Page 48 of Get Lost with You


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Twenty-two

After cleaning up the kitchen and getting everything set for a serve-yourself dinner of lasagna, both vegetarian and meat—neither one of them lazy in any way—Levi found Jillian outside. She was in her element. He’d peeked in on her explaining the team and partner endeavors for the ropes course. Every activity encouraged the guests to trust their partners and teams, to let go of the need to be in complete control.

He, Beckett, and Grayson had set up one of the challenges between three large and sturdy oaks. The cordoned-off area looked like a triangle.

“How’d it go?” Levi leaned against one of those sturdy oaks, the scent of earth in the air.

Jillian turned, giving him that smile that made his heart spin. “It was amazing. They did a bunch of challenges including leading each other blindfolded, and then we used these ones,” she said, pointing to two parallel ropes they’d set up that were about one foot off the ground and two feet apart. “Two people stood across from each other on the ropes, leaning forward to make a bridge with their hands and arms, and then other teams had to go through it and create the next bridge.”

“Sounds fun. Let’s try it.” He pushed off the oak tree.

Jillian picked up her clipboard—she’d been taking photos when he came out—and laughed at him. “I’m good, thanks.”

He smiled as he moved toward the ropes. “Come on, Jilly. We could all learn to lean on each other a little.”

It was surprisingly harder than he’d expected to just stand on the rope without falling off. It was thick, corded, heavy-duty rope. He thought he had better balance. Jillian came closer but just laughed as he wobbled back and forth, holding his hands out.

“This is way harder than I thought,” he said, falling forward again.

“Want to know a trick?”

She set her clipboard down on the ground and came to stand in front of him.

His hands immediately went to her waist. “I want to know all of your tricks.”

She laughed, pushed at his chest, and stepped back, reaching her arms out. “It’s easier to do with two people who have similar strength but let’s try.” Putting her hands in his so they were palm to palm and up between them, she guided him onto the rope while she moved slowly onto hers. They pushed against each other, wobbling and falling, but eventually, they figured out the push and pull and managed to steady themselves on the ropes, arms in a bridge for a good ten seconds.

He felt like he’d hiked with her again when they jumped off. Scooping her up, he swung her in a circle.

They tried a couple more times and Levi could feel the effort in his core. He really did need to work out more. Jillian walked next to one of the oaks, stepped up onto the rope with her hand on the tree and the other held out wide.

“If you’re on your own, start by the tree and then center yourself,” she said, slowly dropping her other hand so she balanced on the rope. When she wobbled, he caught her around the waist, loving the way she slid down his body.

Her fingers curled into his hair and he shivered involuntarily. He could become addicted to her touch. His heart beat wildly from even the simplest touch from this woman; a glide of her fingers across his cheek, over his chest, the touch of her mouth to his made him feel weak and powerful at the same time.

With both hands, he smoothed her hair back so he could stare at her beautiful face. Every curve and line was becoming etched in his mind permanently.

He kissed her slow and soft, falling into her in a way he’d never experienced with anyone else. He knew, without a doubt, this was where he was meant to be. When she pulled back, her gaze was bright and full of the same desire he felt in every piece of himself. He wanted to spend the night with her. All the nights. And mornings, too. But he needed to remind himself that he couldn’t rush her. He wanted to savor every bit of this; of them.

She pulled back, a dreamy look in her gaze. “After dinner is served, we can head back to Smile. Want to watch a movie later? After Ollie’s in bed?”

“That sounds good.” It actually sounded perfect.

“It’s strange how easy this is. Falling into… I don’t know what to call it… couplehood?”

Laughing, he kissed her again, quick and light. “Cute. Whatever you call it, I’m happy. And I want to make you happy.”

She tightened her hold on his waist. “You already do.”

Then he’d just keep doing what he was doing and they’d work the rest out. Eventually, his careful Jilly would learn that she could trust him and lean on him, and not just because she was standing on a rope. Because she wanted to.

The next several days kept Levi too busy to go and see the food trucks he was interested in, but two of the three people had agreed to walk him through virtually, which had been really cool. He’d bought a bed and set it up, doing his best not to give Jilly some cheesy line about spending the night. Between the team-building event, which had gone great, Gray asking him to cook for the upcoming kids’ camp, sneaking in moments with Jilly, chatting with Pete about possible truck menu ideas, and hanging out with Jilly and Ollie, he fell into bed exhausted each night. The bed was an excellent purchase.

He was still in it when someone knocked on his door way too early for his liking. Shuffling out of bed in his flannel pajama bottoms, he was glad he hadn’t opened the door with a grumpy snarl. His mom stood on the tiny platform at the top of the stairs with a leafy green potted plant.

“Hi, honey,” she said. She looked around him. “I didn’t catch you at a bad time, did I?”

He laughed. “No.” Stepping back, he waved her in, shutting the door behind her.