Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88889 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88889 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Shoot. The sheriff’s department probably sent someone out to clean it again. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I dial the department’s number.
Once Libby’s done rattling off the usual greeting, I say, “Hi, it’s Kelcie. I notice someone cleaned the yard again at my parents’ house. Will you please send the invoice to me instead of Jordan?”
“Oh, it wasn’t us, dear. The neighbors told us Levi Graye has been taking care of the place, so we’ve stopped sending someone out.”
Levi has been taking care of the upkeep?
“Ahh . . . thanks.”
I end the call and stare at the yard. Why didn’t he tell me?
I hurry down the street, eager to get home so I can talk to Levi. By the time I reach our houses, I’m out of breath from all the exercise. I make a beeline for Levi’s back door, knocking and even trying the handle, but it doesn’t open.
Dang, he’s probably sleeping.
When I turn away and start walking toward my place, I hear Levi call, “Kelcie.”
My head snaps to where he’s coming from the direction of the trees. Lick breaks out into a run to get to me and jumps up, her front paws settling against my abdomen.
“Hey, girl. You’re always so excited to see me.” I scratch behind her ear. Looking up, I take in the sweatpants and hoodie Levi’s wearing. “Did you go for a walk?”
He shakes his head. “I run along the trail to the creek every morning. Lick needs the exercise.”
That’s quite the distance. No wonder the man has abs for days.
He uses his sleeve to wipe the sweat from his forehead. “Were you looking for me?”
“Oh, right. I passed by my parents’ place and noticed the yard was neat. The sheriff’s department told me you’ve been taking care of the upkeep.”
Levi instantly looks uncomfortable and glances down at Lick. “I’m sorry if I overstepped.”
“No!” I dart forward and grip the front of his hoodie. “You didn’t have to.” My eyebrows pull together, and my heart expands to twice its size with love for this man. “But it means so much to me. Thank you.”
His expression relaxes. “I just want to make things easier for you.”
“You do.” I lift myself onto my tiptoes and press a very quick kiss to his mouth, which has my heartbeat setting off at a crazy pace. Pulling away, I walk to my back door. “Anyway, I’ll let you get some sleep. See you later.”
I don’t dare look at his face as I go inside, afraid I’ll see that he disapproves of the kiss.
So much for telling him how you feel about him. One thank-you kiss, and you run for the hills.
I shut the door behind me and lean my forehead against the wood. A few seconds later, I carefully peek out of the window, and not seeing Levi, I sit down right on the spot while a nervous chuckle bursts over my lips.
Well, I kinda did try. Now the ball’s in his court.
The doorbell rings, and I climb to my feet. When I peek through the peephole and see Colby, my shoulders slump.
Unlocking the door, I open it and say, “Hi.”
“I was visiting with my parents and saw you come home. It’s been a while. How are you?”
“I’m great, and you?”
“I’m doing okay. Things would be better if the prettiest girl in town finally stopped playing hard to get and agreed to go on a date with me.”
Not this again.
Desperate to make him understand it will never happen, I totally take advantage of my friendship with Levi and lie, “I’m actually dating Levi.”
Shock flashes over Colby’s face, then he frowns darkly at me. “What the fuck, Kelcie? I was there for you when your family was killed. I helped you get this place.” His voice keeps rising until he shouts, “The fucker moves in, and you jump into his arms?”
My lips part with shock, and I take a step backward from Colby’s aggressive reaction. “Don’t take that tone with me!”
He shakes his head, and just as he moves toward me, Levi’s voice snaps, “Back the fuck away from her.”
Colby’s head turns to the side, and when he moves backward, I’m able to peek out the doorway. Levi cuts across the dead grass between our houses, his expression downright pissed off.
“You better go, Colby,” I say, not wanting a fight between the two men.
“Oh, look,” Colby sneers. “If it isn’t the great Levi fucking Graye. You think you can tell me what to do just because you’re some big-shot author?”
“I’m going to call the sheriff,” I warn him.
His eyes flick back to me, the anger in his gaze scaring me, as he hisses, “I see how it is.” Levi steps between Colby and me, but it doesn’t stop Colby from continuing, “Don’t come running to me when he drops you like a sack of potatoes. People like him never stay in one place for long.”