Page 108 of Taken By Storm

A blank check.

Kasi’s gaze lifted to his. “I don’t underst—” She stopped mid-word. “You know.”

Levi nodded. “Keith showed me the bills and I figured it out. But before you accept Scottie’s marriage proposal, I think you should know all of your options.”

“I’m not accept—” She paused. “What options?”

Levi tapped his finger on the contract again. “Stormy Weather Farm would like to lease the farmland you’re currently not using. We’ve wanted to become more self-sustaining for years, but nearly all of our farmable land is used for the vineyard. Now that we’re operating the brewery as well, we’ve been looking into growing our own ingredients rather than outsourcing. I have a small plot where I’ve been growing hops. The yield has been good—really good—and while it’s enough for Rain or Shine Brewery, I’ve been approached by other breweries in the area about selling hops to them. I don’t have enough land.Just like I don’t have enough for the barley, the apple orchard, or berries I’d like to plant. Sam has all sorts of ideas for new brews, and we’re both excited about the idea of growing our own ingredients. You can fill in the blank on what you think is a fair amount in terms of rent and I can write you a check right now.”

Kasi skimmed the document in front of her. It was a good idea. “Who would farm the land? You’re busy with the vineyard.”

“We’re going to hire someone to manage the vineyards,” Levi said. “That’s why I had to leave yesterday morning. I was interviewing someone to take over my job as vineyard manager. I’m ready for a new challenge, so I would be working the land here. I know you had to let Jeb and Cal go. I was thinking of hiring them to help me.”

One of the hardest things Kasi had done since her mother’s death was fire Jeb and Cal. Like the Riley twins, the other farmhands had become an extension of their family, and she knew both men had struggled to find work since. “They’re great workers.”

Levi nodded. “I know. We hired them to help us with the harvest this year. They’ve been invaluable.”

Kasi was relieved to hear the men had found work, even if it was temporary. Because she’d been eaten alive by guilt over messing up their livelihood. “That’s good.”

She looked down at the lease, then recalled something else he’d said. “You said I had other options?”

“Yeah. If you want to go ahead with your plans to plant a fall crop and sell it, you can do that too.”

She shook her head. “It’s too late for that. The tax bill is due in full.”

Levi scowled. “No, it’s not. If you call Herb Cline at his office, he’ll work with you to set up a payment plan. Same as he does for everyone else in town.”

Kasi frowned, confused. “But Scottie said…” She sighed. “He lied about that too. I really am the dumbest person on the planet.”

Levi’s expression turned dark. “No, you’re not. He saw a way to get youandyour land.”

“And I almost fell for it.” Kasi hated that she’d been so easily duped, but even she could see she’d been low-hanging fruit, ripe for picking, given her fears of failing her family and her lingering grief over Mama.

“You never told me Scottie had been asking you out.”

Kasi sighed again. “I didn’t think it mattered. I always turned him down.” Then her temper spiked. “What a fucking lying asshole. God, I can’t wait to shove that stupid ring of his right up his ass.”

“You took the ring?”

“He pushed it into my hand. It’s never been on my finger, and it never will be.”

“Good girl. But you’re going to have to get behind me when it comes to Scottie’s comeuppance. And considering Remi’s anger right now, you might be after her too.”

Kasi narrowed her eyes. “You’re not doing anything to Scottie. That prick is all mine.”

“Agree to disagree, little bear. He hurt my girl, and that won’t go unpunished.”

“Your girl,” she murmured, loving the sound of that way too much. She pressed her forehead against his, breathing in his fresh, masculine scent, so grateful he was giving her not only a second chance but choices. Good choices of ways to save her family’s farm.

Levi leaned back, giving her a wicked grin. “While you consider those options I just laid out for you, I think it only fair to point out that if you accept my family’s offer, I’ll be here all day, every day.”

She laughed, the weight that had been pressing on her chest for months lifting completely. “Is that supposed to be a selling point?”

Levi reached out, grasping her wrist and tugging until she had no chance but to stand and step toward him. The second she did, he pulled her down onto his lap, wrapping his arm around her middle. “Damn right, it’s a selling point. Sign the lease, Kasi, and we can work on this farm together.”

“It’s not my decision to make,” she said. “It’s my dad’s.”

“You’re wrong, Kasi,” Daddy said from the back door.

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