For the next two days everyone had a job to do on the ranch. Mavis, Retta, and Claire kept the oven going from daylight until after supper making dozens and dozens of cookies. The guys worked outside getting decorations all put up and ready for the party on Saturday night. Mavis was the ultimate boss about everything. She’d organized the parties for so long that she knew exactly what to get done and how to tell everyone how to do their jobs including Claire and Retta.
Claire had managed to get a lot of quilting done during the previous days, but that evening she’d put aside the throw to talk to a supplier about buying bolts of fabric wholesale. While she was on her cell, one of the kittens got stuck under the sofa and set up a howl that sounded like it was dying. Gussie was running back and forth from basket to sofa. The supplier was talking fast, and Claire was trying to take notes. Then the house phone rang, and Zaylie was throwing such a fit about her cat, which she was sure was dying, that she couldn’t answer it for the sobs. As if that wasn’t enough, the electricity blinked off for five seconds. Claire didn’t know whether the cat or Zaylie was crying the hardest.
Just as the lights came back on, Levi rapped on the door, but he didn’t wait to be invited in. “What is going on?”
“My kitty cat is hurtin’, and Aunt Claire won’t get off the phone, and I miss my daddy and…”
“Help me, please,” Claire begged.
Levi picked Zaylie up and dried her tears. Then he turned the sofa over and rescued the kitten. “I believe that Grumpy is hungry. Let’s put him in the basket with Gussie. And we’ll get your coat on and take a ride out to the barn to see Nomie.”
Thank you, Claire mouthed.
Levi’s head bobbed in a brief nod, and just like that the bunkhouse was quiet enough that she could give the supplier her business number and make a huge order for the quilt shop. She ended the call and put her head in her hands.
Did that hurt? Her grandmother popped into her head.
“Yes, it did. My poor nerves were so frazzled, I wanted to scream,” she answered out loud.
Not that. Did it hurt to ask for help?
Claire pushed back her chair and paced around the table a couple of times. Levi had come to her rescue, and it felt right. Maybe she’d shed some of those porcupine quills without even knowing it.
“And he’ll always be here for me. I know it because that’s the kind of man he is.” A smile spread across her face as she picked up small pieces of fabric and sewed them together. “I’m beginning to believe that maybe he can walk on water.”
Half an hour later, Zaylie bounced into the house with Levi right behind her. She went straight to the basket of kittens. She was in the process of kissing Grumpy on the nose when the phone rang.
Claire was never so glad in her life to see a picture of her brother pop up on the screen. “Hello! I’m going to put you on speaker, and you talk to your daughter for thirty minutes.”
“With pleasure,” Grant said.
“Daddy, Daddy,” Zaylie squealed. “We made cookies for three days and I put Santa’s hat on them and I ate six today. And Levi came and took me to the barn because Aunt Claire wouldn’t get off the phone and help me.”
“What was your aunt doing?” he asked.
“Just talkin’ on the phone. I’m mad at her. I’m going to take the phone to my kitties so you can see how scared Grumpy still is,” Zaylie said.
“You should go take a long soaking bath while she’s on the phone.” Levi kissed Claire on the forehead.
“I’d rather spend time with you,” she said.
“Who says you can’t have both?” Levi waggled his eyebrows.
She shot a look toward Zaylie.
“Just go take a bath. You need it to relax.” After a sweet kiss brushed across her lips, he left.
Claire ran a tub of water, shook some bath salts into it, and stripped out of her clothing. She’d just gotten into the tub and hadn’t even sat down yet when she heard gravel hitting the bathroom window. She peeked through the curtains to find Levi with his nose pressed against the glass.
“What are you doin’ out there?” she asked.
“You said you wanted to spend time with me. Unlock the window.”
She slid it up, and he slung a long leg over into the bathroom. His eyes scanned her body before he took her in his arms and kissed her, his tongue mating with hers and leaving her panting when he pulled away.
“Sit down and I’ll wash your hair for you.” He dropped down on his knees and adjusted the flow of the water.
She eased down into the tub. “Are you kiddin’ me?”
“No, ma’am. You’ve been workin’ hard for three days. You need some pampering. Lean back a little.” He filled a plastic cup and poured warm water through her hair three times. When it was all wet, he lathered it, massaging her scalp with his fingertips.
“That is amazing.” Surely all the heat in her body would make the bathwater begin to boil any minute.
When he finished rinsing it, he brushed her wet hair to the side and kissed her on the soft, tender spot right under her ear. “Now sit up and I’ll work on those tight neck muscles a little before I have to leave.”
Wet skin. His big hands. Kisses strung across her bare shoulders and neck. Pulse racing. She felt relaxed, and yet every nerve in her body begged for more. Then he changed positions, tipped her chin up, and his lips found hers in another series of searing-hot kisses.
“Time’s up. Good night, darlin’,” he whispered, and then in an instant he was gone.
Had she dreamed the whole thing? No I didn’t, because the air coming through that open window and cooling me down says that he was here. She stood up and closed the window, turned off the water, and sank down to her neck in the bathwater.
“Aunt Claire, are you about done in there? Daddy wants to talk to you now,” Zaylie yelled from the living area.
“Tell him five minutes.” She rose up out of the water and shivered from the instant chill. It would take at least ten minutes to warm up the room with the door open before she could let Zaylie have her bath.
Wrapping a towel around her wet hair and slipping on a floor-length terry-cloth robe, she visualized a world where no little girl was in the house—one where Levi could strip out of his jeans and boots and join her in a shower or a bathtub.
Zaylie handed off the phone to her when she reached the living room, gathered up her kittens, and carried them to her room. Claire curled up on the end of the sofa and saw that her brother was laughing.
“What?” she asked.
“You’re flushed like you used to be as a little girl when you’d done something you shouldn’t. Zaylie has that same look in her face sometimes,” he said.
She took him off FaceTime and put the phone to her ear. “It was steamy in the bathroom. What’s going on?”
“Angela and I got married today,” he blurted out.
“Sweet Lord!” she gasped. “I thought you were waiting until you got home to see how the family blended together.”
“We are home. Our mission was accomplished early, so they flew us back. We’re going to spend a week here in California, and then we’ll be at the ranch to get Zaylie. We wanted all of us to be together before Christmas, and we want to decorate our first tree together in Randlett,” he explained.
“Congratulations, brother. I’m happy for both of you and for Zaylie and Teresa. She’s going to be over the moon. I’ve got news too. Levi and I are getting a little more serious,” she said.
“Whoa! You’ve only known him a few weeks,” Grant fussed. “Just how far has this relationship gone?”
“Well, neither of us is going to be dating anyone else, though we’re not planning a wedding or anything. Right now, we just want to see where it goes. He’s invited me to the ranch Christmas party,” she told him.
“I trust you’ll use your good sense with this.” Grant’s happy tone changed to concerned in an instant.
“Maybe I’ll throw common sense out the bathroom window and just let my heart lead me,” she said.
“I’d like to see that in you.” Grant chuckled.
“Are you saying that I’m too serious and don’t know how to have a good time?”
“Something like that. If Levi makes you happy and a lot less staid, then I’ll be the first one to shake his hand.”
“Staid!” Her voice went high and squeaky. “That’s a word you use for an old maid.”
“Yep, it is. And now I’m changing the subject before that squeaky voice deafens me. Think you could stay at the ranch until I get there? Zaylie’s going to pitch a fit if you make her leave.”
“I think that might be doable,” she said. “I can’t wait to see you. One week from today?”
“From tomorrow. We’ll be there the fifteenth before supper time. Can you have Zaylie’s things packed, and will those kittens be ready to go? I’ll bring a carrier if they are.”
“It’ll take some work to get her ready without her nosiness getting in the way, but I’ll do my best, and, yes, the kittens are ready now. They’re eating real food and they’re litter trained,” she said.
“Okay, then. I’ll call again tomorrow evening,” he said.
“Make it early. The party starts at six.”
“Got it. Thanks for all you’ve done, sis.” His tone softened.
“It was all out of love.” Tears ran down her cheeks.
“Love you.” His voice cracked, and the call ended.
Her mind went into high gear as she paced the floor. It would be easy to get the rest of her personal things out of the master bedroom at the house in Randlett the next time she went back there. Zaylie wouldn’t think a thing of that since she’d taken a suitcase full back to the ranch the two times they’d gone there. But the room she’d used as a quilting room needed to be ready for Teresa, and she couldn’t figure out a way to take care of that before Grant arrived.
She’d always been super organized. When they moved from one state or country to another, she’d been the one who’d made lists, marked boxes, and gotten everything put together for the moves. But she needed help, even if it was tough to admit it.
She whipped the towel from her head and got dressed in a worn sweat suit. And then she called Levi. Surely, if he could walk on water, he could help with a plan that wouldn’t spoil the surprise for Zaylie.
“Do you have a few minutes to talk?” she said the minute he answered.
“I’ll be there soon as I can get my boots on,” he told her.
She hit the end button and yelled at Zaylie. “Time for your bath, sweetheart. Kiss the kitties good night, and toss your clothes by the washer.”
Zaylie tiptoed out of her bedroom with her finger over her lips. “Shhh. They’re sleepin’. I read a book to them.” She dropped her things on the tiny kitchen floor and beat Claire to the bathroom. She got her bath time Barbie out of a basket along with some ABC blocks that stuck to the side of the tub, and then she crawled right into the bathwater. The poor doll’s blond hair looked like a mop that had been hung upside down in a windstorm, but Zaylie loved her as much as her other dolls.
When Claire got back to the living area, Levi was sitting on the sofa. He handed her a cold bottle of beer and nodded toward the place right next to him. “Are we in trouble? Are you having second thoughts about us?”
“No, nothing like that. I need help, and this is me asking for it.” She tipped up the beer and swallowed several times before she told him the news.
He set his beer on the coffee table and drew her into his arms. “It’s simple, darlin’. We’ll get the bedroom all ready for the newlyweds while we’re there on Sunday. Then on Monday I’ll take the truck back up there and bring all those boxes and your sewing stuff to the boys’ bunkhouse. It’ll be out of Zaylie’s sight and will be right here if you need it.”
“Zaylie’s right. You are able to walk on water.” Claire pulled his face to hers and kissed him.
“Don’t know about that, but as the foreman, sometimes I have to get things organized around here.” He wrapped her up into his arms, tipped up her chin, and followed her single kiss with a dozen more, each hotter than the last. His thumb made lazy circles right below her ear as his other hand found its way under her sweatshirt to cup a breast.
“Aunt Claire!” Zaylie yelled from the bathroom.
She jumped, and instantly her cheeks were scarlet and burning like fire. Levi let go of her and scooted a few inches away.
“Aunt Claire, I’m ready to get out now!” Zaylie hollered again.
“I’m on my way,” she called out.
“Need a cold rag for your face?” Levi asked.
“No, I need a cup of ice to eat to cool my insides,” she answered.
“I’m going to sneak out and go home to take my second cold shower of the evening,” he whispered. “See you at breakfast.” He brushed a sweet kiss across her lips and let himself out the door.
By the time Levi walked back to the house in the cold night air, he didn’t need that second cold shower, and it had dawned on him that Claire had asked for his help.
“You look like the cat that just found a way to open the canary cage door,” Retta said.
“Maybe so.” He hung up his coat and sank down on the sofa. “I need a big favor on Monday.” He told her about the plan.
“Yes.” She nodded. “If it’ll help Claire out I’ll do it.”
“Why are you so determined to keep her around?” Cade asked from across the room.
“Your parents are coming for the week of Christmas. I’m nervous about that, and Claire and I’ve become really good friends in this short time. Besides I’ll babysit Zaylie anytime I get the chance.”
Levi yawned. “I’m going to bed now. Lots of last-minute stuff to get ready for the party tomorrow.”
“Good night,” Cade and Retta said at the same time.
Levi flipped on the light in his bedroom and took stock of the room that had been his for the past ten years. A queen-size bed, dresser, chest of drawers, and a recliner. And even those things weren’t really his. They were part of the ranch and the house. He had a pretty good chunk of money in the bank, maybe enough for a small down payment on five or ten acres if Justin and Cade would sell him a little parcel to get a start.
Serious meant that he’d have to live up to the cowboy honor code and be faithful to one woman for the rest of his life. He’d never be able to walk into the Rusty Spur and hit on a woman with hopes of sweet talking a tall blonde into spending the night with him. The excitement of discovering all the things that made a woman scream his name—gone. He snapped his fingers and stretched out on his bed.
“Gone!” he said aloud. “But the tradeoff would be that I could come home every evening to Claire, that we could grow old together and raise a family.”
Is that enough?
He thought about it for a few seconds and then nodded.
If it doesn’t work out and she breaks it off?
He remembered a story that Skip told him years ago about an old Indian who talked about two spirits in a man. One only wanted to be free and wild. The other wanted to put down roots.
“Which one won?” he asked Skip.
“The one that the man fed,” Skip answered.
It made a hell of a lot more sense that cold winter night in December than it had when Skip told him the story in the heat of summer between his junior and senior year. Levi just had to be absolutely sure which one he wanted to feed because he didn’t want to ever cause Claire even a tiny bit of pain.