Page 34 of For the Birds

Chapter8

Levi pickedme up from the office promptly at six. He’d agreed to drop me off at the farm later that night so Neely Kate could take the truck home. His text message—I’d love to take you home—had raised gooseflesh on myarms.

This would be his first visit to my farm. In the past, I’d always had him drop me off at the office. Plus, he’d kissed me so casually earlier, which meant he was probably going to kiss me again.

I wasn’t sure how I felt aboutthat.

“I hope inviting me didn’t mess up your plans with Neely Kate,” he said as he watched me lock the door to the office.

“No, she said she’d rather go home and read a book.” Asif.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

I turned around to face him and grinned. “She’s excited I’m going out with you. She jumped at the chance to leave us to our own devices.”

“As long as she knew she was welcome . . .”

“She did. Trust me.” I had a strong suspicion Neely Kate and Jed were going to take advantage of my absence. Maybe the vision I’d had earlier would take place tonight.

Levi gave me a long sideways glance as we started walking toward his truck halfway down the block. “You look beautiful,” he said, his voice deeper than before.

I felt a blush rising to my cheeks. I suddenly felt self-conscious in my fluffy pink skirt and white shirt—like my bared chest made me naked. But that was ridiculous, and I knew it. Maybe Kermit’s comment about my clothes was making me paranoid about looking too dressed up. “Thankyou.”

“After you left this morning, I realized I never told you that. I was kicking myself all afternoon. It was just such a surprise to seeyou.”

“That’s okay.” I glanced down at my clothes. “I didn’t have time to go home and change.” Not that Neely Kate would have letme.

“I love what you’re wearing.”

I blushed. “But I suspect I’m overdressed.”

Neely Kate had assured me that I wasn’t, but she liked dressing in flashy clothing and being the center of attention. In fact, knowing her, she’d convinced me to buy this outfit in the hopes I’d wear it for Levi. If I hadn’t stopped by his office earlier, she probably would have wrangled somethingup.

“You would know better than me,” he said. “I suspect things are different down here.” He opened the passenger door and waited for me to getin.

“I have a confession to make,” I said, looking up athim.

He paused and his smiled wavered. “Okay.”

“I’ve never been to a carnival.”

His eyebrows lifted. “But this morning . . .” He gave me a sheepish look. “I guess you never said you’d gone to one before.”

“Is that weird?”

He laughed. “Why would it be weird? I’ve never been to a circus.”

“Me neither.”

His smile spread. “Then we have even more in common.”

“Do you still want to go?” I asked. “We can do something else if you’d prefer.”

He studied me for a moment. “Since neither of us have been to a Fenton County carnival, I think we should go to this one together.”

It was the perfect response, and I found myself smiling back at him. “Okay.”

The carnival was set up in a field west of town, about ten minutes away. One of the things I liked most about being with Levi was that it was rarely awkward. He knew how to carry a conversation, yet he always made sure to include the other person in it. But this time I decided to use his expertise to my advantage.

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