Chapter Sixteen: Levi

“Rosie will be back soon.” Camille came into the kitchen, where Levi had been trying to work all morning, but he kept getting distracted by thoughts of his mate.

Understandable,his bear said.

Yeah, very understandable,Levi answered. It was not every day that a shifter revealed his true self to his mate and then claimed her all within the space of an hour.

“She will.” Levi looked up from where he was fitting in the first of Camille’s new kitchen cabinets, all handmade by him at the small workshop he’d built next to his cabin.

A cabin he was now worried might never tempt Rosie away from her big city life.

“So, I bet she hasn’t had lunch.” Camille gave him a knowing smile.

“What are you up to?” Levi straightened up and arched an eyebrow at her.

“Me?” Camille placed her hand over her heart.

Levi narrowed his eyes. “I’m thinking my mom is involved in whatever you have planned.”

“You know us too well.” Camille backed out of the kitchen and returned carrying a picnic basket. “Elliott and I went on a detour from our errands in town. We wound up at the ranch and while Elliott was helping Ezra with the horses, Mary and I made you a delicious picnic.”

“I thought the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, not a woman’s,” Levi said lightly, grateful for the effort they had put in.

“Well, maybe it’s a way to both their hearts. Or your hearts.” Camille smothered a smile. “If you don’t want…”

“No, the basket can stay.” He reached out and touched the handle lightly. “Is there more to this plan of yours?”

“Well, since Elliott is having a great time at the ranch, we thought you and Rosie could use the alone time to… You know, get to know each other better.” She chuckled at his expression. “Or did that already happen? You did seem mighty cheerful this morning. Mary said that you ran off last night as if you had fire under your boots. Or your paws.”

Levi flushed, the tips of his ears turning pink. “Mom really needs to work on her discretion,” he muttered. “But yes, Rosie and I did have a...a moment last night.” He glanced at Camille, who was looking at him with a knowing gleam in her eyes.

“Well, now you have to close the deal,” Camille told him. “When she gets back, why don’t you invite her over to your place? I’m sure when she sees it, she’ll see it’s the perfect place to raise Elliott, and all the other little Levis that are going to come along.”

“You have this all figured out,” Levi said, wishing things could be that easy. But he still wasn’t sure he’d convinced Rosie that living in Bear Creek was right for her.

You didn’t actually discuss it,his bear said. You were too busy kissing.

Levi ducked his head and smiled at the thought of all the kissing he and Rosie had done last night. And other things.

“Listen. I have those errands to run. The picnic is yours to do with as you please, and where you please.” Camille backed toward the door. “And if Rosie wants to check in on Elliott, you can give her Ezra’s phone number. Okay?”

“Okay.” He nodded and then added, “Pregnancy suits you.”

“It would suit me even better if you and Rosie got together and had a child, too,” Camille called as she left the house.

That would be amazing,his bear said.

It sure would,Levi agreed and turned back to fixing the cabinet in place, while he waited for his mate to get back from her meeting.

The minutes seemed to crawl by as Levi pushed out his senses, trying to locate Rosie, while also making sure the cabinet was level and then fixing it securely in place.

One down,Levi said as he stood back and admired his handiwork. It looked good, even if he did say so himself.

Then he tensed. He could sense Rosie approaching the house. His heart rate quickened, and he wiped his hands on his jeans, trying to steady himself. As she parked her car on the drive, a sudden nervousness took hold of him. What if she’d had time to think over their relationship and decided she didn’t want to be with a shifter?

She loves us,his bear said confidently.

She does,Levi agreed, pushing down his doubts.

He listened as she got out of the car and walked to the front door, where he met her with a smile. “How was your morning?”

“It’s getting better and better,” Rosie said, her eyes dark pools of emotion as she reached out to touch his arm. “I missed you.”

Levi felt a warmth spread through him at her words. “I missed you, too,” he replied, pulling her close for a kiss. A kiss he’d been longing for all morning.

He slipped his arm around her waist, savoring the softness of her body against his. “I was just finishing up,” he said, gesturing toward the newly installed cabinet, “but I’m all yours now.”

Rosie glanced at the cabinet and then back at him. “It looks good,” she said, then she pulled away. “Where’s Elliott?” She brushed her hand over her lips, looking a little guilty. “Is he back from the ranch yet?”

“No. He’s up at the ranch still, helping Ezra,” Levi said. “My mom and Camille have prepared us a picnic. They thought we could use some alone time.”

“Did they?” she asked with a smile.

“They did.” He went back to the kitchen and grabbed the picnic basket. “We could go and eat at my place.”

“Your place,” she echoed as she sidled up to him and placed her hand on his chest, her touch sending a shiver of delight through him. “I like the sound of that.”

Levi smiled, leaning down to brush another kiss across her lips. “It’s not much, but it’s home. And it’s got a great view.”

Rosie sighed. “Lead the way, then.”

They walked hand in hand to his truck, with Levi swinging the picnic basket in the other. He opened the passenger door for her with a small, shy smile, and she climbed in, smoothing her sundress as she settled into the worn leather seat, his mouth watering at the faint aroma of the food in the picnic basket.

Levi rounded the truck, slid into the driver’s seat, and flashed her a smile before starting the engine. It roared to life with a comforting rumble and he shifted the truck into gear and began the drive toward his cabin nestled in the mountains above Bear Creek.

As they drove, Levi stole glances at Rosie. Her hair danced in the wind from the open window, and he longed to curl the tendrils around his fingers and kiss her lips.

But he forced himself to keep his focus on the road until the cabin came into view. It was a small yet sturdy structure built from logs, nestled in a clearing. Levi pulled the truck to a stop and turned off the engine, the sudden quiet filled with birdsong and the distant murmur of the creek.

“Welcome to my humble abode,” Levi said, turning to meet Rosie’s gaze.

“It’s beautiful,” she whispered, awe in her voice.

“Why don’t we enjoy our picnic outside?” Levi grabbed a blanket from the back of the cab.

“Perfect.” She opened the door and slid out of the truck, and Levi grabbed the picnic basket and joined her, offering her his hand.

Skin against skin, a tingle traveled up his spine and through his body. She made him feel alive. More alive than he’d ever felt. It was as if meeting her had awoken a part of him that had been dormant his whole life.

“This is beautiful,” she said as he led her around the side of the cabin to a small patch of grass he’d transformed with wildflowers. It was hemmed by tall trees that had stood there for centuries. “It’s like the trees are watching over the cabin.”

Just like we will watch over our mate from now until eternity,his bear said.

“As soon as I saw the place, I knew I wanted to live here.” Levi let go of her hand and spread the blanket over the soft grass, smoothing out the edges.

Rosie kneeled beside him and opened the picnic basket, revealing an assortment of homemade goodies—sandwiches wrapped in cloth napkins, a fresh apple pie, and a pot of cream, plus a chilled bottle of wine and two glasses. “Wow, this is some picnic.”

“I guess they thought we needed a little romance in our lives,” Levi said lightly.

“Romance.” She settled down into a more comfortable position and looked up at the trees. “I thought that was all behind me.”

“But it’s not?” Levi said hopefully.

“I did make that little speech about not wanting to date again ever, didn’t I?” she asked as he unwrapped the sandwiches and offered her one.

“You did,” he agreed. “Those soul-crushing words…”

She playfully nudged him in the chest. “They were true. At the time. But then I instantly regretted saying them to you.”

“Because you knew we were meant to be together,” Levi said.

“I did,” she agreed and smiled softly, reaching for the sandwich he offered. “I felt it right from the moment we met.”

“Because it is right,” Levi murmured.

“But what happens now?” Rosie asked.

“Apart from eating this delicious picnic?” Levi asked and then instantly regretted it.

“I’m only here for a week, Levi, then I have to go back to my life,” she said.

“What if this was your life?” Levi ventured to ask.

“Is that what you are offering?” Rosie held her sandwich but didn’t take a bite.

“I’m offering you everything I am. Everything I have. And more.” He leaned across and kissed her, and she slipped her arm around his neck and kissed him back.

“Now that is romantic,” she whispered against his ear.

“I might not be able to give you a house in the suburbs with a large backyard,” he said. “But I can give you my heart, my soul, and all the kitchen cabinets you could ever wish for…”

She giggled and buried her face in his chest. “How can a girl refuse?”

“I was hoping you might say that,” Levi told her.

Rosie pulled back slightly to look into his eyes. “Levi, this is all so...sudden. I mean, we’ve only known each other for a short time. People are going to think I’m crazy.”

“Let them.” Levi’s voice was steady, his eyes unwavering as they held hers. “Sometimes the craziest decisions are the ones that make the most sense.”

Rosie looked around at the rolling hills, the tall grasses swaying gently with the breeze. “This is some backyard.”

“Is that a yes?” Levi asked.

Rosie hesitated, her gaze drifting over the serene landscape that seemed to stretch out endlessly before them. “It’s a maybe,” she whispered, a smile playing on her lips. “There is another person in this relationship.”

“Elliott.”

“Elliott.” She nodded. “I have to think what is best for him. And I also have to talk it over with his father.”

Levi’s bear gnashed his teeth together. What right does Elliott’s father have a say in this decision after the way he has behaved?

Terry is still Elliot’s dad,Levi reminded him. And we need everyone to be on board with this decision or else it will come back to bite us.

There is only one person I want to bite, his bear huffed. But he knew Levi was right.

“Take your time,” Levi told her. “I’m not going anywhere.”

She kissed him, a kiss filled with need and longing. Then she broke away and bit into her sandwich. “Perfect.” She sighed as she rested against him.

And Levi could not agree more.