Part of me is screaming, and that voice inside my head is Trisha's, chiding me, telling me not to be the other woman. But before I can pull away, he just rests his forehead on mine and closes his eyes. He's battling with himself. I throw him a bone. "We should get back, Levi. I've got a mountain of work to do before Saturday."
He pulls his head off mine. "Yeah. Me, too. Did you decide what pieces you'll bring?"
"It all depends on what I sell before then."
"Good point."
We get up off the blanket, and before I can stop him, he wraps his arms around me. I'm reluctant at first. But then I let myself melt into him, letting him envelop my whole body with his. It feels so good I want to cry. Aside from my daddy, I've never felt anyone so close to me before. In junior high, I got to dance with a boy, but his hands only touched me just above my waist. There was two inches of space between us. Levi's chest is against mine, so I can feel his heartbeat. It causes a rush between my legs and I'm sure that I whimper. He snuggles his head into mine, nestling himself in there, like we're a perfect fit. His large hands caress me tenderly, making me feel things I've never felt before. I'm so turned on but so enthralled, I can't imagine something feeling any better.
He kisses my cheek, sending a shockwave of pleasure down my spine, before he releases me. "Thanks for tonight. I really needed that."
"You're welcome." Is all I can manage. The ride back to the stable, with the constant thumping down below, I feel a very small but thrilling orgasm, and then another one, as my body releases all what Levi awakened in me. When we arrive back at the stable, my panties are soaked, and I excuse myself to use the washroom. Piper is still up, insisting that I try her pie. Levi joins us, having worked up an appetite. "This is delicious."
"It's my mama's recipe."
"My mama’s recipe is nothing compared to this one.” Levi comments.
He winks at me, setting my heart fluttering again. Every nuance, every expression, everything about this man, it’s just sucking me in. I have never been so enthralled by anyone in my entire life. And I’ve only known him for a short while. It’s scary to think that I’m going to feel like this for the rest of my life, knowing that he can never be mine. It does give me a slight comfort, knowing that he also seems attached to me, so I believe that he’ll always come around in some capacity. I’ll take what I can get.
“Let me take you for a walk and show you the resort area." Levi offers.
“Sure. That sounds great."
His Stetson is resting on the table. He puts it back on his head and I follow him out the front door, thanking Piper for the pie. He walks me to the back of the house, over a cute little cobblestone pathway. The resort house is grand but sweet in keeping with the look of the main ranch house. A set of wooden, hunter green double doors greets us at the entrance. Each window is shuttered with matching, smaller scale shutters, alsoin hunter green. Parking is in the back of the resort area, with an entrance to the lot from behind the ranch itself.
The main foyer has small signs indicating which room numbers are on which side of the building. At the center of the foyer is a small desk, where the concierge sits. Since it isn’t twenty-four-hour concierge yet, there is nobody there at the moment. There are tall ferns flanking either side of the concierge’s desk. Levi explains to me that behind the concierge's desk, they’re planning to put the resort's logo, but it’s in the process of being designed right now. It doesn’t look unfinished, per se, however, as an artist, I see that there is room for a lot of pictures and artwork on the walls. Barren save for textured paint, the walls cry for adornment.
A couple passes us as we walk through the right side of the hallway, to the last door. “I want to show you something.” Levi says, punching in the code on the small pad by the doorknob. The door opens to a small suite, complete with a double bed, a small sitting area with a fireplace, and a small, three-piece bathroom. “It’s fancier than what I need, but Billy insists that I stay here until we build a bunkhouse. I’ll get maybe another six months out of this room, and then the traffic is going to take it over. I’ll stay in the main ranch house after that."
“You’re not going home?"
“Not if my daddy still lives there, no." He changes the subject, gesturing with his hand towards the drafting table and the picture hanging on the wall by the fireplace. It’s sitting on a ledge, and I do believe that this is the first time I’ve ever seen my work displayed outside of the studio. It looks beautiful. “Takes my breath away each time I look at it." Levi comments.
“It’s like it was meant for this room."
“It sure was. But that piece goes where I go. Someday, when I have my own place, designed by myself, that picture is going to be the first thing that I put in my house."
He has a way with words. Even though I can’t hear his tone, I can read his face. He’s a very sincere man. He means what he says. And the best part is that he’s not afraid to say it. Levi may have a bit of a tough exterior, but he is very soft, caring and sensitive on the inside. Shelley is lucky to have him, and I sure hope that she knows how lucky she is. I smile at him, but say nothing. What do you say when someone says something so sweet to you? My feelings get expressed through art, because that’s all I know.
“I'll walk you back to your car. You said you have a lot of work to do, so it's best not to keep you from it."
In my heart, I want to stay. This is Levi’s home, however temporary. Him bringing me here is so special. I walk over to his drafting table and look at the sketch he has attached to the easel. “This is beautiful, Levi." The rough outline of a house looks almost artistic. He’s sketched a beautiful cottage style home. Not too ornate or modest.
“That’s the beginnings of my dream home. Do you like it?"
“I love it. I’d love to see what it looks like someday."
“I won’t get my license for a couple of years yet, but hopefully by then it’ll be finished. I’ve got the money to build it, but unless I hire a licensed architect, this will have to wait."
“It will sure be worth the wait."
We look at each other. He reaches out and touches my face. His fingertips make my skin sizzle. My eyes close instinctively to his touch, but I flutter them open quickly, being careful not to show him how my body is reacting to him. The last thing I want to do is lead him on, and be that person I don’t want to be. If things were different, these moments could truly be ours. And as much as they feel real, I know that they can only be empty moments, robbed of true substance by Shelley, and the problems created by that situation. "I really should go." I tell him gently.
Before his feet move, he takes my hand in his, and he kisses my temple. "Let's go."
His hand doesn't leave mine until I get to my car.
Buddy calls me over to his shop next door, letting me know that he's found an antique frame that's perfect for me. When I walk in, he's got it at the counter, polishing it up. It's gorgeous and not too ornate, like some of the older styles were back in that time. There's just fine detail around the edges of the oak frame. "I figure I'll sand it down some and re-stain it for you. What color do you think would fit this?"
