“Love you too, Levi. Be safe out there.”
As I leave his office, I feel stronger. Still scared, but not so much that my hands are shaking. Hopeful that we’ll be able to pull this off without hurting more people than are absolutely necessary. Sure that Director Drake wouldn’t have chosen me for this job if he wasn’t sure I could do it.
Either way, the day is coming, whether I’m ready or not.
Chapter 24
Magnolia
I’m lost in the rhythm of my work, when I glance at the calendar on my iPad and freeze.
December first.
How in the fuck did it become December already? It feels like I just got here at Levi’s, even though I know realistically it’s been a few weeks. They’ve been the craziest weeks of my life, and I feel more at home here than I ever felt at the house I shared with Cody.
I look around the house, really seeing it for the first time in days. There’s no Christmas tree, no decorations, no hint of the holiday season. Levi mentioned he moved in last year but didn’t have time to really decorate. Maybe he’ll let us do it together, then.
An idea takes root, and before I can second-guess myself, I’m texting him.
Me: We haven’t decorated for Christmas. Want to?
The response comes quickly.
L: Be home in a couple hours. Let’s do it.
The way he calls it home? It makes me feel good every single time. I finish the orders I’m working on, carefully packaging chocolate-covered strawberries and pretzels, my mind running with possibilities of how to decorate. When I hear Levi’s truck in the driveway, I’m practically bouncing with excitement.
He comes through the door carrying a huge box, a grin on his face. “Figured we’d need a tree.”
“You bought a tree?”
“Had to. Never had one before when I was renting, and last year I just…didn’t.” He sets the box down, then goes back to the truck for more. “Got ornaments, too. Lights. The whole nine yards. We’re going to do this right.”
“Levi Harrison, are you excited about Christmas?”
His grin widens, and he looks much younger than he is in this moment. “Maybe. Or maybe I’m just excited about decorating with you.”
We spend the next hour putting up the tree, and arguing over where to put ornaments.
“That’s too big to be at the bottom,” I argue. “See how it’s sagging dow?”
“I like it there though,” he argues back.
“But no one can see it!”
He blows out a breath and puts it where I’m pointing. Finally. Levi puts on Christmas music, and we fall into an easy rhythm, working around each other, laughing and talking and stealing glances at each other.
“Hand me that star?” I ask, gesturing to the tree topper.
He passes it to me, and as I reach up to place it, his hands come to my waist, steadying me. His cologne smells good, and it makes my nipples peak. “Careful.”
The star is placed, and I turn in his arms, suddenly very aware of how close we are. How his hands are still on my waist. How his eyes have gone dark.
“Magnolia Grace,” he murmurs, his voice deep and strained.
“Yeah?”
“I’ve been thinking about kissing you all day.”
