Levi pushed aside thoughts of Selah and waved through the truck’s open window.
“She looks so happy to see you,” Selah commented as she unbuckled her seat belt. “I hope she won’t mind me turning up uninvited.”
“It’ll be fine. Nothing fazes Em, and she always liked you.” He grinned over at Selah before opening his door and rushing around to open hers, taking the bakery box from her before she could offer it up to him. This way, their hands didn’t accidentally touch again and he had a hope in hell of being able to walk straight.
“I hope you’re right.”
He remembered Selah as sassy and outgoing, and her nervousness now made her seem slightly vulnerable. Levi felt a weird urge to protect her. Maybe bringing her out here to see Em hadn’t been such a good move after all, but it was too late to back out now. Maybe where Selah was concerned, he’d never be able to think straight.
“I always am,” he said, putting on a show of cocky.
She laughed and raised her beautiful brows as she closed the truck door. By the time they started up the path, Em was halfway down it, and Sam had appeared from the back of the house, wearing faded Wranglers, dirty boots and an ancient cowboy hat. Sam wasn’t the type to get excited about much, definitely not visiting distant family, but he raised his hand in a wave and joined them anyhow.
Em, in comparison, threw her arms around Levi in a fierce hug. He only just managed to lift the box of treats out of the way, passing them back to Selah in the nick of time. But, damn, it felt good to be wrapped in one of Em’s hugs. He swallowed the lump of emotion that rose in his throat as she laid her head on his chest and said, “It’s good to see you.”
Never one for long, over-effusive hugs, Em pulled back, gave Levi a once-over and a nod of approval before she turned her attention to Selah.
“And Selah, so lovely to see you, too. I bet your parents are pleased to have you home for a bit.”
“I guess.” Selah looked a little uncomfortable. “This is a business trip, though, so we won’t have the chance to spend much time together.”
“But you’ve managed to make time for Levi.” Em’s eyes twinkled in a way quite uncharacteristic to her, and she shot a questioning gaze between him and Selah.
Levi didn’t have to be a mind reader to know her thoughts. Shuffling in his boots, he feigned ignorance, and Selah simply held on to her sweet smile.
Before Em could ask any of the questions she so obviously wanted to ask, Sam said gruffly, “I doubt Levi has all day. We should talk business.”
Levi looked to Sam, his stomach clenching as he tried to read the older man’s expression. They’d spoken on the phone, and he’d sent a business plan for Sam to look at via email, but Sam hadn’t officially said yes, and Levi didn’t know what he’d do if he didn’t.
“Yes. Over coffee.” Em tsked, offering her son a look of reproach. It was clear she wanted to catch up for a bit first, and as usual, what Em wanted, she got. They all ended up traipsing inside, discarding their boots in the mudroom and then being ushered into the farm-style kitchen. Em and her husband had lived in the original log cabin that her father-in-aw had built on another part of the ranch when Levi had stayed with her all those years ago. But after her husband had died four years ago, she’d migrated to Sam’s new house. Now Em’s grandson Cole and his new wife, Nell, lived in the cabin. Although this house didn’t have the character of the cabin, he could see Em had put her own touches on the place since she’d moved in. It had always been comfortable, but Em being here made it more of a home.
“Now what can I get you to drink?” Em looked from Selah to Levi as she gestured for them to sit down at the table, and Levi suddenly realized Selah was still holding the box from Rachel’s.
“A coffee would be perfect,” Selah said.
“I’ll have the same, thanks. And I brought you something.” Levi took the pretty-ribboned box from Selah and held it out to Em.
“Ohh, are these what I think they are?” she asked, that sparkle in her eyes once again. “With Sage’s chocolates and now Rachel’s bakery, I’ll soon be the size of a house. But thank you.” She kissed Levi on the cheek and laid the box on the table. “These will go perfectly with coffee.”
Em turned to make the drinks, Sam scraped a chair back and sat at the table, and Levi pulled one out for Selah.
“Thanks.” She gave him a quick smile as she lowered herself into the seat, and he caught a whiff of her scent again. He wasn’t sure, but it smelled like an intoxicating cocktail of cotton candy and…was it watermelon Jolly Ranchers?
“Are you ready for your events?” Sam asked, a rare attempt at conversation.
Levi jumped on it, happy to have a distraction from Selah.
“Certainly am, sir. I’ve got steer wrestling first up and then the bull ride in the afternoon. Do you think you’ll head into town for the rodeo?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Em said over her shoulder, “and as I’m old and frail, I’ll need someone to drive me in.”
Everyone snorted at that. Em might be eighty, but she was about as frail as a champion heavyweight lifter.
“And I’m sure Jane will be there,” Em said. “Won’t she, Sam?”
“I ’spose so.” Sam stared down at the table and, if Levi wasn’t mistaken, a flush spread up his neck.
Levi caught Em’s gaze, and she smiled smugly. Of course he’d heard that lone rancher Sam had hooked up with the head of the town’s Chamber of Commerce, Jane Weiss. Aside from his initial shock at the news—Jane was a lot younger than Sam, and Sam was a man Levi’d thought would never marry again—Levi hadn’t thought much about it. As he helped Em bring the drinks to the table, he stole another look at Sam and realized he did look different. He had less of a gray look around his mouth and had smiled at least once since they’d been inside. He’d had heart surgery recently, so maybe it was the new lease on life that caused the changes, or maybe it was love. Levi shook his head a little at the thought—wonders never ceased.
When Em finally sat down, Levi took a spot on the other side of the table from the women. Sam downed his mug almost immediately, and Levi couldn’t help but notice his work-roughened fingers tapping on the table. He was sick of playing house, no doubt itching to be outside. Em and Selah had gotten to chatting quickly—Em asked after Selah’s sister, Magdalena, and in turn, Selah inquired about Em’s grandchildren, Jeff, Cole and Sadie. When the conversation turned to the possibility of Cole and Nell giving Em more great-grandbabies, Sam finally pushed back from the table and looked to Levi.
“Do you want to talk business or not?”
Levi nodded, comforted to see love hadn’t changed Sam too much.
*
Selah’s heart quickened as she listened to the low voices of Levi and Sam as they headed out through the mudroom. She felt Em’s questioning gaze on her again and knew the older woman wondered what Selah was doing here with Levi and whether she should read anything into it.
She smiled at Em and then lifted her coffee cup to her mouth, only to realize it was already empty.
“I didn’t know you and Levi were still friends,” Em commented, the last word heavily weighted.
Selah swallowed and licked her lips. “Oh, we’re not. Well, not exactly. I saw him at Grey’s last night for the first time in years.”
Creases appeared in Em’s brow. “And you spent the night with him?”
“No!” Selah felt her cheeks flush, even though she was perfectly innocent of what Em insinuated. What was this? The Spanish Inquisition? She took a quick breath. “It’s not like that at all.”
Liar, screamed a naughty little voice inside her head. She wanted it to be exactly like that. Just the words “spent the night with him” had her insides tingling.
“No?” Em cocked her head. Conversation had flowed between two women when Sam and Levi were sitting alongside them, but Selah didn’t feel so comfortable now.
She gave herself a mental talking-to. She had nothing to hid
e, nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed about—Levi himself didn’t even know of her salacious plans. Whether she had the guts to actually proposition him was yet to be discovered, but she didn’t plan to rehearse on his great-aunt, or whatever Em actually was to him.
“No.” She smiled sweetly at the other woman. “Anything between Levi and me is ancient history. I’m writing an article on cowboys for the magazine I work for, and he kindly agreed to be interviewed.”
Selah waited for Em to breathe a sigh of relief and her easy smile to return, but all she said was, “In that case, maybe we should go outside and join the men. You can see my cowboys in action.”
“Great idea.” Selah pushed back her chair and started clearing the table barely before Em had finished the suggestion. She didn’t want to intrude on Levi’s business with Sam, but then again, he had brought her out here.
“Leave all that.” Em waved a hand at the empty coffee cups and the open, barely touched box of Rachel’s treats. They’d been too busy talking to eat.
“If you’re sure. Thanks.” Selah smiled at Em as she, too, stood.
The other woman offered her a brusque smile—if there was such a thing—and then said, “Follow me.”
Selah did as she was told, following Em back through the mudroom and out into the warm September air. Marietta couldn’t have asked for a more perfect weekend for the annual rodeo.
“Has Levi told you about his plans?” Em asked as she stooped to pull on work boots.
“He said he wants to open a rodeo school in Marietta.”
“That’s right,” was all Em said before straightening and marching off toward an old truck. For an old woman, Em was sturdy and fit. Selah found herself walking fast to keep up.
When they arrived at the truck, Em yanked open the driver’s side door and Selah did the same with the passenger’s side, not wanting to be left behind. She found herself quite excited by the prospect of seeing the slice of land Levi wanted to lease from the McCulloughs. Or maybe she was simply excited at the prospect of seeing Levi himself. Her stomach tumble-turned at the thought as she remembered her real reason for being here with Levi.
Em started the truck and reversed quickly before taking a right turn and starting over a rough farm track. They passed a group of Angus cattle, and Selah looked out the window, admiring the impressive beasts. Although Selah hadn’t said anything, Em filled her in.
“Those are Tom McKay’s steers,” she announced. “He’s leasing some land off Sam. The land Sam and Levi have in mind for Levi’s venture is at the southern side of the spread. Not too much of a ride.”
“Thank you for taking me there,” Selah said, transfixed by the scenery, so different from what she saw day in, day out in Seattle. Although a little dry following summer, the wide open spaces took her breath away. Only a certain type of folk could handle the isolation, though. It was easy to imagine Levi settling out here where conditions were sometimes harsh and the work grueling. He was a man’s man who would never be suited to life behind a desk in some stuffy office.
“Not a problem.” Em sounded friendly again now that they were on their way, and Selah thought maybe she’d been paranoid about her tone in the house. “It’ll be good to have Levi back. He’s a good boy and a darn good bull rider, but a man can’t do that forever.”
Selah smiled, her heart warming at the love and pride in Em’s voice. Other than yesterday, she hadn’t seen Levi in well over ten years, so it was hard to know how to reply. Luckily, Em didn’t seem to expect her to.
“I’m hoping once he’s built his house and got his business up and running, he’ll find a nice woman to settle down with.” Em kept her eyes on the track ahead, and Selah didn’t want to stare at her, so she couldn’t tell if Em was warning Selah off or suggesting maybe she could be that woman.
Something low in her belly quivered at the thought, but she tried to ignore it. It wouldn’t pay to start fantasizing about an impossible future with Levi. Besides, she didn’t want anything to get in the way of a possible red-hot fling.
As Em had promised, it wasn’t far to the land earmarked for Levi’s venture, and pretty soon they crested a hill to see Sam and Levi in the distance. Sam stood leaning against a fence by an old, very run-down barn, and Levi looked to be pacing out measurements. As Em drove closer, Selah’s breath caught in her throat as she watched Levi stride purposefully, his muscular thighs mouth-wateringly highlighted in his faded, fitted jeans. He looked up and waved when the truck approached, then stopped what he was doing and came over to help Em out once she’d parked behind his truck.
“Get away with you,” Em said, waving away Levi’s hand as she climbed out of the truck, but she looked secretly pleased by the gesture.
Levi chuckled and then looked to Selah as she made her way around the front of the vehicle. He grinned, and she almost stumbled by the strength of such a hit.
“You okay?” Levi frowned slightly as he reached out to steady her.
She swallowed and attempted a nod, trying not to be affected by the brush of his fingers against her arm. Even through the cotton of her top, her skin burned under his touch. The longer she spent around him, the more flustered she was getting. Maybe it was stupid to think she could be cool and sophisticated enough to proposition him for a one-night stand.
If he actually took her clothes off, she would likely combust.
“Made any decisions yet?” Em asked, looking past to Sam, who had also joined them.
He wiped his hands on his work jeans and nodded. “I think Levi and I will be able to come to some kind of arrangement. You think so, son?”
“If you’ll have me,” Levi replied with his cocky cowboy grin. “I reckon it’ll be a great partnership. We’re going to renovate the barn for inside work.” He gestured to the derelict-looking building behind him and then turned to point toward the pasture. “I’ll build an arena over there and some pens for the stock.”
Selah smiled at Levi’s obvious passion for his plans. And, hell, his ambition only made him all the more desirable.
“Where will you live?” Em asked. She could always be relied on to think of the practical. Sam and Levi both looked shocked. Em cackled. “Don’t tell me you haven’t thought of that yet.”
Levi shrugged and offered her a sheepish smile.
Sam spoke up. “If you want, I’d be happy for you to build a small cabin on the land you lease. We can work something out.”
Everyone was silent for a moment, no doubt thinking similar thoughts to Selah’s, that that was a generous suggestion from someone who had a reputation for being a bit of a hard-nosed grump.
And then Levi replied with a simple “thanks,” but his voice sounded a little choked. As if Sam’s offer meant more to him than a simple piece of land.
“If that’s it for now, I’ve work to do.” Sam tipped his hat and looked to Levi. “I take it you’ll take Selah back to town from here? Mom, can you give me a lift back to the house?”
“Of course.” Em nodded. “We’ll see you both tomorrow at the rodeo. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Thanks, Em. See you then.” Levi leaned forward and brushed a kiss against the old woman’s cheek, and damn it, Selah felt a spark of envy flare within. She silently scolded her ridiculousness. For one, Em was almost triple Levi’s age. For two, they were related. And three…the deal she had in mind for Levi didn’t involve emotions such as jealousy. She needed to get a grip.
They waved Em and Sam off and then Levi turned to Selah. “I guess I’d better get you back into town. You’ve probably got a busy day ahead.”
“I’m not in a huge hurry,” she said, smiling as she gazed around them. “Your plans sound fabulous.”
“Thanks.” He adjusted his cowboy hat, giving her a glimpse of his rich red hair, which made her toes curl and her hands itchy. She wanted to run her fingers through it, so she jammed them in the pockets of her jeans instead. “There are still a lot of details to finalize, but getting Sam to agree was always gonna be
the biggest hurdle.”
“Looks like you jumped it.”
“Yeah, I reckon I have.”
Their eyes met, and they laughed. Levi looked so damn happy Selah contemplated hitting him with her proposal right there and then. Surely the lack of eavesdroppers in the vicinity made it the perfect spot, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She was enjoying this time together, and she didn’t want to ruin it.
Levi made a few more notes in a notebook and described in greater detail his vision for the area and the school, and Selah listened. His passion was contagious and his voice lyrically appealing, so that when he snapped his book shut and told her they should head back, she had to bite her tongue to stop from crying out in protest. She didn’t want to go back into town, where he’d be consumed with the rodeo and she’d have to share him with all the other cowboy fans.
“Thanks for bringing me out here,” Selah said as she clicked her seat belt into place and then looked at Levi shoving the key in the ignition.
“No worries.” He reached over and took a little paper bag off the dash and handed it to her. “I had to rescue these from Sam.”
She peered into the bag at her little gingerbread cowboy boots and laughed. “Thanks.”
“What did you think?” Levi asked.
“Of what?”
“Rachel’s cookies? You did have one at Em’s, didn’t you?”
She shook her head. “Too busy talking.”
He nodded toward the bag in her hands. “Go on, try one now.”
Willing to do almost anything Levi asked, Selah opened the bag and pulled out one of the beautifully decorated boots. She was all too aware of Levi’s gaze on her mouth as she took a bite. The sugar melted on her tongue, but it wasn’t its sweetness that made her warm all over.
“Well, what do you think?”
She finished her mouthful and licked her lips. “It’s good, really good.”
He didn’t say anything in reply, just hit her with an intense, questioning gaze.
“What?” She touched her hand to her chin to check for crumbs. “Have I got something on my face?”
Tease Me, Cowboy (Montana Born Rodeo Book 1) Page 4