“I have a feeling there’s more back that way, but I didn’t want to wander too far. I didn’t have my gun with me, and you never know up here with the bears and mountain lions.”
“Bears?” I stop short. It hadn’t even crossed my mind, but now it seems so damn obvious.
“I haven’t seen any, not even tracks. I’ll keep an eye out. Don’t worry. When I lived up here, there was a family of them that had a den not far from here. Mom got a little testy with the little ones around.” He surveys the forest as I kneel down to get a closer look at the plants.
“Well, she’s trying to protect them.”
“I’m the one who needs protection. They were climbing on my porch and stealing my food out of the garden. Lawless little things.” He shakes his head.
“You had a garden?” I grin at the idea of his garden being raided by cubs and him having to shoo them out without tangling with an angry mama bear as I check the plant for any signs of a ripe berry.
“A small one. Just enough to keep some kitchen vegetables and a couple of herbs ready. I didn’t have a green thumb or anything, so don’t get excited.”
“I’m not.” I smile at him. “But it explains why you were willing to help in the gardens. We never had a priest volunteer like that. The older nuns used to grumble about how they didn’t want to get their hands dirty. Now it makes more sense.”
A grin flashes across his face, and he shakes his head at me.
“Here’s another patch of them. Bring the colander over. How many do you need?” he asks as he crouches down to start picking and I take my turn watching for unwanted guests.
“A couple of pints would be ideal. But one would do in a pinch. I could make a half recipe. There'd still be plenty for two people.”
“You’re not going to offer the guys any? Their feelings will be hurt.” Levi gives me a mock look of concern.
Two of his men have been camping out nearby in the woods, keeping a night watch when Levi sleeps. I’d be more worried for them and bear encounters except one of them had been my bear, hauling me back to Levi when he beckoned.
“Well,mineare still hurt from the way your one guy dragged me back to the cabin unceremoniously.”
He laughs. “I suppose that’s fair.”
“Do these taste good? They’re so small,” I ask, holding one of the strawberries up to inspect it.
“Yeah. They’re sweeter than the kind you get at the store. Smaller, but they pack a punch,” he explains. “Here.” He picks one and spits on it. “Just spit on it like that and wipe the dirt off. Then you can taste them.”
I watch him with a raised brow, and his follows until he realizes where my mind is wandering to.
“You have a filthy mind for a nun.”
“I blame you. I was perfectly fine until you came along.”
“Your recipe folder would beg to differ.” He side-eyes me, and my cheeks pink under his watch.
“Yes, well. I’m working on that vice.”
“How are the rosaries coming along anyway? Do we need to add extra?” he teases me.
“After yesterday, you mean?” I decide to push my luck.
“About that…” His voice fades, and he shakes his head like he’s trying to clear it and find the right words.
“I liked it.” I pick another strawberry, trying to distract myself if he’s going to give me a lecture for mentioning the unmentionable. “Obviously,” I mumble before I spit on the little red berry and wipe the dirt away on the hem of my shirt, then I take a bite. The juice runs down over my lip, and I press my fingers to my lips to try to stop it. “Oh wow.” He wasn’t kidding about the sweetness. “These are amazing.” I throw a hand up in the air and grin before I see his face. I realize then he still hasn’t spoken, and I worry my lip between my teeth, licking the juice off it with the tip of my tongue.
His eyes land on my lips, heavy and focused like he’s thinking about things other than strawberries. I stand nervously, and he follows, taking a step toward me, closing the distance between us. It feels like that night on the pier all over again. But this time, he reaches out for me, his hand slipping under my jaw and tilting my chin up. His thumb slides over my lower lip as he studies the stain of the strawberries on my skin.
“I liked it too.” His voice has a low rasp to it that sends a wave of anticipation through my body.
He tilts his head, and his lips descend on mine, the softest brush of a kiss until I meet him with my own. He pulls me close then, one hand snaking around my waist and the other around the nape of my neck as he deepens it. It’s still soft. He’s still tasting me like he’s deciding which part he wants more of before he takes. My hands go to his chest, bracing myself as warmripples of want start to bleed through my senses. I don’t know what we’re doing. Breaking all our rules. But I want more of it. More of him.
He breaks the kiss. Giving us both a chance to catch our breath, and his blue-green eyes search mine—something I can’t quite read in them. His lips part, words on the tip of his tongue.
