“They’re still together. They moved to Chicago about three years ago,” she said quietly, tracking the movement of her fingers.
Levi lowered the pack and used both hands to frame Jillian’s face, tilting her head so she looked at him. “I heard that. I’m happy for them. Maybe people end up where they’re meant to be.”
“You think so?”
“I do. I wasn’t so sure for a while, but now? Nowhere I’d rather be.”
She stared at him so long, he wondered what she saw. Did she think she could tell the truth of his words by looking at him? Levi had learned that the best way to prove something was continuous follow-through. It was okay that she was unsure. He’d show up day after day and give her reason not to be. Same as he’d eventually do with his dad.
He thought she’d step away, impose that control that seemed to shield her like a titanium cloak, but like a switch flipping, Jillian took control and pulled him down so she could kiss him. He needed absolutely no encouragement to jump on board. He felt her sigh into the kiss and all but melt against him. One of her arms went around his waist as he tilted his head, his fingers tangling in her hair. She tasted like his homemade granola and Jillian, a sweetness he knew he could get addicted to if she gave him the chance.
“Lightning,” she whispered, pulling back.
She literally left him dazed. He stared at her through lowered lids. “What?”
“It’s not supposed to strike the same spot twice, but every kiss with you is good.”
Well damn. It was hard not to puff his chest out at that.
“I defy all of those theories.”
Jillian laughed. “Why don’t we get to the summit. The walk down will be easier. We can have lunch, I’ll show you around, and maybe later we can sit in the hot tub for a bit.”
Levi smiled. “You didn’t mention a hot tub. You know, I’ve seen a summit before. You see one, you’ve seen them all, right?”
Jillian stepped back, picked up his pack and handed it to him. “We have to reacclimate you to the great outdoors. You’ve been citified.”
He laughed at the term. “They have parks and hiking in Vermont. And skiing.”
Walking side by side, they veered to the right, Jillian pointing the way. “I lived in the city for a while, too, you know. Somehow, even when it’s right there, you forget to take advantage of it.” She glanced at him. “Or were you out in the wilderness every chance you got?”
He sent her a mock glare. “I’ll have you know, I walked to work each day and it took me right through the local park.”
Jillian bit her lip. “Right. My bad. That’s exactly the same. It’s strange that you were a bit winded earlier what with your vigorous outdoor routine in the city.”
Levi laughed and the sound carried along the breeze, the birdsong accompanying it.
When they finally reached the peak, she was right; the view was breathtaking. He could see Smile in the distance. It felt so close and so far away at the same time. Life was like that, he supposed. He’d lived in a busy city, worked in a crowded restaurant, knew dozens of people between colleagues and customers, but felt entirely alone. Now, standing on a mountaintop with only Jilly by his side, he felt surrounded. Fulfilled. Connected.
He took Jillian’s hand in his, stared out at the water and the sky, and the feeling intensified. He felt… home.
Thirteen
Levi Bright was making it incredibly difficult to remain cautious. If Jillian were making a spreadsheet the way she did for work, he’d check every box. And then some.
Makes me laugh? Check.
Gorgeous, sweet, and funny? Triple check.
Kisses make me feel like fireworks are going off inside of me? Oh yeah. Definite check.
As if all of that wasn’t enough, he could cook. Like, really, probably-wouldn’t-get-thrown-out-of-Gordon-Ramsay’s-kitchen cook.
Glazed barbecue chicken, fresh potato salad with herbs, homemade biscuits that melted in her mouth, and a dessert of strawberry custard were too much for her to resist. She should just propose marriage and be done with it.
She licked sauce from her finger, ready to sing his praises, when she caught the way he was staring at her, his gaze hooded, his eyes watching the way her tongue moved over her finger. Her breath caught and she couldn’t help her smile.
“This is absolutely delicious. I’m talking best barbecue sauce I’ve ever had,” she said. She’d worried that she’d forgotten how toseduce a man, but apparently it didn’t take much, because if he stared any harder, they might both go up in flames.
