Page 86 of Taken By Storm

Levi picked up the blanket and covered her as he knelt, gathering some of the tissues surrounding her and putting them on the coffee table behind him.

Running his finger gently over her forehead, he whispered her name. “Kasi.”

It took a minute or two for her to fully rouse, and he wondered how late she’d stayed up. Her eyes were puffy and red, and it was clear she’d been crying.

What the hell happened?

“Kasi,” he said again.

“Levi?” Her voice was hoarse, rough. She rubbed her eyes, struggling to open them, given how swollen they were.

Had Scottie hurt her? A sudden murderous rage heated his blood at the thought.

He moved to join her on the couch as she sat up, wincing as she rubbed her stiff neck.

“What are you doing here?” Her words were groggy, wooden.

“Rained last night. We’ve delayed picking for a few hours.”

She glanced around the room as if trying to get her bearings. The fact she wasn’t leaping up to start working told Levi that whatever was going on, it was bad.

“What time is it?” she asked.

“Five thirty. Keith got here the same time as me. He’s taking care of the animals.”

She nodded.

“Kasi. What’s wrong?”

She shook her head, refusing to look at him.

“Kasi,” he said again. “Keith said Scottie was here last night. Did he?—”

“He didn’t do anything.” She turned her face farther away from him, staring at the doorway, so that he was looking at the back of her head rather than her profile. “It’s just… I can’t do this anymore.”

“Do what? Dammit, Kasi. Look at me.”

Levi watched as she braced herself, her spine straightening, her shoulders dropping.

When she turned to face him, he knew he wasn’t going to like what she said next. Which was bad news for him because he’d never seen so much determination in her expression.

“I don’t want to see you anymore.”

He scowled. “Why?”

She closed her eyes, only for a split second, but it was enough to give her away. He didn’t know why the hell she was trying to break up with him, but that tiny wavering reaction convinced him she didn’t want to do this.

“This is going too fast, Levi. I let myself get carried away.” Every word she spoke came slowly, like she was measuring them before speaking them aloud.

“Bullshit. Try again. Why are you doing this?”

“I just told you. We need to be practical. We have nothing in common.”

“What prompted this? Scottie?”

“No.”

“Then what?”

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