Page 79 of Wilde Ride

Levi shook his head at Caden’s retreating back, then turned his focus on me. A smile spread on his face, and for a moment, I totally forgot that Lilibeth was even there.

“Thank you, Levi, for joining me on the ride.”

“It was my pleasure.” He walked up, kissed me on the cheek, then turned to my friend. “See you around, Lilibeth.”

We both watched silently as he walked in the same direction as Caden.

When he was out of sight, Lilibeth turned and grabbed my hands. “Okay, what happened between the two of you?”

I gave an innocent shrug. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Her mouth dropped open, and she blinked a few times. “Don’t even try to do that to me, Emeline Wilde! Your cheeks were flushed when you two rode up, and you had a look about you.”

I laughed. “A look about me?”

“Yes! And he kissed you on the cheek just now, but I swear he almost went for your mouth.”

“He’s done that before.”

She tilted her head, and I could see the frustration slowly building.

“Okay, fine—we kissed.”

Lilibeth blinked again, this time in confusion. “That’s all you’re going to give me? You kissed? Was it a peck? Did tongues meet? Was it good or was it average? Are you going to kiss again? I need this information, Emeline!”

I laughed and wrapped my arm around hers and headed back through the barn. “Let’s go to my office. I don’t want anyone to overhear.”

Once inside my office, Lilibeth grabbed the bag of Swedish Fish that I always had on my desk and took a few out. She sat down and bit the head off of one. “Go on, I’m listening.”

Sitting across from her, I grinned. “The kiss was beyond amazing. It was passionate, yet sweet. Levi didn’t hold anything back. And his touch…oh my gosh, his touch lit my body on fire.”

Lilibeth danced around in her seat like a five-year-old. “Oh my gosh! Are you going to see each other tonight?”

I shook my head. “Not with the camp and everything going on. We’re planning to go on a date, though, once this first camp session is over.”

Her smile slowly faded. “Why don’t you sound more excited?”

Leaning back in my seat, I said, “I don’t want to get my hopes up.”

“Why not? Emeline, I’ve seen the way Levi looks at you, and trust me when I say, he isn’t thinking about how he wants to be just friends.”

I let out a sigh. “The fact that he said he wasn’t looking to get into a relationship. What if that kiss didn’t mean the same to him as it did to me? What if Rhett isn’t ready to see his father date someone? Not to mention Caroline.”

Lilibeth leaned forward and pointed a Swedish Fish at me. “Trust me. When I saw the two of you at the perfumery, it was obvious Levi had more than friendship feelings for you. Even Caden said so.”

My brows shot up. “He did?”

Nodding, she replied, “He did, indeed. And Rhett only wants to see his father happy. As far as Caroline goes, I don’t know her at all. I don’t know the story behind why they are divorcing, but it sounds like she doesn’t want much to do with Levi or Rhett, sad to say.”

“You’re right, I know you are. I’m just…” I sighed. “If I’m being honest with you, I’m scared that this is too good to be true, Lilibeth. I mean, I’ve had feelings for Levi for so long, and I’ve tried to move on from what I thought was a childhood crush, but there’s never been another guy who even comes close. And I’m not talking about just his looks. He’s a great father and an amazing friend. Since he came back to town, the more time I spend with him, the more I realized this was far more than a crush.”

“You’re in love with him,” she said softly.

I nodded. “Yes. And I told him I was. I figured the best thing to do was to be honest with him.”

Her eyes widened. “What did he say?”

“He was honest back. Told me he wasn’t in love with me, but that he felt more than friendship.”