Jilly gripped the clipboard she was holding tighter. Grayson stepped off the passenger boat that would carry all of them to GetLost. The twenty-foot cruiser wasn’t new, but they kept it in good working condition.
Allison sighed. “Speaking of men to stare at.”
“We weren’t,” Jilly muttered.
Allison laughed. “I was. Your brother is gorgeous. Both of them. So is Levi. I love my husband but I’m not blind.”
Jill laughed and felt like a fool for wanting to go plant a kiss on Levi’s lips and shout “he’s all mine.” She settled for smiling at him when he looked her way.
“Could I have everyone’s attention?” Grayson called to the group.
Gray didn’t love speaking to large groups, but he had a great voice for it that commanded attention. As a former general manager for a string of pharmacies, he was more used to overseeing staff, making sure stores were running efficiently, and ensuring that everything added up at the end of the day. Sort of like what he did at the lodge in a much more personal and smaller capacity. One that brought him great joy. It was nice to see her big brother carry less weight on his shoulders.
The kids and parents quieted down and formed a half circle around Grayson on the dock. Gramps was unhooking the rope for their departure and would see them off. Several others milled about farther down this dock and on some of the boats in the harbor. Jilly was so happy that Levi’s dad was coming out to build birdhouses with the kids tomorrow. Small steps.
Grayson smiled at all of them. “Anyone evernotbeen on a boat?” He went through the rules and all of the adults worked together to help the kids into life jackets. Jillian arched her brows at Levi when Ollie insisted he help her when one of her classmates asked him. Interesting, since her little girl usually took pride in doing things herself. Looked like she wasn’t the only one falling.
When they were loaded onto the boat, everyone sitting, Jilly sat at the back, watching the kids and the parents, excited for what lay ahead. The team-building weekend for Eva had gone so well they’d booked another in the fall. This would be drastically different but give them a really good idea of what they could handle and what they were already naturally set up for. She wanted to fill gaps, add to what already existed, not pile on more work.
Ollie led Levi over by his hand and they sat down beside Jilly, Ollie between them. She glanced at Levi over her daughter’s head. His gaze was equal parts lust and affection. She didn’t know which appealed to her more.
“Did you make biscuits?” Ollie asked, craning her head to look at him. Her reddish-brown curls could not be contained lately but they’d tried by braiding them down her back.
Levi tapped her nose. “I did. But we’ll be baking fresh ones, too.”
“Bet the ones you made aren’t as good as when we made them together,” she said with a grin.
He laughed, stretching his arm across the back of the seat, his fingers touching Jillian’s shoulder. “I’ll sneak you one and you can let me know.”
She liked the easy vibe he seemed to have with Ollie and vice versa. Ollie tended to be more adaptable to new situations than Jillian. Or, at least, it felt that way.
“Are you excited, honey?”
Ollie turned her head toward Jillian. “Yes. I wish you’d tell me what we’re doing. I could help set up. Uncle Gray told me about the ropes course. I can’t wait to do that!”
Jillian nudged Ollie’s leg with her own. “You’re a guest camper, not a Keller this weekend. No sneak peeks for you.”
She looked back at Levi. “Levi’s giving me one.”
Levi’s mouth dropped open. “Hey. Don’t throw me under the bus.”
Ollie giggled, making Jillian laugh as well.
“Hmm. You’re right. Well, that’s because he’s a softie. Not me.” She poked Ollie in the belly teasingly but kept her tone firm. “And no one goes on the ropes course without adult permission and supervision.”
Ollie sighed and sank back against the padded seat, flopping her hands down onto her lap with a dramatic flair. “I know, Mom.” The weariness in her tone made Jilly’s lips twitch.
When Jilly looked at Levi, his were doing the same. His fingers had drifted up to the side of her neck, and even though the breeze was cool, it wasn’t the cause of the shivers running through her. He held her gaze a moment and she realized she’d never had this: a man looking at her like there was nowhere else he’d rather be, with her little girl between them. The quiet sweetness of it was something she hadn’t known she was missing until this moment. And she wanted more.
“I’m going to go chat with Gray,” Levi said, giving both of them a little wave.
Ollie was quiet for a moment. Jillian almost teased her about it, as her daughter wasn’t known for her silence, when Ollie asked, “Is Levi your boyfriend?”
How could one word make her giddy at her age? “Yes.” She looked down at Ollie, who was looking at her, a serious expression on her face, a little divot forming between her brows. “Is that okay with you?” She wouldn’t let her daughter dictate her choices but she also didn’t want her to feel unheard. Nothing, so far, had suggested Ollie had any problem with the way things were going.
She shrugged and turned to stare straight ahead. “I guess so. Is that why you and Levi kiss sometimes?”
Jillian bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. They didn’t kiss nearly as much as they wanted to. “It is.” This was new territory, but she figured this was one of those less-is-better situations.Keep it simple.“It’s new. He really likes hanging out with both of us.”
