Levi held up his hands. “Nothing. At all.”
Both of them relaxed their shoulders, like he’d popped a pin in their worries.
“But I’m going to ask her out.”
“Dude. There’s a code,” Beckett said.
Levi chuckled, wrapped his hands around the edge of the counter behind him. “Come on, guys. It’s me. You know I won’t hurt Jilly. If I’m being honest, I’ve liked Jilly for a long time.”
“Correct me if I’m wrong,” Gray said, his tone quiet, his gaze…not.“You’ve been gone along timeand only just recently decided to move home, right?”
Levi nodded. “Sure. But I’ve been wanting to for a while. This wasn’t a whim.” He did know how to make informed and thoughtfuldecisions. “I care about your sister. I know she’s been hurt. I’m not looking to add to that. If she didn’t want my attention, she’d shut me down.”
“She was married. Her divorce wasn’t pretty.” Grayson’s voice was solemn and Levi realized that it had hurt them to watch what Jilly went through.
“I know.” Maybe not all of the particulars yet, but he knew she had scars. “But it didn’t break her. She’s one of the strongest women I know. I’m not going into this lightly, not that it’s technically any of your business.”
He and Jilly didn’t even know what they were yet, so he didn’t want to hash this part out with her brothers. Though, it was like needles under his skin to know that maybe his good friends didn’t think he was good enough for Jilly either.
“You’ve been back a week and what? Now you’re all in?” Beckett stepped closer.
Levi shook his head, pushed off the counter. “No. Not yet. I don’t know. But there’s something between us. We’re both unattached adults and you know I wouldn’t hurt your sister. I love your family and both of you like brothers. Give me some fucking credit.”
“And if you can’t,” Jilly said from behind them, making Levi curse under his breath because none of them had heard her come in, “then give me some.”
Both Keller brothers seemed to shrink a little. Beckett ran a hand through his hair. “Aw, Jilly.”
“We’re just looking out for you, Jill,” Grayson said, walking toward his sister.
Jill let the door swing closed behind her. “That’s almost as sweet as it is unnecessary. I’m a big girl and fully capable of making my own choices.”
Beckett scoffed. “And you choose this guy? He cried when he fell off a roof and he never even broke anything.”
Grayson snorted, covered his mouth. Levi shoved Beckett from behind. “We were eight and you shoved me, you ass.”
Jillian laughed. “And y’all got in so much trouble for being on top of that shed, none of you did it again. I get that there’s history here, but I don’t need you two poking your noses into my business.”
“Sorry, Jilly.” Beckett turned, clapped Levi on the shoulder, and started for the door, stopping to pull his sister into a side hug.
Grayson’s lips pursed as he met Levi’s gaze. He gave one sharp nod then followed Beckett’s lead.
That left Levi alone with Jilly. And a dining room filled with their friends and family. But right this minute, with her looking at him across the gleaming countertops, the scents of his favorite foods in the air, all he saw was her.
He grinned. Levi was a big believer in going after what he wanted. “I think you really like me, Jillian Keller. Will you go out on a date with me?”
Sixteen
The night had been going so smoothly. She’d set aside her growing worries about Andrew—Lainey had texted that he was probably going to bail on seeing Ollie anyway so why get in a panic over it? She hadn’t gone into detail with Presley, instead saying she’d talk to her tonight. With her ex pushed to the back of her mind, she’d been able to enjoy Levi’s creations and presence. Mostly. Being around him tended to make her pulse and brain scramble like crossed circuit wires.Notthinking about him was impossible. The way he’d kissed her, how much she wanted him to kiss her again. Jilly had been listening to Ollie tell her grandparents about making the biscuits, and her chef jacket, when Jill realized her brothers had been gone too long to simply be paying their compliments to Levi for his amazing cooking. She knew exactly what they were doing.
Hadn’t shejustthought how nice it was to have her big brothers close by? Ha.
Levi continued to stare at her, bringing her all the way back to the moment. With startling clarity, his question settled like static electricity in the air between them. It wascharged.There needed to be a word in between “like” and “love” on the whole falling-for-a-guy scale.Will you go out on a date with me?
Why did his words evoke a response similar to kissing him?Because it means it’s real to him, too.
He didn’t come closer but it felt like she had no space. No room to move. Or breathe. Fifteen-year-old Jilly had invaded her senses and was on the verge of passing out.
Fortunately, she was a mature woman who had been asked out plenty of times.Not by your childhood crush.
