Chapter One

The incessant chime above the door startled Kinley Wilson from her trance behind the pharmacy counter. Another customer, she sighed heavily, feeling the weight of exhaustion and sleep deprivation weighing her down. Would this day ever end? Her eyes shifted toward the door.

And there he was; Levi Thomas, making her heart skip a beat with just his presence. She quickly looked away, pretending to sort through some prescriptions on the counter, but couldn’t resist stealing glances at him. He glanced in her direction before completely ignoring her, causing a flutter of disappointment in her chest.

“Hey, Levi,” Addison Haines, her boss, greeted him.

Kinley couldn’t help but sneak a peek at him from under lowered lashes. His dark hair brushed against the collar of his coat, and his light gray eyes stood out against his tanned skin. He was undeniably attractive.

Their eyes met for a brief moment before he turned back to Addison. “Hi, Addison. Do you have a prescription ready for Jude?”

“I’ll check. Is he still sick?” Addison asked, typing away on the computer.

“Yeah, he’s got some bug and we don’t want to catch it,” Levi replied.

“I have the prescription. I’m working on it now,” Kinley spoke up, making Levi look at her .

“Okay. I’ll just wander around while I wait,” he said with a smile.

“It won’t take long,” she blushed faintly.

Their gazes lingered for another moment before they both looked away. Kinley bit her lip to contain her smile. This man had been making her heart race since she first saw him.

She couldn’t help but notice how women’s heads turned as he strolled through the store, their eyes devouring his handsome features. And who could blame them? Handsome didn’t even begin to describe Levi’s appearance. She couldn’t help but wonder how old he was, maybe in his early forties. But regardless of his age, he was in great shape. His jeans hugged him in all the right places, drawing her attention to his muscular physique.

His open sheepskin coat revealed a black and white checkered flannel shirt, with a T-shirt underneath. He completed the rugged look with a black felt cowboy hat and leather gloves on his hands but didn’t bother buttoning up his coat despite the cold weather outside. It seemed like he wasn’t bothered by the chill at all. Her gaze drifted downwards, and she had to stifle a groan at the sight of his perfectly fitted jeans peeking out from under his coat. It was no wonder he wasn’t affected by the cold; he probably had enough heat radiating from that area alone. She giggled to herself, but quickly stopped when Addison gave her a questioning look.

Kinley hastily shifted her gaze back to Levi’s face, only to find him looking back at her with a raised eyebrow. Heat rushed to her cheeks as she tried to compose herself. She was usually confident when it came to showing interest in men, but Levi Thomas left her tongue-tied. Not that she would mind tangling tongues with him; he simply outshone any other man around.

He leaned against the wall with a casual air while she couldn’t help but follow his every move with her eyes. Her heart raced and her palms began to sweat each time she saw him. She longed to talk to him, but whenever she tried, the words just wouldn’t come out.

Letting out a sigh, Kinley finished filling the prescription and made her way to the cash register. “Levi? The prescription is ready,” she called out, watching as he pushed off the wall and walked toward her.

She rang up the order, carefully placing the medicine into a bag and sealing it with a staple. “Here you go,” she said with a smile.

“No charge?” Levi’s voice held a hint of surprise.

“His insurance covered it,” Kinley explained.

“Okay, thanks.”

“Sure. So, are you all set for the holidays?” Her attempts at conversation were feeble at best, but she couldn’t help herself around him.

He smirked in response. “Is anyone?”

Kinley laughed. “I guess not. I haven’t even had a chance to get a tree yet.”

“You have plenty of time. It’s not even Thanksgiving yet,” he remarked nonchalantly.

“I know, but I usually get one early. But it’s tough getting one without a truck or SUV. I just have my little car.” She shrugged.

Levi gave her a sly grin. “Maybe Nick needs to start making deliveries then. ”

“Or maybe you could let me borrow your truck,” she suggested playfully, laughing when his eyebrows shot up in surprise.

“Borrow my truck?” He shook his head in amusement.

“You men and your trucks,” she teased.

“I’m sure you can find someone else with a truck to help you out. Cody has one,” Levi pointed out.

“True, or I could use Addison’s SUV,” Kinley mused.

Levi nodded in agreement. “Yeah, that would work too. Well, have a good day.”

“You too.” She couldn’t help but sigh as she watched him walk out of the store.

“Why don’t you just ask him out?” Addison’s voice came from beside her.

Kinley rolled her eyes. “He’d say no.”

“You don’t know that for sure,” Addison countered.

“Oh please, I practically begged him to offer to take me to get a tree and he blew me off,” Kinley grumbled in frustration.

Addison raised an eyebrow, her expression a mix of amusement and disbelief. “If that was your attempt at begging him to take you to get a Christmas tree, then you definitely need some better skills.”

Kinley let out a frustrated sigh. “No shit.”

“Seriously, Kinley. You should have just asked him directly. No beating around the bush.”

“And what if he said no?”

“Just make a move. I know you like him, but if you don’t initiate things, nothing will ever happen between the two of you. And let’s be honest, he’s absolutely gorgeous. But from what I’ve observed, he’s never been in a relationship since starting at the ranch. So, it’s up to you to take the first step.”

“I don’t know…”

“Come on, Kinley. You’ve never been afraid to show interest in a man before. Why are you hesitating with Levi?”

“Because he’s… he’s just so masculine. Sorry, that sounded silly.”

“No, I get what you mean. It’s like Cody for me. He exudes masculinity and confidence.”

“Exactly. Not that other guys I’ve dated weren’t like that, but there’s something different about Levi. He oozes sex appeal, and it makes me nervous to ask him out. If he says no, I’d be embarrassed, and you invited him to Thanksgiving dinner, didn’t you?”

“Yes, but if you keep waiting for him to make a move, it might never happen,” her friend pointed out.

“But doesn’t that mean he’s not interested?” Kinley asked.

“Not necessarily. Maybe he hasn’t made a move because you rarely talk to him. That’s why you should take charge and ask him out. If he declines, then you’ll know he’s not into you and you can move on. Stop wishing and hoping; just go for it.”

Kinley took a deep breath. “Fine, next time I see him I’ll ask if he wants to go pick out a Christmas tree together. If that goes well, then I’ll ask him out on a date.” She checked her watch and saw that it was almost noon. “I’m going to grab some lunch; do you want anything? ”

“Can you get me a salad?”

“Sure thing; I’ll be back soon.”

“No rush.”

She wrapped herself in her coat and pulled on a beanie before stepping out into the chilly weather. Snow flurries danced in the dark sky, but there wasn’t expected to be any accumulation.

Strolling down the sidewalk, she couldn’t help but smile at the festive Christmas decorations adorning the lampposts. Tinsel in red and green colors crisscrossed over the street, with giant bells hanging in the center. It was a cheerful sight that instantly put her in the holiday spirit. She greeted familiar faces before reaching the diner. The bell above the door jingled as she entered.

Looking around, she spotted an empty stool at the counter and took a seat. Lanie, Deidra, and Connie were busy taking orders, so she knew there would be a wait.

“Is this seat taken?”

She looked up to see Levi standing beside her.

“Oh no, it’s all yours. Please, take a seat.” She nervously nibbled on her lip, hoping she wouldn’t make a fool of herself. She was completely infatuated with him.

“Thanks.” He pulled off his gloves and stuffed them in his pockets as he sat down next to her, and she couldn’t help but breathe in his aftershave.

“What can I get for you two?” Deidra asked.

“I’ll have my usual and a southern fried chicken salad to go, please,” Kinley replied.

“Got it. And for you, Levi? ”

“Just my usual to go, please. Thank you.”

“I’ll bring them right over.”

Levi turned toward Kinley. “Are you hungry?”

She laughed. “No, the salad is actually for Addison.”

“I had a feeling. I was just teasing you.”

Kinley remembered her conversation with Addison about asking Levi to take her to pick out a Christmas tree. She took a deep breath. Should she bring it up now?

“Actually, Levi...” She fidgeted with the napkin dispenser.

“Yeah?”

“Do you think you could possibly... would you, um...”

“For God’s sake, woman, spit it out,” he said with a grin.

“If it’s not too much trouble, would you mind taking me to get a Christmas tree?” she asked nervously.

He chuckled. “It took you long enough.”

Kinley gasped. “Long enough for what?”

“To ask me,” he replied.

“You knew?”

“I had a feeling.”

“Then why didn’t you suggest it?” she growled.

He laughed and she noticed a dimple peek in his cheek. “I wanted to see how long it would take you.”

“Ooh, men,” she muttered.

“Kinley, I have no problem taking you to get a tree.”

“I would like that, Levi.”

“It’s settled then. What about Saturday?”

“I have work until noon, but any time after that works for me.”

“I can pick you up at one.”

“That sounds great.” She smiled at him and their eyes met before his lips lifted into a smirk. “What?”

“Why are you blushing?” he asked.

“I’m not,” she argued.

He chuckled and shook his head. “Sure.”

Kinley sighed. “You make me nervous,” she admitted, mentally kicking herself for saying it out loud.

He turned on his stool to face her directly, raising his eyebrows. “Why? Do I make you uncomfortable?”

“Not in the way you think,” she huffed.

“How then?”

After taking a deep breath, she looked him in the eye. “I’m attracted to you...”

A slow smile spread across his face. “I see.”

“Do you? God, I shouldn’t have said anything.” She groaned.

“Why not?”

“Because you’re not interested and I’m making a fool of myself.”

“How about we have this conversation some other time, for now, we’ll get your tree together.”

“Okay. You just never acted like you were interested in me at all.”

“What man wouldn’t be? You’re a beautiful woman.”

“Then why didn’t you ask me out before?”

He shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t usually date. I’ll take a woman out once in a while, but it never goes beyond a few dates, if even that.”

“So why bother taking me to get my tree? Forget it, I’ll get my own damn tree.” She got off her stool, walked over to an empty booth, and slid onto the bench. She blinked back tears that threatened to fall. Why was she crying? Oh right, because you want him, and he’s only interested in a few dates. Fuck you, Levi Thomas.

“You have got to be the most stubborn woman I’ve ever met,” he said with a grin as he slid onto the bench across from her. The wooden bench creaked beneath his weight as he settled in.

“Go away,” she muttered.

“I said, I don’t usually date, I didn’t say I wouldn’t. Look, Kinley, I like you and I’d like to see you, but I can’t promise anything.”

“I’m not asking you to make promises.”

“So why get pissed when I tell you the truth?” He shook his head. “Neither of us can sit here and say what’s going to happen between us. Hell, we might not even like each other after we get to know one another, but I’m willing to take that risk Now, if you’d rather not let me take you to get your tree, I’ll get up and you’ll never hear from me again.”

Kinley studied him with a mixture of fear and desire swirling in her stomach. She couldn’t deny the attraction she felt toward him, but she was afraid of getting hurt.

“I don’t want you to break my heart,” she finally admitted.

“Do you think I want you to break mine? Just say the word and I’ll leave.”

She shook her head, unable to form any words. But then he made a move to slide out of the booth and she instinctively reached out and touched the sleeve of his coat, making him look at her.

“I meant I can’t say the word to make you leave. I’d love to see you.”

He smiled at her and for a moment, all her fears melted away.

“Levi? Your order is ready,” Deidra called out to him from behind the counter.

He nodded before turning back to Kinley. “Alright. Give me your phone.”

She removed her phone from her pocket and handed it to him, watching as he entered his number into it. He then called his own phone but hit ignore.

“Text me your address and I’ll see you Saturday at one,” he said, sliding out of the booth and grabbing his bag before heading toward the door. He glanced over his shoulder at her and winked before disappearing outside.

Kinley sat there, heart racing, fingers trembling as she typed out her address and sent it to him. Could this really be happening? A smile crept onto her face as she realized that it was. She couldn’t wait to see where this would lead them both.

****

Levi shook his head as he walked toward his truck. He knew some women could be incredibly stubborn, but Kinley Wilson took it to a whole new level.

He had always been attracted to her, but with his past, he had to be honest with her eventually. Hell, he shouldn’t even take her to get a tree. He knew if he let it go too far, he would break her heart. That was the last thing he wanted to do, but it was inevitable. He was never going to settle down.

“You’ll just have to see where this goes before you spill your guts to her,” he murmured.

He was glad he was kept busy working for Cody, it kept the memories away. All these years later and it still pissed him off. He enjoyed working at the ranch and hoped to stay for as long as he was needed. Cody Haines had been one of the best bull riders on the circuit, and when he retired, he decided to breed bucking bulls. His bulls competed every weekend of the spring, summer, and fall across the states. There were still competitions in the winter in southern states, but Cody decided it was too hard traveling through northern states at that time of the year.

Levi rotated the schedules of the ranch hands, so each of them could attend the bull riding competitions. Once Cody’s bulls were ready, the ranch hands delivered his bulls to the arenas, and the men enjoyed going. They loved being involved in a successful bull breeding business. Jude, Axel, and Carl came from Helena with Cody when he moved to Clifton.

Levi was looking forward to seeing Kinley this weekend. With a deep sigh, he climbed into his truck as his phone buzzed with a message. It was Kinley sending her address. He took a deep breath and sent her a text telling her he’d see her Saturday.

After starting the truck, he drove back to the ranch to continue working. He needed the men to move some bulls closer to the barn because wolves were spotted in the area .

As he pulled up to the barn and parked his truck, he grabbed the prescription bag, along with his lunch, and walked straight toward the bunkhouse where Jude was resting.

“Jude?” Levi called out quietly.

“Yeah,” came the scratchy response.

“I’ve got your medicine. Sit up and take it.”

“What is it?”

Levi chuckled. “Does it matter? You have to take it either way.”

Jude slowly sat up, leaning his elbows on his knees and hanging his head.

“I feel awful.” He groaned.

Levi reached into the bag and pulled out Jude’s prescription medication. After opening the bottle, he removed a pill, dropped it into Jude’s hand, then handed him a glass of water.

“Take this,” Levi instructed. “You’re supposed to take it every ten hours, but since it’s almost one, take another dose in the morning. I’ll have Randy remind you.”

“Thanks, boss,” Jude mumbled as he handed back the glass.

Levi shook his head with a smile. “I’m not touching that. Go back to sleep and rest up; it’s the best thing for you.” He then grabbed a dish towel, wrapped it around the glass and placed it in the sink for Jude to use later.

“I hate being sick.” Jude groaned.

“Don’t we all? Just rest, Jude. We’ll manage without you,” Levi said reassuringly.

“But it’s my weekend to go the competition.”

“There are no competitions this time of year,” Levi said.

A surprised look appeared on Jude’s face as he lay back down. “Seriously?”

Levi chuckled. “Yes. Man, you are sick. I’ll be in my office if you need anything.”

“Yes, sir,” Jude replied before closing his eyes.

As Levi made his way toward the barn, Cody approached him.

“How’s Jude doing?” Cody asked.

“Sicker than a dog. He can barely move.”

“Did you get his prescription?”

“I gave him one of the pills already.”

“Did you happen to see my gorgeous wife?” Cody grinned.

Levi shook his head and frowned. “I don’t recall.”

“You would remember if you did. Are the guys getting the bulls in?”

“I was just about to call them. A few of them are fixing a section of fence right now.”

“Oh, did one of the bulls take it down?”

“No, it wasn’t near where they’re usually kept. Probably an Elk, or Moose,” Levi replied.

“Alright, I have some calls to make. Talk to you later, Levi.”

“Yes, sir,” Levi replied with a slight grin.

“Don’t call me sir!” Cody called out over his shoulder as he walked toward the house.

“Yes, sir! Got it sir!” Levi yelled playfully, making Cody laugh and flip him off.

Levi entered his office in the barn and worked on organizing tasks for the ranch hands for the next few days. During the bull riding competitions, the weekends were different for the men, but Levi only went as a spectator when he wanted to, but he enjoyed having some time off at home .

He was seeing Kinley Saturday. He hadn’t been in a relationship for years, and the last one had been Tara. They fell in love, but she wanted different things. As much as each of them hated it, they broke up. That was four years ago, though they stayed friends and kept in touch. She had sent him an email two years ago to tell him she was getting married. He was happy for her, he wrote back, and he was.

Before Tara was Juliette and it was the same thing. She wanted marriage, kids, the white picket fence, and all that went with it. He didn’t want to have kids. It tore that relationship apart too. He just couldn’t bring himself to have kids. Not after what he’d seen and been through. He knew he’d eventually have to tell Kinley.

“Hell, you haven’t even gone on a date yet,” he muttered.

****

Kinley smiled as she filled yet another prescription. And just this morning, she was dragging from getting no sleep, just thinking about seeing Levi.

“You have not stopped smiling since you came back from lunch, two days ago,” Addison said, grinning.

“I know,” she said, laughing.

“I told you to make the first move.”

Kinley faced her, placed her palms together and bowed. “Yes, oh wise one.”

“Shut up. I’ll fire you,” Addison said.

“Pffft , yeah right.” Kinley laughed.

“Okay, so I won’t, but I can threaten to,” Addison said with a laugh.

Kinley shook her head. “I cannot believe how happy I am about going.”

“To get a tree?”

“Yes! At least I’ll spend some time with him. Do you have any idea how long I’ve wanted to go out with him?”

“Uh, hello! I believe I do. The first time you saw him was at mine and Cody’s engagement party, but you didn’t meet him, then at Thanksgiving when he showed up, I thought you needed mouth to mouth.”

“Yes, preferably, his.” Kinley laughed. “God! He smells so good.”

Addison laughed. Kinley knew her best friend would support her no matter what. If she was heading for a heartache, she’d get through it with the help of Addison. Same as she’d do for her.

It was Saturday, and Levi was picking her up today to go pick out a Christmas tree. Kinley couldn’t wait to spend the day with him. However, her excitement faltered when she thought about what could possibly go wrong.

“What if today is terrible?” she asked, looking nervously at her friend Addison.

“Then you’ll know it’s not meant to be,” Addison replied nonchalantly.

Kinley shook her head. “Please don’t say that. I’ve been looking forward to this for days.”

“You’re right, I shouldn’t have said that,” Addison sighed. “But if things don’t work out between you two, then it’s just the way it is. Just because you find him so attractive doesn’t mean it will work out between you. There are good-looking men who are jerks. ”

“I know, but you were lucky with Cody.”

“Yeah, I was. And if it doesn’t work out for you with Levi, just move on. Don’t waste your time.”

Kinley nodded in agreement. “You’re right. It will be disappointing, but if it’s not meant to be...”

At noon, they locked up the store and stepped outside into the crisp winter air.

“At least it’s a nice day; cold but sunny,” Addison remarked as they parted ways.

Kinley smiled and waved goodbye before climbing into her car and making the short drive home. She lived in a cozy townhouse in a quiet neighborhood. Her previous neighbor, Abbie Wells, had moved after getting married, so Abbie had rented out her unit to Celine Nelson, who owned the local coffee shop. Kinley and Celine became friends since their first meeting. Kinley had bought her home three years ago after her divorce.

“What a mistake that marriage was,” she muttered as she parked in the driveway of her house.

After grabbing the cat food from the backseat, she unlocked the door and entered the warm comfort of her home. She called out for her cat and entered the kitchen, where she filled the dishes with food and water. As soon as she opened the can, Tootsie appeared and began purring at her feet.

“You’re only nice to me when I have food, huh?” Kinley joked as she knelt to pet her. She smiled when the cat wrapped around her legs then stuck her head in the dish of food.

Kinley then rushed upstairs to change out of her work clothes and into something more casual. She and Addison both wore scrubs at the pharmacy because they were more comfortable than wearing jeans. Levi would be here in less than an hour, and she wanted to look nice for their outing. She settled on a pair of jeans and a cozy blue sweater from her closet, then pulled on her snow boots.

Kinley slipped into the bathroom to touch up her makeup. As she gazed at her reflection in the mirror, the sparkle in her eyes betrayed her excitement to see Levi.

“Don’t get your heart broken,” she warned herself.

After dressing, she headed down to the living room, settling onto the sofa to wait. At one o’clock, she heard a vehicle pull up outside and held her breath. A truck door slammed, followed by a ring of the doorbell. Oh boy, stay calm. Breathe.

With a deep breath, Kinley opened the door and couldn’t help but smile when she saw Levi standing there. He grinned back at her, making her heart skip a beat.

“Come in, Levi.”

He removed his hat, wiped his feet on the welcome mat, and stepped inside.

“Thanks. This is a nice neighborhood.”

“I like it. Sometimes.”

“Oh? Just sometimes?”

“Yeah, Mrs. Smith who lives two units to the left of me keeps a close eye on everything.”

“I see. That’s why I prefer not living in neighborhoods.”

“Well, I do like some of the neighbors though. Abbie Wells, well, McBride now, used to live across the street from me, but after she married Creed, she rented her home to Celine Nelson.”

“Celine from the coffee shop?”

“Yes, we’re good friends. Are you ready?”

“Yes ma’am, if you are.” He paused and looked toward the floor, then at her. “You have a cat,” he said.

“Yes, this is Tootsie.” She smiled.

Levi chuckled. “Tootsie?” He shook his head. “How did you come up with that?”

Kinley looked at the cat. “Tootsie rolls. The miniatures are my favorite candy.”

“Okay. Let’s go before I change my mind and stay inside where it’s warm.”

Kinley nodded and reached for her coat on the peg, but Levi took it from her and held it out for her to slip into.

“Thank you,” she said with a smile.

“My pleasure,” he responded with a nod as he opened the door for her to step out first.

She locked the door behind them and walked toward his truck while he stopped beside her car and grinned.

“I can see why you couldn’t get a tree with your car.”

“I may love my Mini Cooper, but it’s not exactly meant for hauling trees.” She reached for the handle of Levi’s truck, but he beat her to it and opened it for her with a smile. She slid onto the seat and inhaled deeply, taking in his scent. He always smelled so good.

“It would look like the Griswold’s station wagon in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation ,” he said with a grin .

Kinley laughed. “So true!”

“Well, I’m happy to help. Let’s get you a tree.” He backed out of the driveway and headed for the Christmas tree farm.