“You okay?”
Turning, she nodded. “I think that went really well. I wasn’t sure if I could sell it but I think we did.”
“Youdid, Jill. You did that. It’s a kickass idea and they were very impressed.”
She spent so much time working to support others, she didn’t often stop to take credit for her contributions. Which was fine. She didn’t need applause. But she’d almost forgotten what it was like to take an idea, nurture it into fruition, and see it all the way through to implementation. It was heady. Empowering.
Levi grinned at her like he wasn’t just impressed but proud. And that unlocked more of those chains around her heart.
“Everything you said about the menu, it was perfect. They’re going to email and say yes.”
He stepped closer, keeping just enough space between them to make her want. “Yes they are. We’re a pretty good team.”
She nodded, afraid to admit that out loud. Even with Andrew, whom she’d committed to fully and completely, she’d never felt like the other half of a partnership.
Because her emotions in this moment were not only inexplicable but threatening to overwhelm her, she pointed to Levi’s iPad.
“Show me your dreams.”
He held her gaze and she realized at least one of her own dreams had a very good chance of coming true. If she wasn’t too scared to let go of all her safety nets.
Fourteen
They moved their family date, as Ollie called it, to Sunday, as it seemed easier for everyone. Other than Levi’s dad, who said he couldn’t join them. Jilly hated seeing Levi look so defeated over his father’s reactions to his being home, to them starting something, and toward Levi’s dreams in general.
“I’m going to be a chef, a wilderness survival guide, and a game show host,” Ollie said as Levi cleared the counter for them to get to work.
Jill knew he didn’t need their help but it was nice that he followed through on his word to Ollie, telling her she was his sous-chef.
The sun shone through the wide kitchen windows. It was a perfect, breezy May Sunday. Ollie, Levi, and Jill had headed over to the lodge early today to get things set up and give Levi time to cook.
“That’s a lot of jobs,” Jill said, meeting Levi’s amused gaze.
“I like to be busy,” Ollie said, washing her hands at the kitchen sink.
Levi laughed as he set out items he’d need. She and Gray had offered to pay for the food since he was feeding them, but he insisted that he wanted to host even if it wasn’t his kitchen.
“That you do.” She passed Ollie a tea towel, noting that their supply was low.
She pulled out her phone to add it to the list of things she needed to pick up. Her gaze wandered to Levi double-checking his ingredients. She liked watching him like this. Usually, he had a carefree aura about him, an easy laugh, a quick smile. But in the kitchen, when he was getting ready to cook, he was focused. Serious. Kind of like when he looked at her when they were alone.
Levi passed a small cloth bag to Ollie. “I got you something.”
“You did?” Ollie took the bag, her grin so wide it was easy to see the spot where two of her teeth were missing.
“Sure. Every chef needs one of these,” Levi said, folding his arms across his chest.
Jill couldn’t deny that her attraction to him increased with the way he watched her little girl open the gift.
She unwrapped a white chef’s jacket. “This is so cool! Gordon Ramsay wears one of these. Do you have one?”
Levi nodded, grabbed his from one of the bins on the other counter, and put it on while Jilly helped Ollie.
“What do you say?” Jilly asked, meeting Ollie’s excited gaze.
“Thanks, Levi. This is the coolest.”
He held out a fist to her, which Ollie quickly bumped. “No problem. Now, we match.”
