It was impossible not to return that smile.
Levi shifted, his frown still firmly in place as his gaze sliced from Kevin to Mallory. “I can give Chad the flyers.”
She had the distinct impression he would prefer she leave.
Tamping down on a twinge of unexpected annoyance at his cool attitude, she gripped her bag a little tighter. “Janelle asked me to talk to him directly.”
His jaw muscles flexed again, but Kevin spoke before Levi. “In that case, we’ll show you to his office.”
“You don’t have to do that. I can find it.”
“We insist.”
Levi’s unyielding expression made her pause. She wasn’t quite sure what his problem was, but she had just as much right to be here as anyone else. It wasn’t like she’d followed him.
She relented and gave Kevin an appreciative smile. “Thank you. Lead the way.”
After she’d stepped aside, he moved forward on his crutches. He asked her about the festival as they slowly made their way toward the intersecting corridors. Levi walked silently on her right. When they turned the corner, a voice called his name from down the opposite hall behind them.
Mallory turned to see a tall, slim brunette with two young kids entering the clinic’s sliding doors. Her chest tightened as the unmistakable resemblance between the dark-haired boy and the quiet, tense man beside her registered. Her gaze shifted to the little girl with equally dark hair, who looked about a year or two older than the boy.
Curiosity exploded. Where they his children? Was the woman his wife?
Maybe that was why he seemed annoyed by her appearance. She hadn’t noticed him wearing a ring, and though she thought he lived alone in that last cabin, the rest of his family could’ve been away on a trip or something. Long trip, considering she hadn’t seen any of them before and it was her fourth week at the lodge.
Then again, maybe she was an ex-wife—or a girlfriend.
Questions hovered on the tip of her tongue, but Kevin spoke before she could figure out a way to ask without sounding nosey.
“Go ahead, man, I got this. Mallory will help me if I need it, right?”
The words brought her attention back to the soldier. “Ah—sure, of course.”
Levi hesitated, and she suddenly hoped he didn’t go. What if something happened? What if the soldier lost his balance and fell, and she actually did have to help? She had no clue what to do, and yet, how could she possibly voice her concerns out loud?
“Seriously,” Kevin added, jerking his head in the direction they’d been headed. “Hahn’s right over there. Thanks for the workout, and I’ll catch ya next week.”
He moved forward on his crutches and called the director’s name. Apparently Chad Hahn’s presence assured Levi it was okay because he moved in the opposite direction without another word. Mallory was left with no choice but to follow Kevin as she battled a combination of confusion and resentment at Levi’s cold shoulder.
She glanced back one more time and saw him stoop to pick up a child in each arm before straightening. When he leaned in, presumably to kiss the pretty brunette rising on her tiptoes with a smile, she turned back to Kevin so she wouldn’t have to watch.
Chapter 6
“I want to see Janey!”
Piper skipped a few steps ahead of Levi on the lodge’s blacktop lane, swinging her arms in the carefree fashion of a normal six-year old. The bright green and blue strings on her knit hat bounced with each step.
“I want hot choc-it,” Colin added as he tripped after her. At four, he did his best to keep up with his sister at every turn, even bundled up against the mid-morning chill.
Levi preferred to avoid the lodge for now. “Later, guys. Let’s go see the kittens in the barn first.”
Maybe they’d see Janelle there and he could get the kids to skip the lodge altogether.
No such luck. As if he hadn’t even spoken, Piper veered off the blacktop to run across the leaf-covered grass toward the patio outside the gift shop and Colin followed. Instead of raising his voice in front of the couple guests enjoying morning coffee on the patio, Levi broke into a jog as he cursed under his breath. The two rascals could create havoc faster than the Tasmanian Devil.
He hurried across the patio, but they entered the lodge a good ten yards ahead of him. A quick glance through the coffee shop windows brought a flash of relief when he glimpsed some new girl at the counter instead of Mallory. Good. He wouldn’t have to face her just yet.
He’d been a jerk at the veteran’s clinic yesterday, but the shock of seeing her there, of all places, had knocked him completely off balance. He hated that feeling, and found it was getting worse each time he saw her.
Kevin’s open flirting hadn’t helped, either. Jealously stabbed hard with each smile she and the wounded soldier exchanged. Anna’s unexpected arrival had been both a Godsend and a curse. It extradited him from the uncomfortable situation, but then left him wondering the rest of the day. Kevin was more than bold enough to have asked Mallory out, and Levi couldn’t deny the idea bothered the hell out of him.
Somehow, he had to shut down his growing attraction for her.
Either that or act on it.
The unexpected thought had his heart leaping into his throat as the kids ran into the gift shop.
“Hey, whoa, slow down you two.” Mallory’s voice. Shit. “No running.”
One last stride brought him around the corner and into the shop. He saw that although they’d slowed at the reprimand, Piper and Colin still made a beeline for the counter with the pastries. A quick glance spotted Mallory by the wall to his left, stocking one of the glass shelves with ceramic pumpkins, and out of sight from outside.
Her gaze met his, full of a cool reserve that surprised him even as he knew he deserved it for acting like a jackass yesterday.
“I’m sorry,” he said quickly. “They got away from me.” He hurried over and knelt down while turning the kids to face him. “You both know better than to run inside. Especially here at the lodge where you could break things or run into people.”
“Sorry,” Piper mumbled.
Colin’s lip trembled as he looked at the ground. Levi sensed Mallory had come to stand behind him, and he shifted to the side, but avoided looking up at her.
“Apologize to Miss Parker,” he instructed.
“They can call me Mallory.”
After a chorus of apologies, Piper lifted her blue gaze to his as he rose to his feet. “Where’s Janey?”
“I told you, probably at the barn with the kittens.”
“Then let’s go.”
She grabbed his hand to tug him toward the door, but Colin’s feet were planted firm, and his lower lip protruded in a pout. “Janey always gives us hot choc-it.” He turned his equally irresistible blue eyes upward. “Pwease?”
Levi bit back a sigh. “Piper, hold on. As long as we’re here, we’ll get your brother his hot chocolate. Would you like one, too?”
She finally eased up on her insistent pulling. “Yes.” As if remembering her manners, she added, “Please.”
The girl behind the counter was serving another customer, so Mallory moved around to the other side. She glanced back over her shoulder as she filled two small, insulated to-go cups. “Levi? What do you want?”
Good God, she had no clue what a loaded question that was for him these days.
Swallowing hard, he managed to keep his gaze from sweeping down the length of her body as he replied, “I’ll take a medium pumpkin spice.”
A moment later, she set the three cups on the counter, and he dug his money from his front pocket. He considered scoping out the pastry case for another of those mouth-watering apple crunch bars, but decided against it.
“Can we have a cookie?” Piper asked. He shifted his gaze but found she was looking at Mallory, not him.
“That’s up to your dad,” she answered. “Did you eat a good breakfast?”
“Daddy’s in A-gan-stan.” Colin hadn’t yet master
ed the correct pronunciation of the country’s name.
“Uncle Levi made us scrambled eggs,” Piper said.
Mallory’s widened gaze ping-ponged from his nephew, to his niece, then lifted to him. Levi was having a hard time processing the unexpected turns of the conversation. It felt like a concussion grenade had gone off and things were registering in slow-motion as he fought the shock of the word dad and the anxiety-inducing Afghanistan.
Then Mallory’s gaze met his and the beauty of those soft brown eyes socked him right in the gut. Everything else faded into the background.
“Uncle. That explains the resemblance.”
He managed a nod as his mind focused on the fact she now sounded relieved. Why? Because she’d thought the kids were his? That Anna was his—what, wife? Ex-wife?
The need to explain rushed forward, demanding he set her completely straight. “Piper and Colin are my sister’s kids. She had to work the night shift at the hospital, and her regular sitter had to cancel at the last minute, so she met me at the clinic to drop them off.”
“Oh. Is your sister a doctor or nurse?”
“Nurse.”
“And your brother-in-law is…deployed?”
He nodded, thankful she’d avoided the country name.
Her gaze flicked toward the kids. “How long before he comes home?”
“We’re hoping in time for Christmas.”
“I hope it works out.”
Another tug from Piper jerked his shoulder down. “Uncle Levi, can we have a cookie? Pretty please?”
Ever since she’d asked the first time, Colin’s eyes had been glued to the array of brightly frosted sugar cookies individually wrapped and placed in a basket on the counter next to the intriguing goodwill jar. He found he still wanted to dip his hand in and pull one of those messages out. He deserved one as much as the next person, didn’t he?
Mallory leaned forward across the lower part of the counter to smile at his niece and nephew, then looked back up at him through her lashes. All evidence of her earlier reserve was gone as she reached out with one hand to inch the basket closer.
“Come on, Uncle Levi. What do you say?”
Her teasing tone and the hint of cleavage revealed by her bent-over pose sent heat through him more effectively than a gulp of the steaming, spiced latte.
“Okay,” he agreed, knowing there was no way around it now. “You can each pick one cookie.”
While they made their choices, she arched her eyebrows slightly. “Anything else for you?”
Resolutely holding his gaze steady above her chin, he went with the safe route. “Do you have any of those apple bars?”
Her smile reached her eyes as she pushed up from the counter. “We do.”
While she put the bar in a wax-coated pastry bag, he set a twenty near the cash register, stuffed a couple singles in the tip jar, then turned to make sure the kids weren’t getting into any trouble.
“All set,” Mallory advised a minute later, his change in one hand, treat in the other.
“Thanks.” He pocketed the money, then handed Colin the bag, Piper one cup of hot chocolate, and picked up the other two cups. “What do we say to Miss—ah—Mallory?”
Cookies and other treats clutched in their hands, the two kids hollered out thank you’s and goodbyes as they started for the door.
“You’re welcome. Have fun at the barn and tell Janey I said hi,” she called after them.
Levi paused before following. “I was planning to install the shower in your cabin after they go home this afternoon. Is that okay?”
“Door’s unlocked, just like I said.”
He nodded and continued after the kids. Before stepping through to the lodge great room, he gave in to the nagging urge to look back one more time. Mallory glanced over during her conversation with the other girl, and he lifted one of the cups in self-conscious acknowledgement. “Have a good day.”
Her bright smile made his heart skip a beat.
“You, too. See you later.”
* * *
His sister had been late picking up the kids, but Mallory still wasn’t home when Levi parked his truck in front of her cabin after five-thirty. He carried his tools inside and his senses were immediately overwhelmed by the amazing aroma that filled the cabin. His stomach growled in appreciation of the savory meat smell, reminding him he’d only had one hot dog and a small bowl of macaroni and cheese for lunch with the kids. Then they were off and running again, for a hike in the woods.
Good news for Anna, they’d probably sleep like rocks. He doubted he’d be so lucky.
He eyed the crock pot on the counter with its little red indicator light, then took a moment to scan his gaze over the conjoined kitchen and living room. Mallory hadn’t done much unpacking, even though each night he’d noticed the glow of her lights shining between the trees well after midnight.
He’d been having trouble sleeping again, but seeing the stacked boxes next to the mattress still leaning against the wall, he’d bet she was working on the festival.
Beyond the design of the booth that Eric was building a prototype of so they could start the rest on Wednesday, she hadn’t asked him to do anything. Maybe he should remind her that Mark had instructed him to help her. The thought of spending more time with her zinged his pulse.
On his way across the living room toward the bathroom, he noticed a small, clear bowl on her otherwise empty coffee table. She’d said she kept a personal goodwill jar at home, and the pieces of paper nesting inside reminded him of the surprise he’d found when he’d opened up the white pastry bag on the way to the barn with the kids earlier.
She’d slipped one of those sayings in with his dessert bar. It wasn’t hand written like the ones the older couple added the other day, and there was a name attributed to the quote that made him guess it was one Mallory had put into the jar herself. Maybe to supplement for when more people took than contributed?
Either way, when he’d read the words, they reminded him so much of her, she could’ve written them herself.
The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions—the little soon-forgotten charities of a kiss, a smile, a kind look, a heartfelt compliment. ~ Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Yep, that fit her to a T. The uninhibited generosity of her heartfelt smiles and kind words spread happiness and warmed cold hearts. She was exactly the kind of woman he could appreciate coming home to each night.
Whoa—what?
Levi stopped as if he’d run into a brick wall.
Where had that come from? Physical attraction was one thing, but the image of her waiting in his kitchen with a smile of welcome was something altogether different.
The racing of his pulse threatened to close off his airway. He sucked in a deep breath and desperately seized the most rational explanation for that irrational thought—it was the food.
He was hungry, and the mouth-watering smell of her damn home-cooked dinner was going to his head. That made perfect sense. Certainly a hell of a lot more reasonable than him thinking about some sort of permanent relationship with her that involved a home.
Time to get the job done and get the hell out.
Chapter 7
Mallory glanced at the clock near the door to see it was a little after six p.m. Probably safe to go home now.
The thought annoyed her as she gathered her things and headed out to her car, even though her rational brain agreed with the reasoning.
Discovering Levi wasn’t married or in a relationship with the mother of those adorable kids had left her a little too elated. Not to mention he’d actually talked to her, then looked back and wished her a good day. That was major progress.
All that had been missing was a smile—which she was sure would happen soon. By two o’clock, she’d hurried through the closing procedures and gathered her things to head back to the cabin while he was there working on the shower.
But the anticipatory uptick of her pulse had made her pause. Then her mother’s voice whispe
red in her head.
“Don’t get stuck here like me, or you’ll regret it until the day you die.”
The echo of that bitter warning brought the realization she was in a dangerous place where Levi was concerned. If she truly wanted out of this town, developing feelings for the man was not a smart move. Falling for him would put her right back on the same path her mother had walked.
Would she be able to hold back the negativity if that happened? Or would she end up in the same rut as her mother and never escape?
Leery of the answer to both questions, she’d decided not to rush home like a teenager with a crush, and remained at the lodge to work in an empty conference room for the rest of the afternoon. The less time she spent near the man, the better.
As the second hand ticked around the clock once more, she was positive Levi must be done and gone. She’d be safe all right. Free and clear to eat her dinner all alone before working until she fell asleep at her computer again. Fun.
Outside, she opened her car door and slung her laptop bag into the passenger seat as she got in. When she turned the key in the ignition, she heard nothing but a series of clicks.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Another try yielded the same results, and she thumped the heel of her hand on the steering wheel as frustration mounted. “Damn stupid thing.”
She pulled her bag out and began the walk around the lake. The sun had set, and the October breeze skimming across the water went right through her burgundy knit sweater, making her shiver. The days had been nice, but the nights were definitely reminding her winter was just around the corner.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Duke and Daisy appeared, and kept her company until she reached the end of the paved lane. Then Daisy nudged her hand, and turned back to the lodge.
Mallory spun to walk backward for a few steps. “Thanks for the company.”
Swinging back around, she hitched the strap of her bag higher on her shoulder and hurried along the dirt track that led to the last two cabins. As she rubbed her arms for warmth, her thoughts returned to the question of what could be wrong with her car now? The last repair bill had eaten up most of what was left of her savings, so hopefully this new issue was something minor.
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