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They studied each other. A long, beautiful moment where hearts connected, birds flew back north during the winter to sing for them alone, 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 pattern and fabric blend 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 launched into their space in the hallway. The ‘Wild Child,’ as her brothers still called her, 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, then glanced from Kiera to Faith and back. “A snowball fight?” he repeated, as if he’d never heard of such a thing.
“Yes.” Kiera lifted her brows. “You make balls of snow and you hurl them at each other.”
“Ah, I see.” Levi’s lips tilted in a half smirk.
“Brilliant. 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 each on our own team. It’ll be epic! Though you might have bruises. I have impeccable aim.” Kiera’s blue eyes twinkled.
For just a moment, Faith could see the raw longing in Levi’s dark eyes as he focused on her. He wanted to be with her; he wanted to do something carefree and fun. Then that familiar shutter fell over his emotions, and he gave an insincere smile. “It does sound epic, Princess Kiera, but apologies. I have a meeting at the military training center.”
“Ah, bosh!” Kiera wrinkled her nose. “You adults are only fun in the two hours after dinner. All day long it’s work, work, work. Except for Faith.” She beamed at her. “Faith is my best friend and always has time for me.”
“Ah, right back at you.” Faith grinned. Little did Kiera know, Faith worked until late in the night and any hour that Kiera was in school or otherwise occupied 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, carefree, and definitely too young for him. 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 Faith and bowed to Kiera. “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 to her soul. Positives—he hadn’t walked away yet. There was still a chance. Kiera was on her side and an expert at getting what she wanted.
“We’ll walk you to the garage,” Kiera declared.
He swallowed, obviously not wanting to agree, but bowed slightly. An obedient royal guard for certain. “Thank you, Princess Kiera.”
Bless Kiera.
Her young friend rushed to Levi’s right side 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 lo-ove escorting two beautiful ladies.”
Her brother-in-law Chad would’ve said something charming about how beautiful they were. Captain Levi only 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 savored every moment.
Positives—her hand grasping his arm, the bump of his bicep pronounced, his sandalwood and cedar scent. He smelled like autumn in these incredible mountains. She didn’t need charming lines. She only needed him. This stoic man was heroic and the perfect fit for her. He could protect, love, and ground her. She could inspire him and make him smile.
She hoped.
Their gazes locked. Faith was 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 had relegated her to Kiera’s age in his mind? What if she was simply too inexperienced to date a real man and a captain in the military as well? She’d never had the time or inclination to date. She’d never known men like him existed.
“Are you excited for Christmas?” Kiera asked, breaking the silence that only their footsteps filled.
There was a pause as he seemed to search for an answer. “I like the Christmas Market on the Traverse River Walk,” he said carefully, as if choosing his words. “What about you, little princess? Are you excited for Christmas?”
“Of course I am!”
They reached the stairs and descended slowly, arms linked. Faith wasn’t about to pull away.
“My dad is going to marry Chad’s mum—my mum now too,” she sang out. “And the Rindlesbachers are finally dead so we can play and host parties without worrying they’ll try to explode us.”
“Kiera,” Faith whispered, stunned by her words.
