She caught his gaze, said something to Buddy, and then crossed the room to tiptoe and kiss Levi briefly on the lips.
He slipped an arm around her shoulders. “Someone tryin’ to steal my girlfriend?”
“Strange, isn’t it? When no one wants a person, then she’s a wallflower. But let someone show a little interest and suddenly she’s a whole lot more desirable.”
“Darlin’, you were never a wallflower.” He planted a quick kiss on the top of her head. “What did you say to him?”
“Nothing much. Actions speak louder than words, and I just kissed you,” she answered. “Where’s Zaylie?”
“Havin’ a chocolate milk tea party with her friends in the foyer,” he answered. “Let’s start makin’ the rounds. Should’ve done that first and then Buddy wouldn’t have hit on you, but I just had to kiss you.”
He started at the edge of the room and introduced her to everyone that was there. Pretty soon that bunch cleared out and was replaced by a second round, and he repeated the introductions, leaving no room for doubt that he was with Claire that evening and they were an item.
The third group of people had arrived when Retta stole Claire with the excuse that she needed her help with replenishing the cookies. Suddenly Levi felt alone, as if part of him was gone.
“Hey, where’s your arm candy?” Buddy elbowed him in the side.
“She’s a little more than that,” Levi answered.
“I can tell and I’m jealous as hell.” Buddy chuckled. “You’re one lucky cowboy.” Buddy walked away, shaking his head.
“Don’t I know it,” Levi whispered.
Retta led Claire into the spare bedroom and turned on the light. She sank down on the edge of the bed and rolled her eyes. “I needed to get somewhere quiet for a few minutes. Hope you don’t mind me stealing you from Levi.”
Claire kicked off her high heels and crawled up into the middle of the bed. “How long does the party last?”
“Until midnight or after. It’s come and go and there’s several parties going on in the area, so folks kind of hop from one to the other. My face hurts from smiling.” She fell back on the pillow. “It’s my first ranch party, and I knew it would be a big thing. I just didn’t realize how many people would arrive. I miss the beach where it was just me and Cade.”
“I’d rather be out in the barn with Little Bit and Nomie,” Claire admitted.
“Couple of fine ranchin’ women we are.” Retta closed her eyes. “Can’t even make it through the first party.” She laid a hand on Claire’s knee. “Thanks for stickin’ around, my friend.”
Claire patted her hand. “We can get through this together.”
“Amen, sister!” Retta managed a grin. “But for five minutes let’s hide out in here to gossip. Did you see that woman who’s been hanging all over Justin?”
“I sure did. I asked Levi about her, if she was Justin’s date. He said that she’d come with one of the other ranchers and zeroed in on Justin,” Claire said.
“Well, at the rate of sounding bitchy, her dress is way too tight, and she’s wearin’ too much makeup,” Retta said.
“And she’s not used to wearing heels that high. She can barely walk in them.” Claire nodded.
Retta giggled. “I bet she’s really a hardworkin’ ranch woman, used to wearin’ jeans and boots, and here we are judging her.”
“Probably so.” Claire put her shoes back on. “But we should get back out there before Cade misses you and comes lookin’ to make sure you’re not sick.”
“Or Levi misses you,” Retta said.
When they went back out, it was with smiles pasted on their faces. Cade met Retta in the doorway and led her toward a new couple. She shook hands with them and was her old cordial self.
“So where’ve you been?” Levi whispered right behind her.
“We had to have a few minutes to recharge,” she answered honestly. “This is all a little overwhelming.”
“I thought you’d tackle a forest fire with a cup of water,” he said with a laugh.
“Maybe if it was going to burn up my family or loved ones. But I’m basically a hermit. I like one-on-one better than big crowds,” she told him. “I can drag out my social skills for an evening, but if I had my way, I’d be sitting in the bunkhouse having a beer with you.”
“Then if I was to ask you to go dancin’ with me at the Rusty Spur after Grant picks up Zaylie, you’d say no?” he asked.
She rolled up on her toes and pulled his ear down to her lips. “I’d rather play some music out in the barn or in the bunkhouse and dance naked with you.”
“If we did that, there wouldn’t be much dancin’ goin’ on,” he said.
“Now you’re beginning to understand me.” She smiled. “Shall we have some more eggnog and then meet some of the people who’ve just arrived? I thought this was a small rural community.”
“It is and a lot of them work for the Longhorn Ranch. They look forward to this party all year and the bonus they’ll all take home tonight. That’s why we have the party early in the month. The bonus gives them extra money for their Christmas shopping,” he told her.
“That’s really kind and generous,” she said.
“It’s the Longhorn way.”
“As in the ranch or the football team?” she asked.
“Both.” He grinned.
The rest of the evening went by in a blur, and Claire decided that the most beautiful sight in the world was the taillights as the last of the folks left the party. Zaylie had curled up on the end of the sofa an hour before and was sleeping soundly, so Levi draped a throw over her and carried her back to the bunkhouse. Together, he and Claire changed her from her fancy little dress into pajamas and put her to bed.
Then they collapsed on the sofa together. Claire kicked off her shoes and put her feet in Levi’s lap. He massaged the right one for five minutes and then the left one an equal amount of time.
“It’s time to kiss the most beautiful woman in Texas good night now.” He covered a yawn with his hand. “Or else I’m going to fall asleep right here and your brother will insist that I make an honest woman of you.”
“Or Mavis will bring a shotgun and haul us to the preacher for me to make an honest man of you,” she told him.
He cupped her cheek in his hand. “I loved having you beside me tonight, Claire. It felt right.”
“It really did. Good night, Levi.” The touch of his rough, callused hand on her bare skin sent another shiver down her spine.
“Night, darlin’. Want one naked dance before I go?” His green eyes twinkled even if they did look tired.
“I’ll take a rain check.” She walked him to the door and got one more good night kiss before he left. “But I will cash it someday,” she called out as he left.
“I’m lookin’ forward to it.”
She didn’t even take time for a shower but slipped out of her dress and into a nightshirt that came halfway to her ankles and fell into bed. In six hours she had to be up to help get breakfast ready, and then they were going to Randlett for church.
Levi was in her dreams all night, and she awoke feeling worse than when she’d gone to bed. She took a shower and remembered every detail of the recurring dream. Levi was walking away from her, and she was angry about something. She knew if she didn’t go after him she’d lose him forever, and she also knew that she’d caused the argument. But pride kept her from saying a word.
You’ve got to fight for what you want. Franny’s voice was clear in her head.
“I know,” she said out loud. “And I will. Levi is worth it.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Claire wiggled in church that morning, as much to stay awake as out of boredom. Zaylie had curled up with her head resting in Claire’s lap five minutes into the sermon. She gently brushed the child’s hair back out of her face, and tears welled up in her eyes when she realized that next Sunday she wouldn’t be there.
Angela and Zaylie needed to bond, but Claire f
elt like she was giving up her child for adoption. Angela was going to be a stay-at-home mom to the girls, and that was wonderful. Grant would be home in time for supper every evening, and they’d soon find a place in the small community.
And I’ll be right there in Sunset. Levi and I can see each other as often as we want. It is what it is, so I might as well stop dwelling on the part that makes me sad, she thought.
The preacher ended the sermon by saying, “We’re having a Christmas potluck dinner in the fellowship hall, and everyone is welcome to stay. I went through there between Sunday school and church, and I think there’s enough food to feed the whole state of Oklahoma. So if you forgot and didn’t bring anything, stay anyway. There’s plenty.”
“I brought two pies and a slow cooker full of chicken and dressin’. That’ll cover us,” Franny whispered.
“We brought leftover cookies from the ranch party,” Claire said.
“Is it over? Can we eat?” Zaylie opened her eyes.
“Yes, we can, sweetheart.” Franny stood up. “Let’s get on into the fellowship hall before all the chocolate pie is gone. Mary Sue makes a good one.”
Zaylie tugged on Claire’s hand. “There’s my friend Riley. Can I go with her?”
“Long as you wait right inside the door for me. I’ll need to help you with your plate,” Claire said.
Zaylie scampered through the pews to where Riley was waving. She grabbed her little friend’s hand and the two of them wound through the people toward the fellowship hall.
Franny lowered her voice. “Riley’s mama, Mindy, is going to ask if Zaylie can go home with them for a playdate as soon as we get through eating. That will give y’all enough time to get things done at the house. I’ll even keep an eye out and call when Mindy brings Zaylie home.”
“Why would you do that?” Claire asked.
Franny rolled her eyes toward the ceiling and then rested them on Levi. “I can think of one almighty sexy reason.”
“Franny!” Claire blushed.
“Don’t you Franny me. I might be old, but my eyesight is fine, and the way he fills out them jeans would put any woman’s under-britches in a knot.”
“Did you say something to me? I was watching Zaylie to be sure she didn’t get lost in the crowd,” Levi said.
“Franny has arranged for a playdate for Zaylie so we can get things out of the house without her underfoot.” Claire tucked her arm into his.
Franny moved to the other side and looped her arm into his other one. “I never pass up the opportunity to make a grand entrance with a handsome cowboy.”
Levi knew exactly how Claire must’ve felt the night before at the ranch party. He knew only one old guy at the potluck dinner, and that was because he’d bought a bull from the man a while back. He was introduced to what seemed like the whole town of Randlett, and although he tried to keep all the names and faces together, it was an impossible task.
He wound up sitting between Franny and Claire and listening to everyone around him talk about what was going on in town. It wasn’t a bit different from the church dinners in Sunset, except that he didn’t know the people or the events they were discussing.
“If it was summertime, I’d suggest that we sneak out of here and go dance barefoot and naked by the creek at the backside of the Longhorn Canyon,” he whispered to Claire.
The visual of that turned her face crimson. She glanced up, but no lightning came zipping down through the ceiling.
“What’s up there?” he asked.
“Lightning bolts that God will send down if he hears you talking about gettin’ naked by the creek,” she answered.
“I’m thinkin’ that maybe God’s too busy to listen to us today?”
“We could dance naked in the bunkhouse and go skinny-dippin’ in that big tub.” She slipped her hand on his thigh and squeezed. No way was she letting him get ahead of her on her own stomping grounds.
“I bet after a few kisses that the water would boil.” He lowered his voice even more.
Her face burned. “You’re pushin’ your luck. Any minute now we’re both going to get zapped.”
A little lady that was sitting across the table from them giggled. “I remember back when my husband, God rest his soul, used to make me blush.”
“He’s not my husband, Miz Letha,” Claire said.
“Neither was my feller then, but he was a few months later,” Letha said. “It’s good to see you so happy, Claire. We’ve been tryin’ to fix you up with someone ever since you moved here to take care of Pauline. Guess God had other plans.”
Claire wasn’t sure that God had anything to do with it, but she nodded and changed the subject. “So when are y’all havin’ the ladies’ gift exchange?”
“Next Sunday but I understand that there’s going to be some changes at Pauline’s place and you won’t be here,” Letha said with a sideways glance toward Zaylie.
“But we drew names, and I don’t want the person I got to be left out so I’ve got my present all wrapped and ready. I’ll send it with Franny,” Claire said. “And next year my new sister-in-law will be with y’all for the fun.”
“We’ll gladly take her right in.” Letha nodded.
And I’d gladly take you right in if you’d stay at the ranch forever, Levi thought. He jerked his head up and looked around to be sure he hadn’t said the words out loud and then went back to eating his chocolate pie. Franny was right…he did love the pie…but not as much as he loved Claire.
When had that happened? When exactly had he fallen in love with her? He’d liked her from the first with her independence, her mothering instinct, and sass. But somehow over the course of time, admiring her had developed into something more. His eyes cut around to really look at her. She hadn’t changed in that moment when he’d figured out that he was in love. There was no halo over her head or wings on her back. She was still the same Claire Mason who’d pointed a gun at him, but something was definitely different and it all had to do with him.
After the dinner, they hurried back to the house to get things taken care of while Zaylie was gone. He took out several boxes of quilts while she packed bolts of fabric into big black garbage bags for travel. She was on the other side of the room, when she felt his presence. She turned slowly to see him standing in the doorway, light coming in from behind him creating nothing more than a silhouette. This time he didn’t look like the abominable snowman, and his arms were wide open, so she walked right into them and laid her head on his chest.
“Tell me that you’re never going to leave me?” she said.
“Only if God has other plans. I’m in this for the long haul.” He cupped her cheeks in his big hands and lowered his lips to hers.
With her eyes shut and heat flooding her body, her soul found its peace right there in the cold, empty house. So it was true…home wasn’t a place, it really was a feeling. Home was Levi—being with him, sharing life’s experiences with him.
He kissed her once more and said, “Let’s get this room cleared out. Zaylie will be home at three Franny said, and if we leave right then, we can be home by dark.”
Home.
The word kept popping up, and every time it did she got a visual of the ranch, not Nanny’s house or the new Harris property or even Grant’s place on the base in San Antonio.
“I’ll get the new battery installed while you get the rest of the fabric ready,” he said. “And I don’t work for free, darlin’. You have to pay me with a kiss every time I take a load of stuff to the truck.”
“Then maybe I’ll hire you to tote all my personal stuff out to the car.” Her eyes twinkled in merriment.
“I’m available for as many kisses as you are willing to pay out.” His eyes twinkled.
“Think you can stand that many?” She pulled another bag from the box.
“It might set me plumb on fire, but sweetheart, I’m willin’ to go out in a blaze of glory if you are,” he teased.
“Better wait a week so poor little Zaylie doe
sn’t have to live with Franny until her daddy gets home.”
“That’s right.” Levi stopped long enough to help her tie off the bag.
They’d had some hot and heavy makeout sessions, and they’d had sex, but his touch still sent ripples racing through her body—every single time.
With a little hop, Claire wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. “Here’s a bonus kiss to get you started.”
He carried her to the sofa where he sat down with her in his lap. “We could use the next hour to…”
She put her fingers on his lips to shush him. “Darlin’, don’t even say the words. My body is already beggin’ for that, and we don’t have the time. But next week, my bedroom window will always be open.”
“Honey, after Grant gets Zaylie, I’m coming right in the front door. I don’t care who knows that we’re seeing each other or sleeping together.”
“You plannin’ on sleepin’? I had something else in mind.” She hopped up from his lap. “And it didn’t involve snoring.”
“I can live with that plan,” he said. “But right now I’ve got a truck to load, Miz Mason.”
An hour and many kisses later, she stood on the porch and waved at him until the truck was completely out of sight. Her grandmother’s car was parked out on the curb, leaving the garage empty for Grant and Angela. The trunk was full, as well as the passenger seat and half the backseat, leaving only room for Zaylie. Everything she owned could be put into a truck and a car. That didn’t say a lot for a woman her age.
She walked through the house one last time, letting the memories flood her mind. She and Grant had lived there for a year. There were arguments between them, but then there were good times during that time. Nanny had still been lucid and very outspoken. She’d given them room to make their own decisions, but if they got too far out of line with it, she didn’t hesitate to draw them right back in. And there was always, always the smell of something cooking in the house. Claire missed that when she went to her parents’ next duty station—Florida, she remembered. It had been one of her favorite spots, but they’d only been there six months when her father went on deployment to Kuwait. Her mother was transferred to California, so they’d been jerked out of school and put into a brand-new environment—again.
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