“Magnolia Grace,” Levi murmurs, pressing a kiss to my shoulder.
“Hmm?”
“This isn’t just physical for me,” he says lowly.
I turn to look at him, my heart in my throat. “It’s not for me either.”
“Good.” He pulls me closer, and I let myself sink into his warmth. “Because I’m falling for you. Have been for a while now.”
Tears prick at my eyes, and my throat tightens. “I’m still married.”
“I know.”
“And I’m a mess.”
“No more of a mess than I am. You’re perfect.”
“Levi…” I try to stop him.
“No,” he says firmly. “You’re perfect for me. Exactly as you are.”
Outside, rain starts to fall, clicking against the metal roof. We watch it through the window, wrapped up in each other, and I let myself believe that maybe, just maybe, everything is going to be okay.
“Merry Christmas, Magnolia Grace,” Levi whispers.
“Merry Christmas, hotshot,” I whisper back.
And under the twinkling lights of our Christmas tree, I finally let myself hope for a future that includes this man, this safe feeling, and the life we’re starting to build together.
Chapter 25
Levi
It’s the day of the meet to purchase the white-tail deer, and my stomach’s been in knots since I rolled out of bed this morning. Dakota and I are getting ready to head back out to Freedom Farms, and every minute that ticks by feels like it’s dragging me closer to something that’s going to change the rest of our lives.
Without a doubt, it’s going to change the rest of our lives.
There’s no stopping it, and there’s no putting off, not when we’ve set all of this into motion.
I’m standing in front of the bathroom mirror, pulling my hunting mask over my face, to make absolute sure that it’ll cover any identifying markers when Magnolia appears in the doorway. She’s still in one of my t-shirts, her hair messed up from sleep, and fuck if she isn’t the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
“Levi,” she says softly.
I turn to her, pulling the mask back down so I can really look at her. So she can see my face, maybe for the last time if this goes sideways. I’ve never really had to think about any of that before, but here we are. I have someone to come home to. “Yeah, Magnolia Grace?”
She crosses the small space between us, and I open my arms automatically. She fits against me perfectly, like she was made to be there, her head tucked under my chin, her arms wrapping tight around my waist. She snuggles in, and I hold on fucking tight.
“You’re heading out for the undercover operation,” she says, and it’s not a question.
“Yeah.” I hold her tighter, breathing in the scent of her shampoo, trying to memorize this moment. In case I need it for later. “Yeah, I am.”
She pulls back just enough to look up at me, and her eyes are shining with unshed tears. “Be careful.”
My chest tightens, and I cup her face in my hands, tilting her head back so our eyes meet. There’s a whole conversation that happens in the span of a few seconds. “I will be. I promise.”
“Levi,” she whispers, and her voice cracks on my name. A small smile plays at the edges of her lips as she says the next words. “I love you. Regardless of what happens today, I need you to know that. I love you.”
Those three words hit me right in the center of my chest, stealing my breath. I’ve never heard them from anyone outside my family, never let anyone get close enough to say them. But here she is, this incredible woman, saying them like they’re the most important words in the world.
