, head designer, and part-owner of Lady Fit.” She could add she’d basically raised herself as her parents had been pathetic and her sisters busy trying to keep her fed and clothed while they started their business.
His eyebrows rose. “You should be very proud of your success.”
“I am, thank you very much.” She studied him, but he gave her nothing else. “How old areyou?”
“Twenty-nine.”
“Two years,” she spluttered, pushing a clenched fist at his chest. She rather liked touching it. “Two years apart and you treat me like I’m Kiera’s age. Like I’m some little girl.”
Levi’s gaze traveled over her. It was smoky hot, and her knees went weak. Then he wrapped his hand around her fist. His eyes dropped to their hands. He slowly, gently opened her clenched fist one finger at a time. Lining up their palms, he stared at her paler, much smaller fingers against his roughened brown palm.
Faith didn’t move, could hardly breathe. The simple touch grounded and lifted her.
Positives—Levi touching her, his delicious scent.
A tremble went through him. “So small,” he murmured.
A few beats passed, and then he focused on her. “Faith, I realize you aren’t a child.” Pulling his hand from hers, he pushed it through his hair and then dropped it to his side. “Believe me, I’d be a blind fool not to notice that.”
Hope blossomed in her chest, and she gave him a tentative smile. Levi had noticed her. He didn’t think of her as a child.
“But you are whimsical, creative, beautiful, and innocent.”
Those were all good things. Right? She wasn’t nearly as innocent as everyone believed. She’d seen death and devastation, had been scarred by those who should’ve loved her. But that didn’t mean she had to take the negative path in life or let the dark moments stain her.
