“Levi,” I manage to choke out, my voice low and soft.

There’s another beat of silence as he continues to stare at me, his expression unreadable.

“It’s nice to finally put a face to the name,” I say, shifting my weight from one foot to another.

“Same here,” comes his deep voice. “Is this all you brought?” he asks, referring to my worn suitcase. Is that disappointment I hear in his voice?

“Yeah, I don’t have much,” I reply nervously.

Without saying anything, he picks up my suitcase and walks inside, signaling me to follow. As I do, I can’t help but think that I’ve just made a huge mistake.

Chapter Two

Levi

What made me think this was a good idea?

When I signed up at Brides2day.com, I thought it was a good way to find a wife. After spending a whole week on the platform without making any meaningful connection, I was about to give up when I stumbled upon Aurora’s profile.

When I read her profile about being an introvert and a lover of books, I felt drawn to her and immediately connected with her. She was supposed to be plain and unattractive, at least that’s how she described herself, but the woman walking behind me right now is anything but unattractive.

Aurora exudes quiet confidence; her understated beauty and simplicity make her even more attractive without trying. There’s a grace in the way she carries herself, a magnetic pull that leaves me breathless in her presence.

But with her beauty comes a danger—a temptation threatening to consume me whole. How can I hope to think straight, to focus on anything but her, when faced with such undeniable allure?

I was at the farm tending to a broken fence when I heard Bruno and Billy barking. Remembering that Aurora would be arriving soon, I hurried toward the front of the house, knowing that my loyal hounds weren’t known for their friendliness to strangers.

But as I rounded the corner, expecting to find a tense standoff between my dogs and Aurora, I was met with a sight that took me completely by surprise. At the feet of this captivating beauty, Bruno and Billy lay with their tails eagerly wagging as she showered them with affection.

She’d effortlessly charmed my dogs and me in less than a minute. There was a warmth in her smile, a genuine affection that radiated from her very being. And as our eyes met, my heart skipped a beat.

I tried my best not to stare, but it was impossible, especially with how her curves showed so prominently in that shift dress she wore. Whatever made her think she’s unattractive? Did a man tell her that?

For some strange and unexplainable reason, I felt the sudden urge to break the guy’s nose for saying those words to her. Calm your nerves. It’s not like you have a chance with her. I saw the way she looked at me, the same way they all looked at me, appalled by my scars.

Now I wish I’d sent her pictures of myself; that way, she could have decided whether she wanted to do this. I’m sure she will back out of this by the end of the weekend. I guess it’s a good thing as I’ll be able to think straight again. My mind is already foggy after just a few minutes of her being here.

I hear a soft gasp escape her lips as I lead her upstairs to the guest bedroom.

“I hope it’s to your liking?” I ask, placing her suitcase on the hardwood floor and stepping away from the door so she can enter.

“I like it. It’s…beautiful,” Aurora says as she steps inside, a whiff of her hair shampoo assaulting my nostrils as she walks past me. Rose mixed with vanilla. And I find myself wanting to run my fingers through it.

She turns to look at me, a mix of curiosity and joy in her eyes. “Has this room always been painted peach, or did you paint it peach after I told you peach is my favorite color?”

I give her a nod in response, my throat feeling suddenly tight. After she agreed to come down here for a visit, I had the idea to paint the room she would be staying in her favorite color. It seemed like a thoughtful gesture at the time, a way to make her feel welcome. But now I can’t shake the feeling that it comes off as desperate, as if I’m trying too hard to impress her.

“Thank you, that’s so thoughtful of you,” she offers me a wide smile that warms my soul. There is a beat of silence as I catch myself staring again and quickly pull my eyes away.

“Would you like some tea?” I blurt out. I’d stocked up on her favorite tea, too. See? Desperate.

She nods. “Yes, I would love that.”

I turn around, and she follows me to the kitchen downstairs. “It seems you were busy when I arrived,” she says as we walk into my L-shaped kitchen, the melody of her soft caressing my ears.

“Yeah, there was a windstorm earlier today,” I reply, my words punctuated by the gentle clink of ceramic against the countertop. “It unsettled some of the calves; they ran the fence, destroying it. I was tending to the fence.”

“Oh, I see,” she murmurs.