Page 19 of Taken By Storm

There was no way he really meant he’d do all that. He was probably going for some kind of shock factor to get her to do what he wanted.

If only she could remember what that was…

“List, Kasi,” he said. “Now.”

Oh yeah.

When Levi pushed away, she moved to the catch-all drawer, pulling out a pad of paper and a pen, then forced herself to the table on weak legs.

While she wrote her list, Levi slid the prepared loaves of bread into the oven, then started peeling and chopping the peaches.

Kasi started with the tasks she’d intended to do herself today, the most pressing ones, then she listed at least a couple dozen more items—drifting into fantasyland because no one could accomplish all of this.

Levi walked over to her, reading the list over her shoulder. “Is that everything?”

“It’s everything I can think of right now,” she answered honestly.

His hand landed on her shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. “Okay. If you remember anything else, add it to the list.”

“This is too much, Levi,” she said, not entirely certain if she was talking about the chores or him.

“No, Kasi. It’s not. It’s just right.”

With those parting words, he took her list from her and left the kitchen, whistling like he didn’t have a care in the world. Like she hadn’t just saddled him with a shit-ton of backbreaking work.

Like he was happy.

Before Kasi could dwell on anything that had happened—like that kiss because damn, she’d love to spend a little time dwelling on that—the buzzer to the oven told her the bread was done.

She rose from the table, pushing aside all thoughts of Levi as much as she could and focusing on her own work. Her own overwhelming list.

Unlike Levi’s, hers didn’t have an end.

“You about ready togo to the fruit stand?” Levi strolled into the kitchen.

She put the last pan in the dishwasher, closed the door, and started it. “Yeah. I just finished loading all the trays and cleaning up.” She gestured toward the table. “I made you and Keith sandwiches for lunch if you’re hungry.”

Levi gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and a smile before picking up the roast beef sandwich and taking a big bite. “This is great. Thanks.”

Grabbing a seat at the table, he crooked his finger, pulling her list out of his back pocket for her to look at. He’d drawn lines through the first six things.

“You finished all this? Just this morning?” The first item on the list alone would have taken Kasi hours.

“Keith took care of two of those. Begrudgingly,” Levi added.

“Not warming up to you, huh?” she asked with a grin. “Can’t imagine why not.”

“Smart-ass,” he teased, chuckling before giving her a quick, hard slap on the ass that was probably meant to be playful. It missed the mark because her nipples tightened instantly and her panties were suddenly damp.

“Keith took the farm truck to work on repairing the fence, so I thought I’d drive you to the stand. I need to head home to take care of some stuff there. I’ll come back at the regular time to pick you up, and then we can have dinner with your father.”

“Don’t remember inviting you to dinner.” Kasi felt compelled not to make things too easy for the cocky man, but damn if she didn’t also really want him to stay for dinner.

Levi didn’t take offense, merely grinning in that way that told her, invitation or not, he would be here for dinner.

Kasi turned the Crock-Pot on low so that the macaroni and cheese she’d tossed together would be cooked by the timethey returned home. Levi quickly finished his sandwich, then together, they loaded his truck with all the items for the stand.

Twenty minutes later, Kasi watched his truck disappear around the turn down the road, and it wasn’t until nearly an hour had passed that she realized she was still smiling.

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