by Erica Penrod
Levi’s father looked around the entry and into the very outdated living room. Monica could only imagine what he was thinking.
“I’m just about to serve dinner. Would you like to join us?”
Levi’s weight shifted from one leg to another, and his gaze darted to the ground. Monica’s chest grew tighter with every passing second, wondering what she’d missed. Worse yet, she feared he was embarrassed by her and her home. No, he wasn’t embarrassed of her. She had to trust him.
Levi looked up, and their eyes met. A notch appeared between his brows, and a slow smile eased along his face. He reached out and took her hand. “I was telling my dad about your delicious meals on the way over.”
“I wouldn’t want to trouble you.” Carlos tucked his hands in the pockets of his slacks.
“It’s no trouble at all. I’ve got plenty.” Ugh. She would’ve felt a lot better if her rolls had turned out. “My other guests, Sam and Heather Biggs, will also be joining us.”
“Sure, thank you.”
Monica smiled and let go of Levi’s hand as she walked into the kitchen. This ought to be interesting: two Harley Davidson bikers, two billionaires, and one struggling B&B owner. Aunt Gwen’s voice echoed in her mind: Put a tent over it and call it a circus.
Monica smiled as she drew in a deep breath. Aunt Gwen, I think you’re right.
Chapter Nineteen
Monica was shocked; dinner wasn’t a disaster. Carlos and Sam spent most of the time talking about motorcycles and which bike tours were not to be missed. Plus, only she seemed to notice the rolls were less than perfect.
“I had no idea my dad wanted a Harley.” Levi leaned over and put his hand on her knee. “I won’t be surprised if he goes home and buys one.”
“Maybe you’d better warn your mom.” Monica grinned.
Heather pulled up more pictures on her phone. “Now this is our second grandchild, Mason, and he’s three now.”
Monica peered over at the screen. “Look at that hair.” The little boy was like a miniature version of his grandpa. “He looks just like Sam.”
At the mention of his name, Sam paused the conversation between him and Carlos.
“She said Mason looks just like you.” Heather swiped the screen, and another picture appeared. This one was Sam holding Mason.
“Lucky boy,” Sam said in a deep drawl, and they all laughed.
“Let’s just hope he’s got a little more humility than his grandpa.” Heather continued to thumb through the photos.
Monica enjoyed the pictures, but what touched her most was the pride in the grandmother’s voice. She looked over to see Levi watching the picture show too. His gaze met hers, and she wondered if he was thinking what she was—for she was dreaming about the future, a future with him and what that might someday be.
“The dishwasher is awesome.” Levi loaded the last plate and closed the door.
“About that.” Monica wrung the dishcloth out in the sink and turned to him. “What were you thinking?” He loved her trying to act angry, but she failed miserably. Her voice was too sweet, and a smile kept tugging on her lips.
“It was purely selfish.” He grabbed her waist and pulled her close. “Less time doing dishes means more time for other activities.” He leaned in and kissed her softly. “Like this, for instance.” He kissed her one more time.
When he pulled back, Monica cocked a brow. “I have to admit, I like doing that better than I like doing the dishes.”
“So, I’m forgiven?” Levi loved the way the fluorescent light brought out the green in her hazel eyes.
“For the dishwasher.” She grabbed his chin. “As for the other appliances coming on Saturday, I’m not sure yet.”
Levi grinned. “You’ll forgive me.”
“Why do you say that?” Monica dropped her hand to his waist.
He loved the excitement bubbling in her eyes. “Because you’ll love them so much.”
She shook her head. “You don’t need to buy me things.”
Levi brushed the hair back from her face. “I know that, but I want to. I want to make you happy.”
Monica wrapped her arms around his neck. “You make me happy. I don’t need anything else.” A concerned look flashed in her eyes, and worry crept over his mind. “What was the deal with you earlier tonight when you brought your dad in? You looked upset, and then I worried you were embarrassed by me or this work in progress I call a B&B.”
His heart broke a little at her words. “How could I ever be embarrassed by you?” Levi sighed as he studied her features. “You are the most beautiful, amazing, and talented woman I’ve ever known. The last thing I would ever want is for you to feel that way.” He kissed her softly. “I’m so sorry.”
Her eyes brimmed with emotion and she chuckled. “Okay, now that I know you’re not embarrassed of me, what was wrong?”
“My dad.” Levi expelled the air from his lungs as Monica dropped her arms from around his neck and took his hands. “Out of the blue, he just showed up at work, and I got flustered. Not only was I worried about impressing him; my schedule got all messed up.”
“And I know how you feel about that.” She smiled. “No further explanation needed.”
“So again, I’m sorry about that.” He looked into her eyes. “Forgive me.”
“There’s nothing to forgive.” Monica hugged him. “Well, not until Saturday.”
Levi smiled, praying nothing would change by then. His father wanted to go for a drive out to Mountain Cove tomorrow afternoon. He’d said he had something he wanted to talk to Levi about. As he buried his face in Monica’s hair, he hoped his father’s request wouldn’t be anything she’d have to forgive Levi for.
Wednesday afternoon, the June summer sun shone down on them as Levi, Kyler, and his father headed out to see Mountain Cove. Kyler offered to drive, since Levi’s car was only a two-seater and Carlos said the views would be better from the Jeep than from his sedan.
The open air, sunlight, and wind through Levi’s hair was like a much-needed shot of rejuvenation. The taxing day at the hospital had drained him, but with each passing mile, his reserves were filled. Everything that could wrong had gone wrong at the hospital, and he’d endured it all with his father hanging over his shoulder. His father had asked questions about every decision and critiqued Levi’s every move. He was relieved he’d promised the afternoon to his father and he had an excuse to get out the hospital. Levi had never dreamed they’d be able to bring Kyler along with them, and with the dark circles beneath his friend’s eyes, Levi knew Kyler needed the getaway as much as he did.
“I think I’m going to go home and buy me a Harley,” Carlos called out as they passed a gang of bikers out touring the countryside. “I think I would enjoy the freedom.”
Levi nodded. “I’m not sure how Mom will feel about that.” He was glad he’d be in Arkansas, and not anywhere in close vicinity to Texas when his dad sprang the news to his Mom.
Carlos craned his neck to look back at Levi. “Oh, she’s going to hate it.” A grin swept over his face. “But what can she do?”
Levi didn’t bother answering the rhetorical question. If his father made a decision, in his mind, there was no need for discussion. Luckily for his father, he’d married a woman who loved him anyway. Levi’s mother impressed him with her subtle ways and how she could patiently wait until something she wanted became her husband’s idea. He smiled, thinking about his mom and her new child, Dudley. “Maybe you could buy one of those side carts for Mom and her dog.”
Carlos threw his head back and laughed. “Now that would be something.” They continued the drive. Levi leaned back and hung his arm out, letting the wind blow through his fingers. The winding curves of the two-lane road were just what the doctor ordered.
Kyler hit the brakes, and they all jutted forward as he took the turn like they were in the Daytona 500. “Sorry about that,” he said as the Jeep slowed down to a non-life-threatening speed. “The turn snuck up on me.”
&n
bsp; They meandered down the road, secluded from the highway and the world outside. “What the heck?” Kyler nearly came to a stop as they crept around the tree in the middle of the asphalt road.
“Cool, huh?” Levi leaned over to get a better look. “There’s hundreds of people’s initials and names carved into it. Check out some of those dates.”
“I can’t say I’ve ever seen anything like that before.” His dad lifted his glasses and surveyed the tree. “I’m surprised they put the road around it like they did.”
“The tree must be important to a lot of people.” Kyler tilted his head to read some names written on an angle. “Part of their history.”
“People are too sentimental, if you ask me.” Carlos pushed his glasses down and faced forward.
Levi sat back and looked at his father as a thought came over him. Would he become just like his father and value results and modernization above all? He admired his father for many reasons and had set out to prove himself, but now, since Monica, he knew he wanted more.
They reached the gate and were greeted by the same security guard. The man looked down his nose at Kyler and then saw Levi in the back seat. “Oh, Mr. Hernandez.” He stood up tall. “It’s good to see you again. You’ve been placed on the residents’ list. I’m sorry I didn’t get the gate; this isn’t your vehicle.”
Levi lifted his sunglasses. “It’s good to see you too, Elton.” Levi gestured to Kyler. “This is Dr. Kyler Rockwood and my father, Carlos Hernandez.”
Elton nodded. “Enjoy your visit.” He marched over to the office and pressed a button, and the gate opened. Kyler eased the car through the gate and into the neighborhood.
“Take a left up at the fork and follow the road all the way around.” Levi drew in a breath, thinking he could get used to living in a place like this. The trees and bushes were nature’s version of a privacy fence, and you could be as visible or as invisible as you wanted.
“This is cool.” Kyler leaned forward, peering through the windshield.
They passed a three-story home that reminded Levi of the Mountain Top restaurant, only much bigger. He appreciated the landscaping, which was designed to harmonize with the natural habitat, and his mind whirled with ideas for his new home in Mountain Cove.
Levi was eager to go over the kitchen layout with the contractor who Mr. Lockwood had recommended. Lockwood represented the developer and original owner of the property. He oversaw the process of turning raw land into a gated community while working as a liaison between the city and the development. He also had a thing for fudge, but that could be because his girlfriend worked at the Sweet Shoppe on Main Street.
Thinking about that brought Levi back to Monica in the kitchen. She would need her space to create, like an artist needed a studio. Levi observed his thoughts as his heart picked up the pace, and an anticipation like he’d never known washed over him. This house was no longer just an investment, but a home—a home he someday wanted to share with Monica.
Levi ran his hands along the sheetrock and stared up at the vault, imagining the ceiling finished with tongue-and-groove pine. The living area was one giant room with the kitchen and dining area on one side and the sitting area on the other. He walked through the kitchen and went over the plans to see the placement of the appliances. Levi instructed the contractor, who scribbled notes as they inspected the place. “I want to expand the island another three feet and make sure everything has enough space to accommodate professional-grade appliances. There’s a gas line for the stove, correct?”
The man nodded, and Levi sighed. Building a house was so much more rewarding when you envisioned yourself actually living in the space for longer than a few months. He owned several homes across the country and a vacation villa in Spain, but he regarded them from a temporary standpoint, and the details didn’t matter to him as much as this home in Mountain Cove did. His hospitals were a different story, though, and Levi dedicated himself to every aspect of their creation.
“This looks nice, son.” His father looked out of the wall of windows that opened up to the back deck. “It’s quite the view overlooking the water with the hills in the background.”
Levi joined him. “Yes, it is. I’m having a dock built, so I’ll need a fishing boat. I’ve always wanted to get into fishing. I’ve done a little here or there and thought it was something I might try when I had some more time on my hands.” Levi crossed his arms and watched a bird land in the closest tree.
His father continued, “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”
Levi’s chest tightened. “Okay?”
His father drew in a breath. “You’ve done a good job for me over the last few years. You didn’t let me down like your brother did, and I hope you’re not going to now.”
“I hope not either.” Levi furrowed his brow, waiting for his dad to explain.
“Eureka Springs looks like it’s going to be one of the best hospitals we’ve acquired.” He patted Levi on the back. “I’m confident you know what you’re doing, and I feel comfortable turning the reins over to you, so to speak. I’ll still be chairman of the board, but you’d be the president.”
Levi exhaled, and a big smile covered his face. “Really?”
“Yes.” His dad smiled. “You’ve earned it.”
“I don’t know what to say.” Everything he’d worked so hard for was finally coming to fruition. “Thank you.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that.” His dad stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Your mom told me you’d met someone, and when I saw you with Monica last night, I was worried. I didn’t want you to go and pull a stunt like your brother did, choosing a woman over our family.”
The elation turned into a lead weight and plummeted to his gut. “Jarrett fell in love. You can hardly blame him for that.”
His father scoffed. “Falling in love is fine, but when you allow her to take over your life and steal you away from your family, it’s a problem.”
For the first time, Levi heard the pain beneath the anger. His dad didn’t always go about things the right way, but everything Levi had was because of his dad and his hard work. He swallowed the lump in his throat. Hurting his father was the last thing he wanted to do.
“I’m glad you won’t make that same mistake. We’ve already got your next project lined up in North Carolina; then you can come back to Texas, where your office will be waiting.”
Levi blew the air from his lungs and smiled, although his father would never notice the hesitation in his eyes. “Why don’t we check on Kyler and see if he’s decided to purchase the lot next door?” Not answering wasn’t exactly the answer his father was looking for; he understood that. But it also bought him time, something he desperately needed.
His dad nodded, and they headed toward the front entryway. Levi’s stomach knotted up and his chest tightened; Kyler wasn’t the only one with a big decision to make.
Chapter Twenty
Monica hadn’t seen Levi since yesterday morning. He’d left for work and later gone with his dad and Kyler out to Mountain Cove, but he hadn’t gotten back until she was in bed. This morning, she woke up eager to see him, but he was already gone.
She shot him a text and asked what time he thought he’d be home tonight so dinner would be warm and waiting. Sam and Heather had plans for the evening, so it would just be her and Levi, unless his father was still here.
The tiny bubbles didn’t instantly appear on her screen. Monica chewed her lip as worry panged her. Levi always replied quickly, even if it was to tell her he’d be in touch later. She hoped everything was okay.
Twenty minutes after she’d sent the text, he replied saying he’d be around six, and no, his dad wouldn’t be joining them. Monica pushed her worry away and went back to work.
Hours later, she stood in the room downstairs and admired her efforts. Painting this bedroom and bathroom had taken her half the time that the two previous ones had. With each room, she was getting faster and faster. It also helped to have a be
tter idea of how to paint a room, which she hadn’t when she’d started. She retrieved the phone from her pocket and checked the time. Levi would be home in an hour and a half.
A quick shower made her feel like a new woman. Monica draped herself in a towel and walked over to the fogged mirror. She looked up and noticed a heart drawn in the moisture. “Love you too, Aunt Gwen.” Her great-aunt Gwen loved her, and she knew that, but after the repeated interruptions with Levi, the heart was a welcome change. Monica giggled to herself. Aunt Gwen would have her say, come heaven or earth, and Monica should never expect anything else.
She brushed through her hair and got dressed. A touch of makeup and a spritz of perfume and she was ready. Her belly fluttered with pleasure at the thought of seeing Levi. She couldn’t believe how much she’d missed him. The poor guy must’ve had a couple of crazy days, and she was glad they’d have the house to themselves tonight.
Monica had just closed the oven door to check on the meat pie when she heard Levi come in. Her pulse quickened and her nerves danced throughout her body. She might want to calm down before she rushed out to him, or she might scare the boy to death. Her intense emotions were almost more than she could bear.
A deep breath, and she smoothed her apron before she walked into the entryway. “Hey—” Monica stopped. Levi’s shoulders slouched as if he were too tired to stand up straight and dark crescent shapes marked the skin below his eyes. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” He exhaled. “I’m just tired.”
“Are you sure?” She stood on her toes and tried to peer around him, in case he’d brought home another guest, but there was no one there. “You don’t look like you’re feeling well.” In her mind, she’d already begun boiling the bird for a homemade pot of chicken noodle soup.
“I’m not sick, but I do need to talk to you.” His eyes met hers, and she didn’t recognize him. She’d seen confident and cocky, unsure and humbled, but she’d never seen anything like what she saw now. The only word that came to mind was despair.
