Levi was getting into his truck when Justin drove up in a tractor and honked. He slung his long legs out of the big green tractor. “I thought you’d already left, and I was about to call you. I checked and we’re out of hydraulic fluid, so would you pick up a couple of buckets? And Buddy called a few minutes ago. Said that your phone was busy, so he called me. Take Claire by there so they can make a deal about her van. The insurance adjustor just left and said that it was totaled. I would think that they called her soon as they left his place.”
“Oil. Buddy’s. Anything else?”
“Buddy’s got about a dozen vehicles for sale. She might find something that she likes if y’all take time to look at them,” Justin told him.
“Will do, but she doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to buy anything right now,” Levi said.
“Don’t hurt for her to take a look.” Justin waved over his shoulder as he disappeared into the barn.
Zaylie met Levi at the back door with her coat in her hands. “Guess what? My daddy is comin’ home at Christmas, and me and Teresa get to see each other.”
“That’s all wonderful news.” Levi’s eyes traveled across the room to Claire.
“It’s going to be a Merry Christmas, isn’t it, Zaylie?” Claire said.
Levi winked, knowing that she was preparing the child for the time when she’d have to leave the ranch. He helped Zaylie get into her coat and held the door for Claire.
“Did the insurance agent call?” He’d have rather been talking about how beautiful she was even in jeans and a sweatshirt than cars. Or maybe how he loved the way her green eyes sparkled that morning or even that he’d like to kiss her until they were both breathless again. But not in front of Zaylie.
“Yes and they’ll be sending a check. After the deductible it’s not going to amount to a lot, but money isn’t everything, and I’m so thankful that Zaylie wasn’t hurt.”
“Amen to that,” Levi responded.
Zaylie skipped across the yard singing “‘Smooth as ’ennessie whiskey, sweet as ’trawberry wine.’”
“You might want to let her listen to a lot of kiddy songs before she starts to school next year,” Levi said. “Her kindergarten teacher might not like the class to hear ‘Tennessee Whiskey.’”
“You got a point.” Claire nodded.
The radio was already on when he started the engine and “Love Can Build a Bridge” was playing. Zaylie came in loudly on the first line of the chorus every time. Levi kept time on the steering wheel with his thumb and hummed along, wondering if there was a bridge strong enough to bridge the gap between him and Claire. She made more money than he did, had a college degree, which proved she was a hell of a lot smarter than him, and God only knew that she could probably have any man that she set her sights on.
He stole a long, sideways look her way to find her mouthing the words saying that she’d swim out to save him in his sea of broken dreams. He hoped that she was thinking of him and the lyrics were sinking into her heart like they did his.
The song had ended and several more had played when he parked in front of the Walmart store and helped them out of the vehicle. “I should be back in half an hour, but don’t rush. I’ll come inside and find you when I get back, so take all the time you need. I saw that list Mavis gave you, and it will take a while to get it done.”
“Thanks.” Claire laid a hand on his arm.
Claire really was as warm as Tennessee whiskey. She definitely wasn’t like what Levi called a sissy drink, those fruity things made with barely a shot of liquor. No, sir, his Claire was a good stiff shot of whiskey—something with strength that warmed the heart and soul as well as the body.
His phone rang before he got out of the parking lot, so he pulled off to the side and answered it. “Hello, Justin. I haven’t talked to you in weeks,” he teased.
“Well, you’re certainly in a good mood.” Justin chuckled. “Been to Buddy’s yet?”
“Nope, that’s our next stop after Claire gets her shopping done. I’m on my way to get our supplies.”
“I’m glad I caught you. Will you run by the vet’s place? I called in for some vaccinations. Allison will have it ready for you,” Justin said.
“Will do. Just call if you think of anything else.” Levi tossed the phone onto the passenger’s seat and pulled out onto the road.
The vet’s office was on the way to the supply store, so he stopped there first, told the receptionist, Allison, what he needed, and waited for her to get the order from the back room.
“You sick, cowboy?” She smiled at him when she returned.
She was a short brunette, maybe not as curvy as Claire, and her voice didn’t have that little raspy quality in it that Claire’s did.
“No, why?”
“I haven’t seen you at the Rusty Spur in weeks, and you’re all business this mornin’ instead of flirtin’ like you usually do. I thought something might be the matter.” Her hand lingered on his when she handed him the invoice for the medicine.
He wiggled it free and scrawled his name on the line. “Guess I’ve got other things on my mind.”
“Save me a dance if you show up this weekend. I’ll be there with my red cowboy boots on, ready to two-step some leather off. And, honey, whatever is ailin’ you, I can make it all better by the end of the weekend,” she said.
“Sorry, darlin’, I got plans for the weekend,” he said.
“Too bad. You’ll be missin’ a good time.” Allison grinned. “Maybe Justin will save me a dance.”
“I wouldn’t be a bit surprised,” he said.
He went from there to the tractor supply place to get what they needed, and as he rounded the end of an aisle there was another short brunette, this one a little heavier than Claire. When she felt his presence, she turned and smiled. Her eyes were green but not that clear aqua shade that Claire’s were, and her lips weren’t as full and kissable. He returned the smile, picked up what he needed, and headed for the checkout counter.
As he was leaving, he remembered that he hadn’t gotten a single Christmas present, so he drove over to the western wear store located across the lot from the tractor supply place. He picked up three pairs of warm gloves for the guys on his list, and then remembered Benjy and added a fourth. On his way to the checkout counter, he passed a display case filled with jewelry and stopped to look at a necklace. No, that wouldn’t do for Retta—too personal. He should get her gloves or maybe a warm sweater. An older lady peeked around from the back side where she’d been arranging things and asked if she could help him.
But there was something about that necklace that reminded him of Claire. “That one right there with little things on that circle.”
“That’s sure to be our best seller this year. You can choose the charms you want on the basic necklace. Right now I’ve got it arranged for Christmas with a candle, a star, and a tiny little tree, but I can put whatever you want on it. For your mother?” she asked.
“No, ma’am. Maybe for a lady I know,” he said. “Could I look at the charms?”
She pulled out a box and set it on the counter. “You get three with the necklace, but it will hold a dozen.”
He picked out a snowflake, a longhorn symbol, and a tiny open heart. “Could you wrap that up for me?” Maybe if things went from a date to a relationship he would add a charm each year, but right now that said it all.
“Give me five minutes,” she answered.
He walked around the counter and found a whole basket full of stuffed animals, and right there on top was a little donkey that looked like Little Bit. He picked it up and noticed a yellow cat right under it. He carried them to the counter and asked the lady if she’d wrap them up also.
“One box or two for them?” she asked.
“Just one will do,” he answered, hoping that both gifts reminded Claire and Zaylie of the time they’d spent at the ranch.
Claire looked at several bolts of good quality fabric. The shades of green and golds reminded her of Levi’s eyes. Statistics said that truly green eyes were the rarest of all the colors, but his went beyond that. They were sprinkled with gold flecks and had a darker green circle around the outer edge. And his brown lashes were so thick that it should have been a sin to put them on a cowboy, especially on one as masculine and sexy as Levi Jackson.
She added half a yard to each cutting so that she could make the quilted throws extra long like Franny had suggested. She was picking out thread when she saw Levi coming her way. “I’m about done here. One more spool of thread will do it.” She motioned toward a full basket. “And that takes care of Mavis’s list.”
“You are really good,” Levi said. “That would have taken me hours, and even then I probably wouldn’t have gotten it all right.”
“Organization is the key.” His compliment warmed Claire’s heart. She could get used to having someone in her life who was as kind and sweet as Levi.
“Guess what, Levi?” Zaylie stood on the front of the loaded cart. “Santa Claus is goin’ to be right here in the store pretty soon. Can we come and see him?”
“Of course we can. Are you going to sit on his lap this year and not be afraid?” Claire picked out one piece of fabric from the limited supply. If this was all that could be found in the area, then her store might do really well.
“Yep, and I’m goin’ to tell him to bring me some boots,” Zaylie said seriously.
Levi stooped to her level. “I thought you were going to ask him to bring your daddy home forever.”
“That’s what I’m askin’ Daddy for. Santa can bring me boots. And you can give me the kittens,” she said. “Is it time to eat? I’m hungry.”
“We’ve got one more stop, and then we’ll eat. After that maybe we’ll go to the park for half an hour and let you swing,” he said.
She frowned. “Let’s just go home and see about my kittens and Little Bit and Hopalong.”
Go home.
They’d been at the ranch ten days and she called it home, and yet Claire had been thinking the same thing. That she’d rather go home as go to the park. For that matter she’d just as soon go back to the ranch and spend time alone with Levi even if she had to eat peanut butter sandwiches rather than go to a café.
“Where do we gots to go before we eat?” Zaylie sighed.
“Buddy’s shop so he and your aunt Claire can make a deal about the wrecked van. He wants to buy it for parts.” Levi straightened up.
“That won’t take long, and then we can go home after we finish eating.” She meant to say back to the ranch, not home, but once it was out of her mouth, there was no way to recall the words and put them back. Was her subconscious telling her that’s the way she really felt about the Longhorn Canyon, or had it just slipped out because Zaylie had said it?
She was still thinking about that when they reached a place with a big sign above a metal building announcing that it was PARRISH AUTO. “I thought we were going to Buddy’s shop.”
“Buddy Parrish owns it now, but before he inherited the place, it was his dad’s place. Ezra Parrish died right before we graduated, and Buddy took over. How do you like that little ’67 Mustang over there?” He pointed to a row of vintage cars.
“Cute. I’ve always liked red cars. But I’m pretty practical—except where Nanny’s car is concerned, and that’s only because it has sentimental value. When I buy another vehicle it will be a pickup or another van,” she said.
“Hey!” Buddy came out of the shop with a smile on his face. “I get to finally meet the beautiful Claire Mason. Buddy Parrish at your service, ma’am.” He opened the truck door for her and held out his hand.
Claire put hers in his, but there was no instant vibes or sparks in spite of the brilliant smile. When she was on the ground, he held her hand a moment longer and then brought it to his lips to kiss the knuckles. “What folks have said about you don’t begin to do you justice, darlin’.”
“Oh really?” She raised an eyebrow.
“Gospel truth, cross my heart.” He made the sign over his heart.
Levi rounded the back of the truck and took Zaylie out of the backseat. “We’ll take a look at the old cars while you two do business.”
Buddy turned his attention to Claire. “Let’s go into my office and get out of this cold wind. Can I get you a cup of coffee or a cold soft drink while we talk?”
“No, thanks. We’re in a bit of a hurry. Just quote me a price, and I’ll sell it to you for the parts. I’ll pick up the title when I’m back in Randlett on Sunday and get it to you next week,” she said.
He rubbed a hand over his chin and gave her a price. “A thousand dollars is what I’ve got in mind for the vehicle.”
“I really wasn’t expecting that much, so thank you,” she said.
“I was also thinkin’: Will you go out with me this weekend? I know this sweet little bar that plays country music good for dancin’.”
“I’ve got plans for the weekend, and—”
“How about next weekend?” he cut in. “I bet we’d have a real good time, darlin’.”
“No, thank you. The truth is that I’m kind of involved with someone else. But I’ll bring the title next week and you can pay me then,” she said in her best phone voice that she reserved for business.
“Can’t blame a guy for tryin’,” Buddy said with a smile. “And I do a fair business here. When you get ready to buy something, holler at me; I’ll try to find whatever you want.”
“Thanks for that,” Claire replied.
“Can we go eat now?” Zaylie yelled from halfway down the car lot.
“Cute kid,” Buddy said.
“She can also be a handful.” Claire rolled her eyes. “See you next week.”
“Y’all get it settled?” Levi asked as Claire returned to the truck.
“We did,” she answered as Levi finished buckling in Zaylie, then helped her into the truck and shut the door.
The two men said a few more words to each other that she couldn’t hear, but Levi was whistling all the way around the back side of the truck.
“Buddy might look like a grease monkey, but he could buy half the state of Texas if he wanted it. I’ve partied with him. He was probably givin’ you some of his best flirting,” Levi said as he started the engine.
“Honey, I can smell bullshit pickup lines from a mile away, and they don’t impress me at all,” she said.
But if you kissed my knuckles like he did, my legs would probably buckle at the knees, she thought.