CHAPTER 6

Emerson

“MISS EMMY! COME SEE! It’s my favwiiiite!” Lily shrieks, running ahead of us. After lunch at the diner, we decided to go to the huge aquarium in the city. Lily has been dragging us from one exhibit to another, a smile never leaving her face. It’s not too busy, so we’ve been able to let her run ahead, Levi holding tight to my hand the whole time.

After our encounter in the kitchen, I hurried off to shower, but mostly to gain control of myself. Nobody has ever made me feel the way I do right now. Levi is this complete enigma: he’s so quiet and respectful, yet he also knows exactly what he wants, and he doesn’t bother holding back. He’s absolutely amazing with Lily, and she’s completely head over heels in love with her daddy. I’m finding myself becoming attached to Lily as well, so I’m nervous.

What if Levi and I become a thing and we don’t work out? I’d hate to hurt that sweet girl. And if I’m being honest, I’d hate to lose her too. Being twenty-seven, I constantly find myself imagining being a mother, getting married. And the more time I spend with these two, the more it becomes clear that it’s what I really want. Whether it’s with Levi and Lily, I don’t know, but I want that one day for sure.

“Coming, baby girl.” Releasing Levi’s hand, I jog ahead to catch up with Lily, sweeping her up into my arms as we go. Rotating her around until she’s piggyback on me, I turn to Levi shouting my name. Holding his cell up, Levi motions to us that he wants a picture, so I smile brightly and hear her giggling behind me. He snaps the picture and gives a thumbs-up, and I turn back to where Lily wanted to go.

“Penguins!” Lily wriggles to get down when we reach the display, and she goes racing over to the edge, leaning over the railing. I stand behind her and keep a tight hold on her, making sure she doesn’t lean over too far. While she’s pointing out her favorites, Levi comes up behind me, his large hands resting on my shoulders. I lean back into him a little and he kisses the top of my head.

“You’re so good with her, Em,” he murmurs, and I smile, turning my head to meet his eyes. That scruff on his face, that dimple, and fuck, that smile. This man is perfection, and for the moment he’s all mine.

“She’s an amazing little girl, Levi. You’re such a good dad.”

“Thank you. I try my hardest. From the second she was mine, I’ve done nothing but try to be the best thing in her life. I worry that not having her mother is bad for her upbringing, but I know what happened and I know deep down it was the best decision for her.”

“What happened?”

Levi looks down at Lily with a tight smile, and then turns back to me.

“Dana gave her up just over two years ago. She’s an addict.”

He doesn’t elaborate but he doesn’t need to. Tears fill my eyes and I look back down at Lily, completely unaware and laughing over the animals in front of her.

“Emmy...”

“Sorry, wasn’t expecting that.”

“Why are you crying?” Levi wipes my tear with his thumb and leans forward to kiss my cheek gently.

“How do you give up a blessing like that little girl? My heart hurts for you guys.”

“Don’t be sad, baby. We’re doing just fine without her. And now we have you.”

“Levi.”

“I told you, Emmy. I don’t know what this is, but it’s happening.” Gently placing a quick kiss to my lips, he moves to kneel next to Lily, pulling her toward his chest.

“Okay,” I whisper, my lips turning up into a smile that widens as Levi laughs over Lily’s excitement.

This freaking guy.

“So, this weekend,” Levi begins, a sly grin on his face.

“What about it?”

Standing at his truck, Lily asleep inside, I’m not looking forward to him leaving in a few minutes. After the aquarium, we went out for ice cream, and Lily zonked out almost immediately on the way back to my apartment. We drove the thirty minutes in silence, Levi holding my hand tightly in his lap. It was an absolutely amazing day, and I’m not ready to let them go yet.

Silly, but I don’t care.

“Can I take you out Saturday night?”

“Yeah, that sounds great.”

“Perfect. Say five? I’ll get my mom to watch Lily for the night.”

I raise an eyebrow at him. “I thought you wanted to bring Lily with us?”

“She came with us today. Saturday is about you and me.” Leaning forward, he drops his forehead to mine, his lips hovering over mine. “That okay with you, Em?”

“Of course.” Goose bumps break out over my skin when his rough hands come around my waist, sliding under the hem of my shirt.

“I’ll text you when we get home.”

“Okay. Drive safe.”

“Always do.”

Leaning down, he presses a chaste kiss to my lips, and I give him a small wave as I rush inside. Closing the door behind me, I lean my back against it, a huge smile on my face. I turn the lock and look around my almost completely boxed-up apartment. Dropping my purse onto the kitchen counter, I hear the phone inside beep with a message.

Levi: I really enjoyed today, Em.

Emerson: Me too. Thank you, Levi. Really, it got me out and kept my mind off things.

Levi: I’m glad, baby. We’re leaving now, talk to you later.

Emerson: I thought you left?

Levi: Nope. Wanted to make sure you got inside safely.

Emerson: Goofball.

Levi: You know it.

I toss my phone aside and head to my bathroom to take a shower and get changed for the night. I still have some packing to finish up, and I know I’ll end up calling Levi once I’m done. Or maybe he’ll call me first. I feel like a teenager with her first crush.

I’m totally ridiculous.

“Good night, sweetie pie! I’ll talk to you tomorrow, okay?” I blow a kiss at my phone, watching Lily giggle and blow one back. Levi sent a text about an hour ago asking if we could FaceTime before Lily went to bed, and of course I was game.

“Em, give me just five minutes, okay? I’ll call you right back?” Levi’s face appears for a moment and I give him a thumbs-up.

“Don’t rush on my account. I’m heading to bed soon as well, so if you want I can just talk to you tomorrow.”

“No, seriously. I’ll be right back.” Levi winks at me and the screen goes dark as he ends the call.

Shaking my head, I stand from my place on the couch and carry my phone into my bedroom, placing it on my end table. I leave it there while I go into the bathroom to brush my teeth. Pulling my hair up into a bun, I climb into bed and reach for the television remote, finding some comedy reruns and settling back against my pillows.

Halfway through, I hear an incoming FaceTime call chime and I smile, muting the television so I can answer.

“Hello again,” I joke, laughing when he rolls his eyes.

“Sorry, Lily needed an extra hug and then another story. And then another hug. That child is something else.”

I laugh loudly. “She is the sweetest thing in the world. I adore her, Levi. Truly, she’s such an amazing and beautiful little girl.”

He smiles, and my eyes go to his dimple again. Fuck, he’s just so handsome.

“Thanks, baby.”

I’m pretty sure I blush from my head all the way to my toes and he laughs, which only makes me blush harder.

“What?”

“Nobody has ever called me baby before. Or made me feel like this. It freaks me out.”

“Why does it freak you out? Talk to me, Emmy. You don’t have to hide from me. What’s going through that pretty little head of yours?”

I make myself comfortable and set my phone up on my end table, resting my head on my pillows. Levi shifts the camera around to do the same, almost like we’re lying side by side.

“I don’t know. I’ve watched my parents be head over heels in love my whole life. They got married when they were barely out of high school. I’ve dated, and I’m not some virgin who lives with her head in the clouds and believes in love at first sight, but I’m so drawn to you and your little girl. And what if this is a fluke? What if tomorrow you find another hot nurse to start dating? What about Lily? How does this work?”

“Can I talk, Em?” I nod, and he gives me his signature smile. “Listen. Lily is four, and in her entire life I have only been with one person—her mother. After we broke up when Lily was an infant, I never had time for dating, too busy running a new business with Caden and trying to be a good father. When Dana split, I was so consumed with making sure that Lily had everything she needed. See, she adjusted to the change okay, because she was only two. She didn’t understand, and after we told her that she’d be living with Daddy every day, she never asked for Dana again because when she was with Dana, she bounced from babysitter to babysitter. Lily barely knew her mother even when she was around.”

“That’s horrible,” I say, finding it hard to not want to spend every waking second with your baby. It makes no sense to me.

“I agree. But it’s the hand I’ve been dealt, and I like to think that my daughter will turn out just fine, mother or not. But you need to know, me wanting to be with you? It’s not something I take lightly, Em. I saw the connection you had with Lily that night in the hospital. You’re all she can talk about. So yes, things are happening fast, and I’m scared too, baby. I promise you, you aren’t alone. For four years, my daughter has been my entire world. Now you’re working your way in, and I wouldn’t change that for anything.”

“Levi...”

“You’re amazing, Emerson Reese. You’re dedicated to your job, and you work your ass off. You’re driven, talented, beautiful, and I like you a hell of a lot. I don’t think it will take much for you to find a permanent spot in my life, so please don’t worry. We’ll be okay.”

“You really think so?”

“Dad says he saw my mom across the parking lot of the restaurant they first met at and he knew then he’d marry her. Took him about three years of convincing, but he got his way. I’m an awful lot like that stubborn old fool. Just a fair warning.”

“Three weeks, Levi.”

“So I guess we got a head start, then, huh?”

“Guess so.”

“Have faith, Em. I get the feeling we’re in for the ride of our lives.”

I can’t keep the grin off my face, and when we end the call ten minutes later, I fall asleep with it still there.

“Dad, all my stuff isn’t gonna fit in your truck. Levi offered to help us, so I accepted. So I need you to be nice, okay?”

I’m at my parents’ for dinner tonight, and while we eat, we discuss the plans for the move on Monday.

Mom chuckles at the look on Dad’s face.

“When am I not nice, sweetheart?”

“Oh, I’m not sure. Let’s see. How about Billy, my junior prom date? You cleaned your gun in the living room that night.”

“What, a man can’t clean his gun?”

“It’s a decorative piece, Daddy.” I raise an eyebrow and he starts laughing.

“Okay, you got me. I’ll be nice to this Levi guy, okay? How well do you know him, anyway?”

“I know him very well. When I’m not at work or sleeping, we’re talking. And not just the usual ‘what’s your favorite movie’ garbage. We talk about everything.”

“How many dates have you had?” Mom asks, offering me more wine.

Shaking my head, I push back from the table and start clearing the empty dishes.

“One. We took Lily to the aquarium the other day. We’re going out tomorrow night for dinner though.”

“Lily?” Dad questions.

“His four-year-old daughter.”

Oh shit. Guess who never told her parents she’s dating a single father.

This moron.

“His daughter? Honey, are you sure that’s a good idea?” Dad asks. Mom is giving me one of her most sympathetic looks, and I know I’ve just stepped into a pile of shit the size of Texas.

“Why wouldn’t it be? I met her the same night I met Levi. He brought her into the emergency room one night I was on shift.”

“I just don’t think now is a good time for you to be getting mixed up with a guy with that kinda baggage, what with your final year of nursing school.”

Slamming the bowl onto the counter, my blood boils as I storm back into the dining room. Coming to stand in front of Dad, I rest my hands on my hips.

“Number one, Lily is not baggage, and don’t you ever say that again. Second, Levi is a thirty-year-old man who owns his own business and treats me like gold. He was there for me when Ellen passed away this week and I can never repay him for that, so watch how you speak about him. I really like him Dad, and I can’t have your overprotectiveness ruining it.”

Spinning on my heel, I march out to grab my purse and come back to my parents. Neither of them has moved, but they both look completely taken aback by my outburst, so I’m not surprised.

“I’m gonna head out, but I’ll see you Monday morning. Levi will be there around nine, so same time, okay? Thanks for dinner, Mom. Love you guys.”

I curtly make my way to the front door, but my mom comes running up behind me.

“Em, hold on a second. I want to talk to you.”

“Mom, you don’t—”

“No, I’m proud of you. Your father isn’t trying to hurt you or get involved, but you know him, honey. He wants the best for you, okay?”

“I know, but Levi is what’s best for me.”

Mom gives me a small smile and folds her arms over her chest.

“It’s really nice to see you in love. It’s a beautiful look for you.”

I throw my head back and laugh, hardly able to believe what she just said.

“Mom, are you high? In love? You’re joking, right? I’ve known him a month. Not even. I am not in love with Levi.”

“Tell that to the girl who just bit her father’s head off for talking about this man the way he did. Don’t worry, your brain will catch up to your heart faster than you think. Drive safely and I’ll see you Monday, okay?”

Kissing my cheek, Mom heads back into the living room and I take off, quickly getting into my car and heading home. Her words follow me the entire way, and even later, when I talk to Levi and Lily, I can’t get them out of my head.

I’m not in love with Levi. You can’t fall in love in three weeks.

That’s impossible.

Isn’t it?