Page 12 of Choosing Happily Ever After

“You…it’s okay.” What was the point in denying it? She’d always been easy to scare. Hope shook her head and looked around again. “Did you…” She turned back to him. “Did you do all this?”

He nodded and Hope tried in vain not to notice the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled.Dammit. Why did he have to be so bloody good-looking?

“I did. I found the diagram in your binder and when I was done with the floor, I thought—”

“The floor? I swept it on Monday.”

Levi actually looked bashful as he shrugged. Annoyingly, it was cute. “I thought you might like it polished.”

“Polished?”Hope swallowed hard before taking a closer look at the floor. Damned if it wasn’t extra shiny andpolished.“You polished the floor? This morning?”

He nodded. “It was on a list at the back of your binder.”

She knew exactly what list he was talking about. It was her master list of things she’d like to get done, but that would probably have to wait until the end of the busy season. But he’d done it. He’d taken something off the list.

Dammit.She really couldn’t fire him now.

“I hope it’s okay. I wasn’t trying to step on your toes or anything, but you make it really easy to get things done with your lists. I mean, you’ve always been organized, but…” He shook his head in admiration. “Damn, you’ve taken it to the next level.”

She couldn’t help it. As much as she didn’t want Levi to get to her, he did. Just the way he always had. With a smile and a wink and basically any words coming out of his mouth in that smooth-like-caramel voice of his, and she was a goner.

“I don’t know about that.” Hope looked at her feet before Levi could see her blush at the compliment.

“But it’s okay?” he asked again. “I know you like things a certain way, and I was just trying to help so the last thing I would want to do is make more work for you.”

Hope looked up into his eyes and saw nothing there but genuine care. She didn’t even look at the tables and chairs again before she nodded. “It’s perfect, Levi. Thank you. Really. The idea of setting this up today was exhausting me just by thinking about it. You’ve really saved me a lot of work.”

His grin split his face. He looked like a proud schoolboy receiving praise from his favorite teacher. “Good. That’s my job, right? To help you?”

Hope sighed.Definitely no way she could let him go now.She was just going to have to live with the butterflies that had taken up residence in her stomach ever since he showed up. “I guess it is.”

“That’s right, it is.” Levi reached out his hand to her. “Come on, I want to show you something.”

She eyed him and his outstretched hand. Having him in close proximity was one thing.Touching himwas something completely different. She tucked her hands into her back pocket. “What’s that?”

If Levi was offended, or even noticed that she hadn’t taken his hand, he didn’t show it. Instead, his smile only got bigger as he said, “Just wait until you see it.”

Levi

Levi couldn’t help it. Seeing Hope happy—especially when it was because of him—gave him a thrill. An even bigger thrill than reeling in a major catch on his favorite fishing boat. Way bigger.

“Seriously,” he said when she still hadn’t moved. He retracted his proffered hand. Maybe he shouldn’t be so bold with her, she was obviously struggling with it, but he couldn’t help it. It was just so easy to be with her. Maybe too easy. But it did feel like old times. He needed to remember that it wasn’t. Far from it. “Come on,” he urged. “I promise you’ll like it more than having this room set up.”

She laughed, but started walking with him. “I don’t know about that. This is pretty fantastic. Now instead of dragging furniture around, I can take a little more time doing the place settings. Or maybe having a nap.”

Hope added the last bit so softly, he wasn’t sure she’d said it. Levi snuck a glance at her pretty face. She did look tired. She likely could use a nap. And if he made it possible for her to do so, well, that was only a good thing.

They walked across the barn to the back sliding doors, where Levi’s surprise lay just beyond. But right before he opened the door to reveal what he’d been working on, he had a flash of inspiration. He spun around so quickly he almost bumped into her, but Hope took a quick step backward, putting space between them. “Let’s make a deal.” He forced himself to ignore the heat that flashed through his body at her nearness.

“A deal?”

Levi nodded. “Exactly.” He couldn’t help but smile. “I’ve already saved you hours of work, right?”

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously, but nodded in agreement. “You did.”

“That’s right, I did.” He laughed at himself, and once again focused. “Okay, so the deal is…since I’ve already made your day better…” She shook her head and rolled her eyes, but Levi just laughed and continued, “If you like what I’m about to show you, you go out with me tonight.”

Her face instantly paled and she shook her head. “I don’t think—”

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