Page 30 of Taken By Storm

Levi growled, pissed. “Did you go to bed right after I left last night?”

The slight hesitance before she nodded let him know she was lying.

“Want to try answering that again? Maybe with the truth this time,” he said sternly.

Kasi’s eyes darted in his direction, some of her anger resurfacing. “I needed to take care of some things, okay?”

When he left last night, he’d expected Kasi to crawl into bed and—hopefully—dream of him. Because that was sure as hell what he’d done. “What things?”

“Levi. I need to get home.”

“Then answer my questions.”

Kasi was a stubborn woman, but Levi was pretty damn sure he could out-stubborn her right now. He was determined to help her, but she was fighting him every step of the way.

She blew out an exasperated breath. “I needed to pay some bills, and then I did a bit of cleaning because I haven’t had time in the last few weeks. It was getting to the point where I could write my name in the dust on every flat surface in the living room.”

Levi’s temper went from zero to sixty. “You stayed up to clean?! Dammit, Kasi. What the hell is wrong with you? You can’t do it all.”

“So you keep saying,” she fired back. “But the fact is, Levi, I can. Because Ihave. For eight fucking months! Now take me home.”

Kasi turned away from him once more, and he knew by the determined tilt of her chin she was finished with this conversation.

That was fine by him.

He’d told her she was his and he’d fucking meant it. It was time to show her exactly what that involved.

He started the truck, pulling out of the hospital parking lot. Kasi was silent, the uninjured side of her head resting against the passenger window. He kept his eyes on the road until they passed the turn to her family’s farm. He expected her to kick up a fuss, but when she didn’t say a word, he glanced in her direction.

She was asleep.

Good. That would make this trip a lot easier.

Taking the turn to Stormy Weather Farm, he drove slowly, not wanting her to wake until they reached their destination. When he pulled up in front of the vacant cabin where he’d just been working, he turned off the engine and unfastened his seat belt.

Kasi jerked awake, frowning in confusion as she looked around.

“Where are we?” Her voice was huskier after her too-short nap.

“We’re at one of the cabins on my family’s farm.”

“Why?”

Levi climbed out of the truck, crossing around the hood to open her door.

She shook her head. “I’m not getting out, Levi. I need you to drive me to the stand.”

“You’re not going to work today.”

Her eyes flashed with anger. “That’s not your call to make.”

Levi leaned into the cab of the truck, reaching across her to unfasten her seat belt. Kasi tried to push his hand away, but her strength was no match for his.

Grasping her waist, he tugged her from the truck and lifted her into his arms, intent on carrying her inside. He was careful to be gentle, not wanting to hurt her. Unfortunately, Kasi wasn’t making it easy, fighting him every step of the way.

“Let me go!” she demanded, slapping at his hands and arms, then pushing against his chest. He juggled her a bit, trying to get a firmer grip, determined not to drop her.

“I mean it, Levi,” she said, pinching his arms.

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