Autumn Bliss (17 page)

“She’s going to love them—thank you.”

“Thank, Levi. They were his idea.”

Now her gaze met his, allowing him to catch a glimpse of raw emotion that set his heart racing. She dropped her attention to her clipboard for a split-second, drew in a breath, then lifted her head once more. “They really are perfect. Thank you.”

Those brown eyes were effectively shuttered, but he chose to concentrate on that flash of emotion. It awakened hope in his chest as he gave her a smile that, these days, felt completely natural. “You’re welcome.”

The moment stretched until the dark-haired Reese piped up. “Heather’s gonna babysit Hazel until the festival starts, but what can I help with?”

Mallory turned to her as if she were an angel sent to rescue her. “How do you feel about helping Judy get the rest of the pumpkins set around the grounds?”

“Great!”

She reached out an arm to put around the girl’s shoulders. “Then come with me. Eric, you guys can find Mark or Janelle. They’ll have no problem putting you to work.”

“Don’t I know it,” he said.

Everyone split up, leaving Levi to his own list. Before moving on, he cast one last look over his shoulder toward the barns. Mallory happened to glance back at the same moment, and he’d swear she blushed as she whipped back around.

Oh, yeah, definitely something to work with.

* * *

Three hours into the festival, she was still walking around with the clipboard, and he was getting impatient. Everything was going great with attendance beyond what anyone had imagined, yet she seemed determined to sweat the non-existent small stuff.

Having completed his own self-appointed check of the busy vendor booths to make sure no one needed anything, Levi walked over to where Mark and Janelle were taking a break to eat lunch with their extended family. Eric and Marissa had suddenly produced three more kids—a set of four-year-old twin boys, and a beautiful blond toddler with dark eyes to match her father.

He briefly wondered if he’d ever have what they had, then put it out of his mind as he was introduced to Lisa Walsh, the younger, very-pregnant Riley sibling, and her husband Derek. Nash Riley, his sister Shea from the coffee shop, and the girl’s boyfriend joined the group as well. Even Butch and Judy had managed to take a breather.

Mark gestured to a nearby chair. “Go grab something to eat and join us.”

“Thanks, but I’m good for the moment.” He swept his gaze over the group, caught Santa Butch’s eye for a moment, then decided he didn’t care who heard as he directed his next words at Janelle. “You mind if I steal Mallory’s clipboard?”

She understood immediately and grinned her approval. “Oh, yes,
please.
I tried to tell her more than once to put it away and enjoy herself, but she won’t listen.”

“Figured.”

He’d last seen her at the sawdust pile for the kids’ scavenger dig. As he approached, she was leaning back against the side of the barn, clipboard hugged against her chest as her gaze swept over the animated crowd. She was beautiful, standing there with a small, satisfied smile tilting the corners of her mouth up.

Until she saw him. Then she straightened, and suddenly found something very interesting to read.

He marched right up to her and planted his feet. “Everything is going great.”

“I know, right?” She barely glanced up as she started to move around him. “Now I just need to—”

He sidestepped to block her escape. Her head jerked up in surprise, and consternation flashed in her brown eyes.

“Did you eat?” he asked.

“I haven’t had time. There’s a lot to do.”

“Let me see.” He snagged the clipboard from her hand and scanned the top sheet.

“Hey—give that back.”

Shaking his head, he said, “I don’t think so. Everything on here is checked off.”

Her eyebrows drew together and she moved closer, her hand reaching to take her notes away from him. He pulled them back out of reach, but she lunged forward. Swinging his arm in a wide circle, he stopped with the board held above his head.

Single-minded in her mission, Mallory braced one hand on his defending forearm and went up on her tiptoes in attempt to reach his raised hand.

“Levi—stop it and give it back.”

Her breasts pressed against his arm as she leaned into him. Awareness sizzled in his veins, intensified by the clean, outdoor-fresh scent of her.

“Take a break. Have lunch with me.”

She stilled at his request, her gaze snapping to his. As if becoming aware of her position, she lowered onto her heels and moved back. “I can’t.”

“Yes you can.”

“No—”

He stepped closer, and she backed up against the barn. His attention snagged on the tip of her tongue wetting her lips. One quick glance to judge the distance, and he tossed her clipboard out of reach on top the overhang over the barn door.

She followed the movement, her lips parted in surprise. Unable to resist, Levi lifted his hand to tunnel into her hair and pulled her into a kiss. Reining in the crazy excitement coursing through his body, he took the moment to savor and cherish the softness of her mouth, the taste that was unique to her. She offered no resistance—even leaned into the kiss with a soft hum of surrender.

Aware of the family-friendly event behind him, he lifted his head much sooner than he would’ve liked. Resting his forehead against hers, he said, “Let me buy you some lunch, Mallory, and then I’ll return your precious clipboard.”

Her turbulent gaze locked with his. “I should be mad at you right now.”

“You aren’t?”

She closed her eyes on a sigh of resignation. “No.”

“Good.” He pressed another kiss to her glistening lips, then stepped back to grab her hand and drag her with him. “Let’s get us some booyah. I heard it’s going fast.”

Her fingers tightened on his, and that gorgeous answering smile tilted his world. For now, he’d take what he could get and work on the rest.

Chapter 20

The booyah kettles had been set up near the food booth, and both areas were jam-packed with customers. As they waited in line for bowls to eat and containers to take home and freeze, he rubbed his thumb back and forth along the smooth skin on the back of Mallory’s hand.

It felt right being with her like this. Like they were a regular couple among all the families enjoying the fall event. Young and old alike were having fun, chatting and laughing at the multitude of picnic tables that’d been set up.

Mallory nodded her head toward the West’s grand-opening promotional sign for the new store. It was partially obscured by a framed photo, and the notice posted beneath it:
All food costs and proceeds donated to Whispering Pines in honor of active-duty Sergeant First Class Pete West currently deployed in Afghanistan with the 173rd Airborne Brigade. Thank you to all who have served and sacrificed.

Some things were more important than advertizing.

“I love that they did that.”

“Anna took a picture earlier and emailed it to Pete,” Levi told her. “His whole company thought it was pretty cool, too. She said they posted it to their social media sites already.”

“Speaking of Anna,” she indicated his sister threading through the crowd, Piper and Colin holding onto her hands. When the kids spotted them, they barreled forward, nearly jerking their mother into a run.

“Uncle Levi—I petted a reindeer!”

He released Mallory’s hand and leaned down to scoop them into his arms. “Hey, guys, are you having fun?” They both started talking at once, Piper about the pony rides, Colin about the reindeer, and he laughed. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

His niece’s sharp gaze zeroed in on him. She reached to plant a hand on both sides of his face and made him look at her. “You’re smiling.”

“Yes I am.”

“I like it,” she declared before planting a loud, wet kiss on his lips.

“Then I’ll do it more often.” Emotion tightened his chest and deepened his voice. It took a moment to ease as the kids and his sister said hello to Mallory.

“Great turnout,” Anna commented as she looked around.

“It’s amazing,” Mallory agreed. “There’s what I expected, what I’d hoped for, and then there’s
this
. Mark and Janelle are very happy, too.”

They all took a moment to take in the crowd, colorful balloons and banners, the music, laughter, and overall engaging sense of joy filling the air. It was the first time Levi had attended one of the Lodge’s bigger charity events, and as a veteran, he was humbled by the response from the community. While it was true they’d lucked out with wonderful weather, comments and conversations he’d overheard told him people would’ve come rain or shine.

“I saw a bunch of guys from the clinic earlier,” Anna said as he wrestled with a suddenly impatient Colin. “Chad Hahn, Mike Beau, Kevin Spencer.”

“Kevin is the guy I met at the clinic, right?” Mallory asked.

He set Piper back on her feet, but kept hold of his four-year-old nephew. “Yes. He’s come a long way these last couple weeks.”

“Good. I hope I get to say hello.”

A little surge of jealously tightened his hold on the squirming boy in his arms.

“Down,” Colin whined. “I want down, Uncle Levi.”

“Oh, no you don’t, buddy. You’re staying right here with us.”

“Funny you should say that…” Anna gave him a hopeful smile. “Gretchen and Bill haven’t taken a break yet. I’d like to give them each a chance to eat, and was hoping you’d watch the kids for about an hour?”

Not quite what he’d had in mind for his lunch with Mallory, but he couldn’t really say no when it was for such a great reason. He turned raised eyebrows toward her. “Would you mind?”

“Of course not. Have they eaten?” she asked Anna.

Piper bounced up and down as if she were on an invisible pogo-stick. “Ooh—we had some cotton candy. And popcorn.”

“I had an el-fant ear,” Colin announced.

Anna cringed. “I swear, I’m usually a better mother, but it’s been crazy since breakfast. I’ll have Gretchen bring over a couple hot dogs when she takes her break. Can you guys save Grandma a seat?”

The kids agreed, and as she began to back away, she asked Levi and Mallory, “You guys want anything?”

They both declined, and with one last request to get her a quart of booyah, too, Anna hurried to work.

After they were done eating, and stored a half-dozen containers of the savory Belgian stew in the coolers behind the West’s booth, the kids dragged them from game to game, emptying out his wallet faster than he ever would’ve thought possible. They spotted Kevin Spencer once, but other than a wave and friendly smile through the crowd, Mallory kept hold of Piper’s hand and stuck with them.

They ran into her friend Nikki, with her husband Sam, and their cute little baby girl, Ella. As they walked away, she explained Nikki was Eric’s wife’s sister, she and Sam were newlyweds, and the baby was Sam’s niece. He was caring for her until they could locate his sister.

“And they just got married a month ago?” he verified on the way to the next kids’ game. “That’s a tough situation to begin a marriage with.”

“Actually, they’re doing pretty good.”

“What happens when the mother comes back?”

“Nikki said they’ve talked about it, and they know it’ll be hard to deal with, but both agree they’ll do what’s best for Ella. Whatever that is.”

At the kids’ putting green, he stooped down to help Colin with his aim. After a couple misses and readjustments from his uncle, the four-year-old managed to get one in the hole.

Levi held out his hand for a high-five and then stood back while his nephew took a second turn.

Mallory leaned in and bumped her shoulder against his. “You’re really good with them.”

“They’re great kids. I’d do what Sam’s doing if I ever needed to.”

After a slight pause, she asked, “Do you want children of your own?”

The question jolted hard, and his stomach flipped over more than a few times. Was there a right or wrong way to answer this question?

Yes, anything other than the truth is wrong.

“I definitely want kids someday.” He watched Piper take a turn before angling his head slightly toward Mallory. “You?”

She nodded without a word.

“Did you see me, Uncle Levi?” Piper called. “I got the ball in!”

“Good job, sweetie.”

He couldn’t continue the conversation without it being awkward and obvious, so they moved on to the barn with the petting zoo, where Anna found them shortly after three p.m. “Sorry I’m late—they’re still swamped over there.”

“Do they need more help?” Mallory asked with concern.

“Not anymore. The firefighters are down to one kettle of booyah, so a couple of them jumped over to the booth.”

“Still, we’ve got three more hours to go, so I should probably get my clipboard and make another round to check on everyone.”

She gave Levi a pointed look, and he replied with an exaggerated sigh of resignation. “Fine. You did keep your end of the bargain. Piper, I’m going to need your help.”

Over by the barn door overhang, he hoisted the six-year-old up onto his shoulders and a moment later she gave a triumphant squeal. “I got it!”

Mallory took the board as the girl handed it down. “Thanks, Piper.” She turned to Anna who held Colin in her arms, his head snuggled on her shoulder. “Are you planning to be here a while yet?”

“I don’t think so, you guys wore them out.”

Still on Levi’s shoulders, Piper protested, “I’m not tired, Mommy.”

“Of course you’re not.” In an aside to the adults, she said, “She’ll be sleeping before we get out of the parking lot.”

“You’re welcome,” Levi said, lifting his niece over his head to lower her to the ground.

Mallory chuckled. “Well, I’m going to say goodbye now so I can get back to work. I know they’re your in-laws and everything, but thanks for all your help at the food booth.”

“No problem. And have Levi give you my number. I’d love to volunteer for future events whenever I’m available.”

Great
. Considering he still suspected his sister’s last little chat with Mallory is what triggered her withdrawal, the last thing he wanted was the two of them talking on the phone.