With This Ring (Windswept Bay Book 6)

by Debra Clopton

  He’d been thinking a lot about Jessica. It had been two days since he saw her. Two days since he kissed her and she had admitted that she could have feelings for him.

  Two days too long.

  He was ready to see her, despite the fact that he had made himself stay away to try to give her time to adjust to the feelings she had admitted to. But staying away had been hard and he wasn’t sure he could stay away any longer. He missed her, and Kevin too.

  He dialed her number as he got into the SUV.

  “Hello, Levi,” she answered on the first ring, her voice soft.

  Warmth curled through him. “I’ve missed you,” he said, not even bothering with hello.

  “Oh,” she almost whispered. “I-I’ve missed you too.”

  “Would you, Kevin, and Roscoe want to have a picnic dinner at the beach this evening? Me and Jaco could use some company.”

  He tensed, wondering whether she’d say yes. There was a pause.

  “We would like that.”

  Yes, he wanted to shout. He felt more like a kid than the police chief of Windswept Bay. “Great. How about I pick you all up in about an hour?” It was five now so that would be six and give them a few hours before dark.

  “That sounds perfect.”

  “Perfect,” he said. And it was.

  “This is a great idea,” Kevin hollered at the top of his lungs as he jumped from the truck into the sand. Both dogs followed him. They raced toward the water; Kevin laughed when Roscoe gently tackled him in the sand and Jaco, with his big puppy paws, rolled in the sand with them.

  Jessica’s heart squeezed as she watched Kevin jump up and tear along the water’s edge, chasing seagulls along with the dogs. She had been in turmoil since admitting to Levi that she felt something for him. Since kissing him and cuddling with him the night of the birthday party.

  She had admitted to Lana what had happened and her friend had been overjoyed.

  Jessica was in such an odd place. Joy, excitement, trepidation, and worry all intertwined together into a mixture that billowed around inside her with the wind force of a hurricane. And yet the moment Levi had called and asked them to come for a picnic on the beach, she had instantly said yes.

  Now, a sense of anticipation filled her as his gaze rested on her. Oh, what a confusing web wove around her heart.

  Levi grabbed the picnic basket from the bed of the truck, looking better than he needed to look if he were to help her get over the anticipation of kissing him again. He was not helping her…because she wanted him to. It was true.

  “I’m glad you came. I’ve missed you and Kevin.” He smiled and handed her a Frisbee and a kite. “I thought Kevin might enjoy us playing with these with him.”

  A lump lodged hard in her chest as Jessica took the items. “He will,” she managed. “Thank you.”

  There were a lot of families at the beach but it wasn’t so crowded that they couldn’t have a large area all to themselves. They walked toward the sparkling topaz water, their arms brushing as they walked. She struggled, trying not to let his actions cause the edges of her heart to curl with happiness. But it was hard. Everything about him touched the wounded depths of her soul. And then there was the profound and undeniable fact that he would make a wonderful daddy to Kevin.

  Could she be falling in love with Levi Sinclair?

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she said too quickly. The question echoed in her thoughts. “Here, let me spread that blanket out and you can set the basket on it.” She took the blanket from the crook of his arm and shook it to unfurl it across the white sand. Her heart beat rapid-fire and she focused on getting control of her emotions.

  This was all happening too soon. She needed time.

  And yet the emotions were there.

  Kevin raced up, his cheeks flushed with running. “A Frisbee! Can we play?”

  “Sure.” Levi gave her a curious look. “You want to?”

  “Yes, I’ll throw it first.” She smiled. “You two better spread out,” she warned and then laughed as Levi jogged across the sand with Kevin hot at his heels.

  Before they had gone too far, she shouted, “Heads up!” As soon as Levi spun, she threw the disk in his direction. She laughed again at his startled expression when the Frisbee flew straight and true right at him…but just high enough that he had to jump to catch it.

  “Great throw,” he called as he instantly tossed it toward Kevin, who just barely missed it and had to chase it across the sand. The dogs beat him to it and he had to wangle it from Roscoe’s mouth.

  “Let go, boy.” The gentle giant gave his new toy up. Kevin grinned at them. “I’m going to throw it and see who can get it first,” he shouted and then flung the Frisbee as hard as he could.

  It wobbled crazily in an arc and she jumped up to try to catch it. Levi jumped too and they collided in the air. His arms wrapped around her and he let her fall on top of him in the soft sand. They rolled, laughing together, and came to a halt with her in his arms, looking up into his smiling face. Her breath caught as his deep, woodsy aftershave wafted over her; her heart kicked hard against her ribs, as if trying to get to his.

  “I think we tied on that miss.” He smiled, not acting at all as if he was ready to get up.

  “I think you’re right. But I jumped first and you tackled me to keep me from getting it. Foul.”

  He smiled. “Or maybe it was to get you in my arms.”

  “Mom.” Kevin laughed as he stood over her and Levi, grinning from ear to ear. “You almost had it. I got it now.”

  Jessica had become lost in the moment and now, her cheeks heated with embarrassment as she scrambled out of Levi’s arms. “That’s great. I really missed it, didn’t I?”

  “Yes, ma’am, but you tried. And that’s what counts. Besides, Levi ran into you. I’m glad he caught you, though.”

  Levi’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “I am too, buddy. I’m sure getting tackled wasn’t in your mom’s plans.” Levi stood and held his hand out to her. “Let’s get you up off the sand. I think it’s probably time for us to have something to eat.”

  “I’m starved.” Kevin headed to the picnic basket.

  Jessica placed her hand in Levi’s, feeling the warmth of his touch as he pulled her up and then gently tucked her into his arms.

  He glanced to make sure that Kevin wasn’t looking. “I really am sorry. I wouldn’t hurt you for the world.”

  She looked at him. “I know.” She moved out of his arms.

  And it was true: she knew that Levi Sinclair would never intentionally hurt her. She just had to figure out whether she could risk her heart on the unintentional aspect of that equation. Because Adam would never have intentionally hurt her either and yet he had hurt her deeply when she had lost him.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Levi could not believe he had tackled poor Jessica like a linebacker on a pro football team. Or a thug being taken down on the run. If he was hoping to impress her, that certainly wasn’t the way to do it. She could’ve ended up in the hospital. But thankfully she seemed okay. Tomorrow she might be sore, though.

  Kevin waited for them on the blanket, eagerly peering into the picnic basket. As they approached, he looked up. Levi’s heart tugged at the delight on the kid’s face. He was getting pretty used to seeing the little boy happy and he knew he would do anything for Kevin.

  And Jessica.

  “You see something in there you like?” he asked.

  “Oh yeah, there are some Cosmic Brownies in there. I love them.” Kevin grinned.

  Jessica sat down on the blanket. “You like anything that has the Little Debbie logo on it.”

  “I kind of like Little Debbies too,” Levi said. “I just took a chance that Cosmic Brownies might be a hit. I think kids usually like those candy things on top of anything.”

  Kevin nodded excitedly. “I do. I like them peanut butter chocolate thingies too.”

  “Nutty Buddies, and you like those, not them.”
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  “Oh, right. I like those. I also like them—I mean, those—rice crispy cookies. Yum.”

  Jessica chuckled and glanced in the basket. “Wait, please tell me that’s not filled with snacks only? I’m starting to believe that maybe you two boys are planning to make a meal out of only junk food.”

  “I brought more than snacks.” Levi reached into the basket and pulled out a plate covered with plastic wrap that had a neat assortment of sandwiches that he’d cut diagonally into four small triangular sandwiches.

  Jessica looked at him and arched an eyebrow in question. “You even cut them into triangles?”

  He shrugged. “Growing up, we always liked it when Mom cut our sandwiches into triangles. I guess the kid in me came out when I decided to do this picnic for you and Kevin.”

  Kevin giggled. “I’m not complaining. I like little triangles too. Do you have any peanut butter and jelly in there?”

  Levi pretended he was insulted. “Of course I do. What kind of question is that, young man? A man has to have his peanut butter. It puts muscle on your body.”

  He saw the look on Jessica’s face watching them and wondered what she was thinking. He wondered whether she struggled at moments like this, watching Kevin in moments that could have or should have been spent with his dad, Adam. Levi remembered many times when his own dad had taken the family for picnics on the beach like this and the fun they’d had. He couldn’t imagine spending those moments with anyone other than his dad. He wanted to gently stroke her cheek and tell her he was sorry that she had gone through the loss of someone she loved. He wanted to tell her that he could make it all right, and yet he knew that he couldn’t.

  How could he even think she would want to replace what she had felt for her husband for someone else? The question plagued him. He even felt guilty for the fact that he was glad he was getting to share this time with them. But it was borrowed time…someone else’s time. The thought slammed into him and the reality hit him that the only reason she was here with him was because the man who should be here was dead.

  It was a tough reality. It was a moral dilemma for him and suddenly he was uncertain how he felt about that.

  Jessica’s heart melted as she watched Levi with Kevin. She was in deep trouble. This man was going to be hard to resist. She wasn’t sure of anything at the moment except that Kevin needed this.

  They ate and giggled and laughed. Levi teased Kevin and tossed food to the dogs and pointed out seagulls and clouds. As the sun began to dip in the sky, he and Levi flew the kite for just a quick moment before the breeze gave out and dusk settled over the bay. Her heart ached, watching them together.

  Most of the families along the beach had gathered up their things and headed to the cars. There were just a few scattered people along the long expanse of beach. She realized as she sat there she wasn’t ready for the night to end. It was too perfect, too beautiful.

  They were gathering up the blanket, getting ready to go home, when a scream pierced the air.

  Levi spun and dropped the picnic basket when he saw a woman race toward the water. It was after hours for the lifeguards to be on duty. Jessica scanned the water as Levi started to run.

  “Call 911, now,” he shouted over his shoulder.

  Jessica grabbed her phone and punched the emergency number. Then she grabbed Kevin’s hand and they ran after him; the dogs bounded behind him. Before she could reach the woman, Levi had raced into the waves.

  The dispatcher on 911 answered. She quickly told her what was going on and told them Levi had just gone into the water. The raspy-voiced female on the other end of the line was all business as she told Jessica to hold on, help was on the way and that she had the best that there was there helping.

  “What is it, Mom?” Kevin’s voice wobbled.

  Jessica’s heart was in her throat. She hadn’t been there when Adam had gone into that water to save the family from disaster. She hadn’t seen him pull them out one by one, going back again and again. She’d been told by the grateful family but she hadn’t been there.

  She hadn’t seen him disappear beneath the water. But she’d dreamed it over and over and over again.

  She had relived that moment in her mind, in her heart, so many times that she didn’t want to live through this one. Didn’t want to imagine or even think that Levi wasn’t going to come up out of that water.

  She squeezed Kevin’s hand, pulled him into her arms and held him tight as she prayed for Levi’s head to come up above the waves. She saw the person in the water’s hand waving before it, too, disappeared beneath the water. Her heart nearly stopped beating. Where was Levi?

  Desperation filled her. She should go in. She should help.

  But she couldn’t leave Kevin. Her son had already lost too much. So she prayed. And then she saw Levi’s head pop from the water. Relief washed over her like a waterfall. He had the swimmer grasped in the crook of his arm, the typical life-saving grasp of a lifeguard. Relief, cold and chilling to the bone, filled her. They were coming in, thank God.

  Her heart lodged in her throat while Levi struggled out of the water, pulling a teenaged boy with him. When he got him to the wet sand, he turned him on his side and patted his back several times. Thankfully, the teen was coughing and coherent. Levi had gotten to him in time. His mother, still hysterical, rushed to hug her son.

  Sirens could be heard in the distance as the few people who were still on the beach now gathered round. Jessica had knelt to the sand and held Kevin close as they watched Levi work with the teen. Kevin trembled in her arms and she felt his tears against her shoulder. Felt her own tears flow down her cheeks.

  When the police SUV raced across the sand, followed by the ambulance, she picked Kevin up and he clung to her neck, feeling so small in her arms. He was a little big but she held him tightly in her arms and headed toward the truck. They had seen enough. She was thankful that the teenager was okay. Thanked God for it. But she and Kevin weren’t okay.

  “Honey, it’s going to be okay, babe.”

  He rolled his head back and forth on her shoulder. His wet tears rubbed against her skin. “I thought Levi was going to die like Daddy.”

  Her heart ached. “He was okay, though. You saw him. He’s fine.”

  Kevin lifted his head and sniffed. “I don’t want to lose him too.”

  Jessica fought off tears. She could not cry right now. But she knew she couldn’t lose Levi either. And she couldn’t let Kevin lose him either…

  Walking away now might protect them from the heartache that they could suffer if she let them get any deeper in love with Levi.

  Love? No—she could not let herself love him. If she loved him, she could lose him. If she let Levi into her heart, he could break it. If she pulled out now, they would hurt but not nearly as horribly as they could hurt if she continued their relationship.

  Chapter Fifteen

  As soon as the ambulance pulled away, carrying the very lucky teen to the hospital, Levi went in search of Jessica and Kevin. He found them in the truck, looking less than good.

  Sorrow was written on Jessica’s beautiful face and in the slump of her shoulders.

  Kevin looked small and brokenhearted too. But when he saw Levi, his eyes widened and he held his arms out. Levi didn’t hesitate to pull the little boy from his mother’s lap and into his arms. Kevin’s body trembled as he held him and he met Jessica’s eyes over her son’s shoulder.

  “Hey now, everything is fine, Kevin. Everything is going to be all right,” he assured both of them.

  “I thought you were going to drown like my daddy.”

  The words hit Levi like a tsunami and he understood. This had brought back all the pain these two had endured. Of course witnessing the boy almost drown would make this more personal to them. The emotions on Jessica’s face made more sense now, given the traumatic loss of Adam.

  “I’m sorry I scared you, son.” The word slipped out before he could stop it. Jessica looked away, staring out through the windshie
ld into the darkness.

  “I wouldn’t leave you.”

  “My daddy did.”

  “Your daddy was in the water a long time, saving all those lives that he saved. He didn’t leave you on purpose.” Levi was in over his head. He looked to Jessica; however, she sat stiff as a statue and continued to stare out the window. Worry tore at Levi.

  “Come on. Let’s get you home.”

  He put Kevin in the backseat and buckled him in. “Your daddy would be really proud of you, young man. You were very brave. Losing your daddy was very hard. And you have helped take care of your mom and Roscoe all this time. You are growing into a great young man. I didn’t know your daddy, but I know that he’s looking down on you from heaven right now and he’s smiling because you’ve been so brave.”

  “Levi is right, Kevin, honey.” Jessica turned slightly in the seat so that she could look at her son. In the truck’s interior light, he could see the love and concern in her eyes for Kevin. “You’ve been wonderful and brave and your daddy is very proud of you.”

  “I want him to be. But I was worried about you, Levi,” Kevin said. “I love you and didn’t want to lose another daddy.”

  Levi’s heart dropped like a sledgehammer. Jessica’s gaze met his and he could not tell what she was thinking.

  “It’s time to go home.” She then turned back to face the front and tugged the seat belt around her, a signal it was time to move.

  Levi closed Kevin’s door and then rubbed his forehead as he strode around the truck. Where did they go from here?

  “Is he sleeping?” Levi asked when Jessica came back into the living room after she had laid Kevin down for the night. It’d taken a little while. Kevin had wanted Levi to read a bedtime story to him, but given the daddy comment, she thought it best to dodge that request.