“I might actually be able to help with that,” I tell Stevie as she leans against the counter. “I lost my father and sister earlier this year, and my daughter had a tough time. Granted, boys and girls act out differently, but they’re around the same age.”
“Claire, right?” She asks, and I nod. “Levi couldn’t wait to tell me all about her. He’s quite taken by her, which is surprising.”
I arch a brow and mimic her posture. “Why is that?”
“He always used to say he never wanted kids. Some bullshit about being too afraid of being like his father, as if he’d ever be like that asshole.”
Glancing over at the pair, I notice they have pulled apart, and a smile is now gracing Addie’s face. But I can’t help as I study Levi. Never would I have guessed, especially based on how he is with Claire and everything that he’s said, that he didn’t want kids. How could someone so gentle, caring, and loving ever think that he’d turn into the exact opposite as a father?
“You must be Marlowe,” Addie says, pulling my attention away from Levi. She comes walking toward me with her arms outstretched and I easily step into the embrace. “It’s so nice to finally meet the woman who has my brother in a tizzy.”
“I’m trying not to get my ass beat over here, Adds,” Jesse states from the other side of the island as we pull away from one another. “Keep my feelings regarding this gorgeous girl on the down low around Levi, yeah?”
Levi takes two threatening steps towards Jesse who immediately takes two steps back, laughing as they square off on opposite sides of the island. Addie rolls her eyes before turning back to me once more.
“I’m sure Stevie’s already told you how excited we are to have you here,” she says, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. “You’re the first girl he’s ever brought home.”
“Really?” I ponder with a raised brow, turning to Levi to find a light blush on his cheeks.
Stevie wraps her arm through mine and raises a brow at him. “He claims it’s because of us. Apparently, I’m intimidating and ‘too much’ or something like that.”
“And I’m a flirt with a foul mouth,” Jesse adds with a proud smile.
“I’ve been told I have a resting bitch face, and I can be too sarcastic, which comes across as being mean.” Addie shrugs.
“Oh, and Nash, our older brother, is way too quiet and brooding,” Stevie informs me. “He scares away everyone in Aspen Creek, so I guess he’s probably the biggest culprit out of the four of us.”
“Or maybe Levi just hasn’t cared about a woman enough until now,” Loretta interjects, not lifting her head from the bowl of contents she’s stirring. “It’s not always about you four, you know.”
The three siblings turn to Levi, and he just smiles. “I mean, I did tell them it was their fault.”
“Doesn’t mean it’s true,” Loretta replies instantly, leaving the spatula in the bowl and rubbing her hands down the front of her apron. “Now, Jesse, why don’t you help Levi bring all their things into the guest house and help him with whatever else he needs. Girls, want to show Marlowe around?”
“What happened to food?” Jesse pouts, folding his arms across his chest. “I can’t slave away on an empty stomach.”
Loretta pins him with a glare. “Maybe if you watched what came out of your mouth in this house, I’d be more apt to put food in it. If you’re really that hungry, go down to the bunkhouse. I’m sure those boys whipped something up.”
“We both know there’s not going to be anything left,” he grumbles, spinning on his heel to head toward the front door.
Levi walks up to me and pulls me into a hug. I grin as I rest my head against his chest, and he places a kiss to my hairline before pulling away and pressing another to my lips. He spins to the remaining two, keeping an arm around my shoulders.
“Please don’t do anything stupid.”
“Oh, calm down, Romeo,” Stevie teases as she steps forward and grabs my hand, pulling me out of his grasp before entwining our arms once more. “It’s a tour of the ranch, not cowboy poker.”
“What’s cowboy poker?” I ask, glancing between the three of them.
Addie grins and loops her arm through my free one. “We can show you if you like.”
“You’re supposed to be the responsible one,” Levi tells Addie with a look of desperation.
“Actually, that’s Nash,” she reminds him.
“Addie, I swear?—”
“Oh, calm down.” Stevie steps in with a shake of her head. “If we introduce her to cowboy poker, it’ll be watching theactualcowboys play. Now, go take care of the guest house. We got her. She’s in excellent hands.”
I give him a gentle, reassuring smile when his strained expression turns to me. “I’ll be fine, really. I’m thirty years old, Levi. I can handle myself.”
