Page 42 of Levi

“I smell?” Levi joked.

“You smell wonderful.” Kinley laughed.

Levi grinned. “Good save.”

She sipped her coffee and then walked toward the archway to the living room. He couldn’t help but notice that shirt barely covered her ass. Kinley stared at the large wall of windows.

“You know, a Christmas tree would look beautiful in front of those windows,” she said wistfully, as she glanced over her shoulder at him.

“We’ll put one there next year,” Levi promised with a smile.

Kinley’s face lit up with a beautiful smile. “I’d love that.”

“As I said, I need to head down to the barn to muck the stalls. It’ll take me about an hour and a half. You can take your shower and be ready to go by the time I get back.”

“Why do you have to do it?”

“The men are off until Monday and stalls have to be cleaned every day.”

“Oh, okay. I’ll be ready when you get back.”

Levi kissed her lips. “Alright.”

After putting his cup in the sink, he pulled on his coat, lifted his hat off the hook, then kissed her lips again. As he turned to leave, his phone buzzed from the counter, and he saw Kinley glance at it and a frown furrowed her brow.

He walked to it and almost groaned when he saw another text from Tara.

I really can’t wait to see you, Levi.

Kinley folded her arms across her chest, raised her eyebrow, and looked at him.

“It’s not what you think,” he said.

“What is it I think, Levi?”

He sighed. “She’s been texting me. There’s nothing between us anymore.”

“Anymore?Who is she?”

“We were a couple years ago. She usually just texts me on my birthday or holidays. She’s married, but we kept in touch.As friends.”

“Were you in love with her?”

“Yes, but I’m not anymore.”

“This sounds like she wants to be more than friends.” Kinley shook her head. “Look, if you say you’re only friends, I believe you, but she says she can’t wait to see you.”

Levi picked up the phone, scrolled back through the messages and showed them to her.

“Honestly, I don’t know what’s going on with her, but I didn’t say I’d meet up with her. I said, I’d try.”

“You don’t have feelings for her?”

He huffed out a laugh. “No. I only have feelings for you.”

“We’re going to talk.”

“I know. We will when we get to your house. Now, I have to go.” He kissed her forehead, put his phone in his pocket, and walked out the door.

---