A stubborn look crosses her face. “How long have you been watching me?” Small bits of hair have slid free from the beanie she’s wearing, framing that gorgeous face of hers.
“Long enough,” I call up to her. “I told you next time we’d come out here together. What the hell are you doing Sammie?” I’m more concerned for her safety than angry at this point.
“I don’t need your help with this,” she fires back. I shake my head. Typical. She wouldn’t see the harm in coming out and doing it all herself.
“Oh, sure,” I reply, voice dripping with sarcasm. “There’s no need for someone to hold the ladder for you. Or to make sure you don’t slip and fall. It’s perfectly safe.”
She smiled, a wicked gleam in her blue eyes. “So you already know. Perfect.” This woman, who completely has my heart, is infuriating. She continues to make her way around the roof of the gazebo, securing it at the top point before heading back to the edge.
My eyes never leave her as I follow her on the ground as she works. There’s no way I’m going to leave her to fall twenty feet to the ground. Rose Prairie’s gazebo is built on a concrete base that raises the structure higher than normal, heightening my worry.
“You don’t have to stand there, you know,” she teases. “I’m going to be fine. You could make yourself useful and bring a truckload of stuff from the warehouse.”
Shaking my head, I reply, “Not a damn chance, Spitfire. I’m staying right here.”
“I’d rather you get things set up,” she retorts.
“I’m good right here.” I smile up at her and see her eyes narrow down at me before she continues to work.
I can hear her muttering to herself as she reaches to loop the lights on the cupola. Just as it hooks, Sammie’s feet slip out from under her. “Shit!” she screams, arms flailing.
She slides down the sloped roof, my stomach in knots as she tries to gain purchase on the slick roof. With nothing to hold onto, she slides over the edge.
There’s no fucking way I’m going to let her fall. Running forward, I manage to soften her fall just before she hits the ground. My body became the soft spot for her to land, me not quite able to catch her. Both of us fall to the ground, a tangle of limbs, panting and breathless.
Pulling her into my lap, I cradle her to my chest. To think that she could have fallen with no one here to catch her. She could have been left laying in the snow until someone found her. It sends shivers down my spine. Placing a kiss on her beanie-covered head, I ask, “Are you okay?”
Sammie buries her face in the hollow under my chin, breathing heavily. “I think so.” Her hands hold tightly to my coat, pulling her closer to me. Running a soothing hand up and down her back, we sit in silence for a moment, clutching onto one another.
“Are you two okay?” A distant voice calls to us. Cara, the owner of Tall, Dark, and Coffee jogs through the snow. “I heard a scream and saw you fall.” Sammie untucks herself from my lap as Cara gets closer.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she calls out, climbing from my lap and standing. “I got lucky.”
Sammie helps pull me up as Cara comes to a stop in front of us. “You okay, Levi?” I’ve known Cara since Middle School when her family moved into town. She opened her coffee shop and bookstore after graduating from Rosewood College and I’m happy that she’s been successful.
“Me? I’m fine. My heart might have stopped for a moment, but I’m good.” Sammie shoots me a quick look before turning back to Cara.
“I’m glad you’re both okay. That’s a long fall.” She looks up at the Gazebo that towers over the square. “Let me know if you need anything.” We both thank her as she heads back across the street.
Sammie smacks me against the chest as soon as Cara leaves. “Your heart did not stop, quit being so dramatic.”
“Spitfire, my heart came alive the moment I saw that first day. But seeing you on that roof? Yeah, my heart stopped. You scared the shit out of me.” Her blue eyes soften at my words, and she caresses my face.
“I guess I’m sorry then,” she says just before gently kissing my lips. “Forgive me?”
Wrapping my arms around her, I kiss her back, harder than before. “Forgiven.”
“Good.” She presses another quick kiss against my lips before shoving me in the chest. “Now, let’s get back to work.”
Chapter Thirteen
Sammie
It’s here. All my hard work has led me to this moment.
Christmas Eve day has been a whirlwind. Levi and I walked the square one last time hand-in-hand, checking on every aspect of our work. Yesterday, after I fell from the roof of the gazebo, Quinn and some of her friends from Rosewood helped us get all of the materials from the warehouse set up. Levi and his friend Greyson worked to get the sleigh put together since it would have been impossible to transport it once it was secured.
Everything was finally ready.
