Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27555 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27555 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
“Yeah, Rob, I really do love you. Really.” Each time I said the words, they felt more right. I felt freer. Everything started to feel kind of… perfect.
Rob said nothing for a long time, but her green eyes spoke volumes. She watched me carefully, as if she were memorizing the details of my face, or maybe she was listening to my heart. “Levi,” she sighed heavily. “I told you once before that I learned to listen to a man’s actions because they rarely lie.”
“I remember.”
“And your actions tell me that you care about me. You showed up when I was sick—growly and worried—and took care of me. You let me take over your bar just to get out of Easter Fest. You showed up for me, and you listened to me. You showed me exactly how you felt about me before you even knew.”
I nodded. “And that thing with Sela, I shut it down immediately, Rob. You need to know that.”
“I do,” she insisted. “But hormones are a messy affair.”
“So you’re saying there’s more crazy to come?”
She laughed. “I hate to say so, but yeah, probably.”
I smiled. “That’s fine. I happen to love your particular brand of crazy, and I look forward to seeing more.”
She laughed as tears trickled down her cheeks. “There’s one more thing, Levi.”
“What’s that?”
She leaned in close until we were eye to eye, cupping my face in her small hands. “I love you too. So damn much.”
Scratch kind of perfect. This moment right here?
Pure fucking perfection.
19 ROB
"Oh my god, it's crazy out there!" I escaped into the kitchen after two straight hours of whipping up Easter-themed cocktails. "Whose crazy idea was this?"
Levi flashed that panty-melting smile and pulled me against his chest. "I seem to remember you suggesting this madness." He kissed my forehead. "And I'm glad you did because I'm having so much fun."
I pulled back and noted the pink flush on his cheeks from the heat of the stove, the way the small hairs clung to his neck. "Are you?"
He nodded. "I'm having a blast. Who knew Peter Rabbit Ramen would go over so well with the folks in town?"
I threw my head back and laughed. "Add a blue-dyed boiled egg to a yummy broth with noodles, and you've got yourself a hit. The rainbow deviled eggs are big too."
"Guess that food dye was a solid investment." His smile was filled with love as he leaned forward to kiss me again. "You make my life better, Rob."
Holy swoon. I blinked slowly at first, then faster as tears threatened. "Levi, babe."
His smile faded, replaced by horror. "Don't cry, Rob. Please. Do. Not. Cry."
"I'm not crying," I insisted, even as I swiped at my tears. "You're crying."
His brows furrowed, and then a low, masculine laugh echoed in the kitchen. "Okay, crazy woman. You're so lucky I love you."
"I am so lucky," I agreed.
His smile faded but intensified. "Nah, I'm the lucky one." Levi pressed his forehead to mine. "So damn lucky."
My heart was so full of love for this man, more love than I'd expected to experience at this stage of my life. "I thought moving back to Holiday Grove was a step backward. I thought I'd fade into obscurity here, and the idea terrified me. And then I met you."
"You hit on me," he added with a teasing smile.
"You've made the next chapter of my life exciting and hot and fun." Motherhood wasn't part of my five-year plan, but plans change, and I'd learned to roll with the punches. "Thank you."
He hugged me close and growled against my shoulder. "You're making it impossible for me to go slow, you know that?"
I nodded. "Yeah, I know. That's why I'm accepting your invitation to move in together. After our five-month checkup."
"That's still two months away," he pouted.
"You've lived thirty years without me," I reminded him.
"And they were the worst thirty years of my life," he said seriously.
I laughed. "Have I told you how much I love it when you're playful and silly?" He didn't show that side to many people, and I loved when my big, burly lumberjack of a man got silly.
"Have I told you about the new lock on my office door?" He wiggled his eyebrows playfully, but the playfulness faded when I licked my lips. "Rob," he groaned.
"What?" I asked innocently.
He grinned and pushed his hips against mine so I could feel the effect of my words. "You'll pay for that. Later."
"Oh, there you kids are!" Edith's voice sent us flying apart as if we'd been caught doing something scandalous. "No need to pretend on my account. Young love is good for lovers, and good for Holiday Grove."
Levi straightened. "What can I get you, Edith?"
Her cheeks turned pink. "Those blue-cheese deviled eggs are amazing. We want more of those, the rainbow deviled eggs, and Easter mimosas for the whole table."