An ache hit him in the heart as usual when he thought of his biological father. The kid who’d gotten Levi’s mother pregnant had only been seventeen. The night she told him about the baby, he took a curve too fast on the way home from her place. He’d died instantly when his car hit a big scrub oak tree, not totally unlike the one that Claire had plowed into.
Levi hoped that Grant did come home to stay at Christmas because all kids needed a father. “Well, princess, if your daddy can’t eat that many, I’m sure I couldn’t either.” He picked her up and carried her back to the kitchen. “Look what I found in the living room. Does anyone know this kid, or should I throw her out the back door?”
“No, no, no!” Zaylie giggled. “Aunt Claire, tell him who I am.”
“Let me look at her,” Claire said in mock seriousness. “Are her eyes blue and does she have blond hair?”
Levi held her out toward Claire. “Why, I believe that might be Zaylie Mason.”
“You think we should keep her?” Levi teased.
“Maybe so since I made all these waffles and she ordered a gazillion,” Claire said.
Zaylie wiggled free and ran to her chair at the table.
Just to get to touch her, Levi tucked a strand of hair behind Claire’s ear. “Don’t want one of those to fall out and get in the waffle batter.”
“Thanks.” She smiled.
Justin and Levi had both eaten breakfast and headed to the barn. Mavis wasn’t there yet, and Zaylie was in the living room talking to Teresa. Claire stopped loading the dishwasher and watched a couple of bunnies hopping across the backyard. Had they been out to the barn to visit with Hopalong about boy bunny stuff, or were they girl bunnies out looking for a good time?
She caught bits and pieces of Zaylie’s conversation with Teresa in the living room. But most of her focus was centered on the bunnies as they hopped out of sight. The ranch was so peaceful and quiet, even when it was bustling with activity like it had been the night they’d decorated the tree. She’d never found such tranquility anywhere she’d lived before. No wonder Zaylie loved it so much.
Levi startled her when he dashed in the back door and grabbed his gloves. “Forgot a couple of things.”
“Gloves and what else?” she asked.
“This.” He wrapped her up in his arms in a fierce embrace.
She could sure get used to a boyfriend like Levi who wasn’t only just the sexiest cowboy in Texas but the most thoughtful one too.
With his rough knuckles he tipped up her chin, and his mouth moved toward hers. She didn’t want to close her eyes, but the passion in his eyes drew her into the kiss. His lips touched hers, and she tiptoed as her hands found their way under his open jacket to splay out on his chest. His heart thumped against her palm, but it wasn’t beating nearly as fast as hers. The tip of his tongue grazed her mouth, and a shiver of desire danced down her spine when she opened slightly. The taste of sweet maple syrup mixed with strong black coffee teased her senses, and she pressed her body closer to his.
And then, just like that, it was over and he took a step back, leaving her weak kneed and wanting more. “I’ve wanted to do that all morning. See you at noon.” He was gone before she could say a word.
With weak knees, she quickly turned around to look out the kitchen window. He turned around and waved just before he got into his truck and drove off toward the barn. She held up a hand and was startled again when Zaylie tugged on the tail of her T-shirt.
“Aunt Claire, Franny wants to talk to you.” Zaylie held up the phone.
“I thought you were talking to Teresa,” Claire said.
“I was but we hanged up and Franny called.”
“Hello,” Claire said.
“You are out of breath. Were you busy?” Franny asked.
Define busy, Claire thought for a split second before she answered.
“I was but I’m finished. How’re things in Randlett?” Claire glanced out the window, but Levi’s truck was completely out of sight.
“Boring as usual. I miss having you and Zaylie next door.”
“Well,” Claire drew out the word as she checked to see where Zaylie was. She was sitting on the sofa watching cartoons on television. “I’ve got news but it’s a big secret until Christmas. You may have more than one little girl living next door to you.” She went on to tell Franny about Angela and Grant.
“Well, that house ain’t big enough for you and them both. My renter is moving out next week. That’ll give me time to get it repainted and the carpets cleaned, and then you can move in. It’s just a little two-bedroom, one-bath house, but it’ll be perfect for you,” Franny said.
“I didn’t know you had rental property,” Claire said.
“Just the one place. It belonged to my aunt, and I inherited it when she died forty years ago. Now what’s goin’ on with you and the cowboy?”
“Thank you for the offer, but there’s more news.” Claire went on to tell Franny about moving to Sunset and opening a quilting shop.
“Follow your dreams, or you’ll regret it,” Franny said. “I’m going to miss you, but you’ve got to do what your heart tells you. Now tell me, did you sleep with the cowboy?”
“No,” Claire gasped. “But I’ve got a problem. I feel like I should have a Christmas present ready for each one of them for being so good to us and…” She hesitated again.
Franny giggled. “You must like that cowboy for him to rattle you so much that you can’t think. What do you do for a living?”
“Make quilts,” Claire answered.
“What do you bet that those tall cowboys don’t have a single throw that can reach to their toes on a cold night when they’re watchin’ television?”
“Franny, you are a genius,” Claire squealed.
“And make one for Retta and the new baby while you’re at it.”
“Great idea. That takes a load off my mind.” Claire felt a hundred percent better now that she had a plan.
“Good. I’ve got to go down to the church to help plan for our Christmas potluck. We always have it right after services on the second Sunday in December, and I’ll expect you and Zaylie to be there.” Her tone didn’t leave a bit of wiggle room.
“We’ll plan on it. Tell everyone hello for me.”
“I’ll do that. Bye now,” Franny said, and the call ended.
She was about to text Levi, when he called. “Would you and Zaylie like to get out a little while this mornin’? I need some supplies in Bowie.”
“Hey.” Mavis came through the kitchen door.
Claire waved. “Levi is going to Bowie. Do you need anything from there?”
“I’ll make a list. Why don’t you and Zaylie go with him? You’ll do a better job of filling my list than he will. Men can take all day to find a can of baking powder.”
“Are you sure you don’t need my help?” Claire asked her.
Mavis made a motion of shooing her away.
“How about I pick you up in ten minutes?” Levi said. “There’s a really good Tex-Mex place in Bowie. We could get some lunch there.”
“Love to.” She hoped that her breath didn’t sound as breathy in Levi’s ears as it did in hers.
Chapter Thirteen
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 anythin
g 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.”
Cowboy Honor--Includes a bonus novella Page 15
