Page 40 of Levi

“My place is close. Let’s stay there tonight,” he suggested quietly.

Kinley looked at him. “That sounds good.”

He opened the door of the truck for her, and she slid onto the seat. Levi closed the door, then strode around the truck, climbed in, started it, and drove to his cabin.His cabin.He still couldn’t believe they did that for him.

****

Kinley’s heart pounded, and she was sure he could hear it beating in her chest. She couldn’t wait to see his place.

As they pulled up to his cabin, the security lights illuminated the area. She couldn’t help but smile at the picturesque setting. The porch seemed to wrap around the entire cabin, but it was hard to tell.

Levi parked his truck and turned off the engine. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door and stepped out then got the bag from the back while she stepped out. Levi walked toward her.

“Come on, let’s get inside. It’s freezing out here.” He took her hand and led her indoors. He flipped on a light switch and the foyer lit up.

“It’s so beautiful here. I love log cabins.”

“Let me take your coat.” He set the bag down, then helped her out of her coat and hung it up, while she removed her mittens and beanie and stuffed them into the pockets. Turning to face him, she noticed he had taken off his hat and coat as well. After he picked up the bag and put it in the fridge, he took her hand again and led her into the living room. Kinley glanced aroundand couldn’t help but notice that it was definitely a man’s home, rugged and masculine, just like Levi. The room was spacious with wood beams across the ceiling. The back wall was mostly windows, with a stone fireplace sitting cattycorner beside them.

Levi guided her to the sofa and motioned for her to sit. She did and looked up at him.

“This room is absolutely gorgeous,” she said with a smile.

Levi grinned back at her. “Thanks. When Cody first showed me this place, I knew I wanted it but it needed a lot of work. The front porch was a disaster waiting to happen. Inside, it was all open space with just a bar separating the kitchen from this room. I ended up gutting both rooms and closing off the kitchen. This room used to have a set of sliding doors on the back wall, but I wanted more natural light, so I made the entire wall into windows. There were two bedrooms and one bathroom in between them. So, I added more space to the bigger bedroom and added a bathroom to it, then tore down the wall in the smaller bedroom to make it a shared bathroom with two entrances, one from the bedroom and one from the hallway. It took me almost a year to finish it all, but I knew I wanted to stay here.” He shook his head. “And now it looks like I will for sure.” He let out a sigh. “I still can’t believe they did that.”

“I don’t know Cody as well as Addison, but she’s an amazing woman and friend.” Kinley looked around. “I can’t wait to see it all.”

“There’s not much else to see except the bedrooms,” he replied.

“Are you going to sit with me?” She smiled.

He sat down beside her, leaned over and kissed her lips, then raised his lips and gazed into her eyes.

“We’re going to have to talk soon.”

“Yes, we are, but let’s just be lazy the rest of the evening.”

“Alright.”

She grinned. “Do you have a T-shirt I can wear to bed?”

“Why? It’ll just end up on the floor,” he said, and she laughed.

“True.”

“I’ll get you one if want.”

“I do. I usually don’t sleep in the nude.”

Levi grinned. “Better get used to it, sweetheart. You’d better send Addison a text, she’ll be worried.”

“Oh, my God! I completely forgot. I’ll do that now. Thanks.” She smiled.

He nodded, then leaned back on the sofa to get comfortable, but slid his hand under her hair to wrap it around the nape of her neck.

Pulling her phone from the pocket of her jeans, she sent a text to Addison.

Hey, I wanted to let you know we’re staying at Levi’s.