Unloading the dryer contents onto the makeshift countertop over the appliances, he began folding as Jilly walked in.
She stopped when she saw him, laundry basket in hand. “Hi.”
His heart did a weird little two-step. “Hi.” He stepped over to her, took the laundry basket, set it down in front of the washer.
She laughed, and though he knew she was tired, he also knew neither of them was sorry for it. He hooked an arm around her waist and pulled her close, kissing the laughter out of her. She kissed him back, her hands moving to his hips, then slipping under his shirt so her fingers could dance over his skin and drive him nuts.
He couldn’t stop the little growl that left his throat when she pushed into him, sending him back a step into the washer. His fingers tightened on her hips and he considered lifting her up, barely remembering that it wasn’t the right time or place when a loud beeping startled them both.
Jillian jumped back. “What is that?”
Keeping one hand on her waist, he turned, saw he’d run into the buttons on the washer and activated the midcycle pause button. He pressed it off, turned back to Jillian.
“Everything okay?” Shane called from the kitchen.
Jillian covered her mouth with one hand, laughter shining in her gaze.
“All good. Sorry. Wrong button,” Levi called. He pulled Jilly close again, brushing her hair away from her face. She looked so pretty with it down around her shoulders. The pale pink Get Lost Lodge crewneck sweater was a little baggy on her frame. Thehumor in her gaze was enough to brighten up the dimness of the laundry room.
He poked her arm playfully. “What are you laughing at? If my boss catches me in here making out with his sister, I could get fired.”
She put her hands on his chest, went up on her tiptoes, and kissed his cheek. “No way. You’ve blended in seamlessly. The guests are raving about the food already. I think he’s stuck with you.”
Levi hugged her tight. “You’re stuck with me, too.”
He was pretty sure both of their grins bordered on being silly, like they couldn’t believe what they had between them was real.
“I like being stuck with you,” she whispered into another kiss. It was too short for his liking. “I’m going to take Ollie home, much to her disappointment. She’s going to help my mom start sorting through old boxes in the basement to clear space. Do you want a ride back to Smile with me? I’ll be back before dinner.”
“Yes, please. I’ll be ready to go in about twenty minutes. Just want to get the dishcloths and towels put away.”
“Okay. Ollie is out working on an herb garden with my mom. I’ll tell them we’ll be ready to go shortly.”
He stepped aside, because if he wanted things to work, he should actuallyworkwhile he was supposed to. Folding the laundry as she started her load of towels, he glanced over at her.
“My dad wanted to go over some ideas for the basement with your parents, but I know everyone is busy so I thought I could meet with him tonight. I chatted with them for a while last week and have an idea of what they want. If his preliminary sketches are guided by that, it might make things move quicker.”
Jilly started the washer and smiled at him. “That sounds perfect. I’m glad things are going better with you and your dad.”
“Me, too. It’s not perfect, but what is?” He said the words out loud but answered them in his own head.You. You’re perfect for me, Jillian Keller.
“We’re going to grab a beer at Bros’ after I’m done here tonight. If we can sort through ten years of misunderstandings, maybe those two can as well.”
“Let’s hope so,” Jillian said thoughtfully. He liked her thinking face. He liked everything about her. She picked up one of the cloths, folded it, and set it on the pile he’d started. “I think we each get wrapped up in our versions of how we expect things to go, and then when others don’t fall in line, we feel a disappointment we shouldn’t.”
Levi set the cloth down, focused only on her. “What do you mean?”
Jillian met his gaze. “With your dad, he obviously thought you’d grow up and work alongside him. When you didn’t, he wasn’t disappointed inyoubut the loss of what he’d imagined. I don’t know what happened between Leo and Liam but I would imagine it’s similar. And when I fell apart last week, I was thinking about how I owed it to Ollie to make choices that would lead to the least amount of conflict.”
“I don’t have experience as a parent but I can understand why you’d want to save her heartache and pain.”
Jillian stepped closer. “I think that’s true when you care about anyone, but it’s not realistic. Instead, I realized I need to show her how to embrace life and all it offers, and that includes learning to pick up the pieces if it falls apart.”
With a hand on her waist, he pulled her close, bent his knees so he could stare into her beautiful eyes and so she could see the truth in his. “We won’t fall apart, Jilly. I love you too much to let that happen.”
“I know. I realized that, too. I feel so lucky that I can believe in that and in you. Loving you and letting you love me back makes me stronger, and it makes me sure that there’s nothing we can’t do together.”
Levi grinned, happiness like a vibration running through him. “There’s so much I want to dotogether.” He kissed her, backed her up to the dryer with his hands gripping her hips.
