His eyes fly back up to mine and widen.
My heart thumps hard as I take the single step forward to close the space between us, and lift my hand to the side of his face while I press my lips to his.
His body stiffens for a moment, and a flicker of panic rushes through me as I think I made a mistake. But then his hands slide up my back and pull me closer, and any doubt I had fades away.
I have no idea where the courage to do this is coming from, or why it feels so… right. But I don’t care. Because itdoesfeel right. It feels like this is exactly where I’m supposed to be.
His lips part, and the moment my tongue meets his, heat runs up my spine, and I tighten my grip on him.
I’m kissing Levi.
I’mkissingLevi.
Ilikekissing Levi.
My best friend.
His hands press into my back as our kiss deepens, and we stand together in the warmth and soft glow of the setting sun, at the edge of the field that brought us back together. The field I held on to when everyone wanted to throw it away. The field that brought Levi back into my life and showed me we’re not broken. We were just under pressure.
My hand falls from the side of his face as I run both of my hands down his sides, feeling the tight, defined muscles underhis shirt, and the strength he carries in him. It surrounds me like something comforting and protective, making me feel safe, even in this unfamiliar territory we’ve found ourselves in.
Eventually, our kiss slows, and when our lips part, we remain close enough that I can feel the warmth of his breath across my lips as he releases a light chuckle.
“I had no idea how you felt about any of this,” he says.
I smile. “I didn’t either.” Then I slide my gaze out to the field. “But whatever this is… it seems to work.”
Levi’s hands slide down my back until they reach my hips, and I bring my attention back to him, seeing the pure joy dancing in his eyes.
“This is kinda fucked up,” he says with a soft laugh.
“Really fucked up,” I agree. “But… it’s always been you and me, Vi.”
A slow smile spreads over his lips, and he nods, tugging me closer to brush his lips over mine.
“You and me, Si.”
THIRTY-SEVEN
All the worst-casescenarios run through my mind as I cross the lot, scanning the farm for Winston. At everyone’s request, I brought him to work today. Which felt like a good idea this morning.
But he’s been missing all day, and now I’m waiting for someone to tell me to never do this again. Because I can almost guarantee he was in everyone’s way all day.
Especially since I don’t see him anywhere. But I think I know exactly where to find him.
And sure enough, as I step into the garage, there he is sitting proudly next to the planter while Silas leans over it. Relief flows through me knowing he’s not off being a shit disturber somewhere on the farm, so I take a moment to check out Silas’s ass and ignore the judgmental look my dog throws my way.
“I don’t think he’s even my dog anymore,” I say as I approach them, and Silas glances over his shoulder at me.
He looks down at Winston, who just stares back up at him with a huge, goofy smile.
“He’s been here for about three hours. You should probably do a better job watching him and maybe he would be,” Silassays, turning back to the planter with one arm braced against the frame while the other works a wrench deep inside the housing.
The motion has the muscles in his back flexing in all the right ways, and I send a silent thank you to the weather for making today a T-shirt day.
I chuckle, leaning back against his workbench and crossing my arms. “Fuck off.”
Silas smirks at me, wiping his wrench with a rag before dropping it onto the bench and grabbing another one.
