Page 10 of Taken By Storm

She popped up. “I can carry that to him.”

Levi lifted one eyebrow. “Sit back down and eat. Which room is your father’s?”

“Really,” she insisted, still reaching for the tray. “It’s not a problem for me to?—”

“Little bear, if you keep arguing with me about every single thing, the two of us are going to have a problem,” he said sternly.

Kasi dropped back down in her chair.

“Good girl,” he purred. “Which room?”

“Top of the stairs. First door on the left.”

Levi nodded then walked upstairs. The door to her father’s room was open. The man had climbed into a bed that looked like it wasn’t just serving as a place to sleep but as an entire home. There were books scattered on the mattress, half a dozen used tissues, a couple newspapers folded in such a way that the only thing showing was the crosswords. There were countless glasses and other dishes on most of the flat surfaces. Next to the bed was a small table that was cleared off. No doubt, that was where the tray had been before Mr. Mills carried it down.

“Dinner,” Levi announced, carrying the tray in and setting it down.

Mr. Mills didn’t even acknowledge his presence, his attention completely focused on the television.

Uncertain what else to say, Levi returned downstairs.

Kasi looked like her father when he entered the kitchen, staring off into the distance, her food untouched.

She glanced up when he joined her at the table. “How is he?” she asked.

“Not sure he even realized I was in the room. He was watchingJeopardy, so I just left the tray.”

Kasi smiled sadly. “He and Mama never missedJeopardy.”

Levi reached across the table, sliding her unused spoon closer to her.

She smirked, then picked it up, digging in. Levi did the same, tempted to moan when the first bite hit his tongue. Tender meat and potatoes in a savory sauce. He quickly took another bite, and this time he didn’t hold back.

“Holy shit, that’s good,” he praised.

Kasi smiled, clearly pleased, even as she said, “Don’t think I didn’t notice how you invited yourself to dinner.”

Levi grinned. “I figured it was the least you could do after all my help today.”

She narrowed her eyes playfully. “Is that right?”

Levi winked, then the two of them kept eating, neither of them breaking the silence. It wasn’t awkward, rather it was peaceful, easy.

He was pleased to see Kasi wasn’t holding back, devouring every bite of the roast and two of the rolls. He’d been worried about her weight loss, but it didn’t seem to be the result of not eating. Which sparked his curiosity about just what in the hell was going on in the Mills’ home.

“How long has he been like that?” Levi asked.

Kasi put her spoon in her bowl then carried it to the sink, rinsing both before putting them in the dishwasher. Levi followed suit, thinking her actions were an attempt to avoid answering his question.

When she turned to face him, leaning on the counter, she sighed. “Since Mama died.” Her voice wobbled slightly at the end, and it took everything he had not to sweep her back into his arms. While he knew that was exactly where she belonged, it would probably be a good idea to let Kasi catch up to him.

“That was back in January, right?”

Kasi nodded. “Eight months ago.”

“He able to work on the farm at all?”

She shook her head.

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