Chapter Eight: Levi

I’m not interested in dating, Levi. Not now, perhaps not ever.

Rosie’s words echoed around inside his head as he worked on Camille’s kitchen. She could not have made it clearer.

Rosie didn’t want to date anyone. So how was he supposed to convince her that they were mates and were made for each other in the short time she was in Bear Creek?

“Is this the screwdriver you need?” Elliott’s excited voice kicked him out of his reverie.

You mean you’re moping,his bear said.

I’m allowed to mope,Levi answered.

No, we have to pull ourselves together and formulate a plan,his bear replied firmly.

I know,Levi answered. But just indulge me for a while.

You’ve been moping for an hour,his bear said. I think that’s indulgent enough.

“That’s the one.” Levi accepted the offered screwdriver and grinned at Elliott. “You’re a good helper.”

“Can you teach me to use proper tools?” Elliott said. “I want to be like you when I grow up.”

“I can when you are older,” Levi replied, hoping that Elliott would still be in his life when he was grown up enough to use proper tools.

“I used to want to be like my daddy,” Elliott said.

“And you don’t anymore?” Levi asked, knowing he should not be prying into Elliott’s life.

“No, he’s a jerk,” Elliott replied.

Woah!Levi’s bear said.

“That’s what my Grandma Jo calls him.” Elliott thought for a moment. “She calls him a self-centered jerk. Not to my mom. But I heard her say it to my dad when she was speaking to him on the phone.”

“People say things they don’t always mean,” Levi said gently.

“And then she cried,” Elliott went to his toy toolbox and took out a screwdriver.

“What does your dad do?” Levi asked as he carefully unscrewed a screw that was sticking out of the wall.

“He’s a rock star,” Elliott said as he pretended to use his screwdriver.

“A rock star?” Levi nearly dropped his screwdriver.

“Yeah, he plays in a band.” Elliott looked up at Levi. “At least he used to.”

“Hey, there,” Camille entered the kitchen, casting a curious glance toward Levi. “Coffee?”

“I’d love some, thanks,” Levi said and went back to removing the screw, focusing all his attention on working it loose, even though it was determined to stay right where it was. And probably had been since the last kitchen had been installed.

“How are things going?” Camille asked as she went out into the hallway and then returned with a cup of coffee. The coffee pot and most other necessary items had been temporarily moved to the hallway while Levi worked on the kitchen.

“Fine,” Levi said, cursing inwardly as the screw head rounded off.

“Fine.” Camille nodded as she passed Levi his coffee cup.

“Elliott was just telling me his dad is a rock star,” Levi said.

“But I want to be like Levi when I grow up,” Elliott replied brightly. “I like making things.”

“Yeah, I enjoy making things, too,” Camille said.

“Like cookies?” Elliott asked hopefully.

“Oh, you are smooth,” Camille said and reached for the cookie jar. “I guess since you have been working so hard, it would not hurt to have one. As long as you promise to eat all your lunch.”

“I promise,” Elliott said and dipped his hand in the cookie jar. “Can I go and eat it in the yard? We don’t have one at home anymore.”

“Sure,” Camille said. “Go for it.”

Elliott jumped to his feet, put his screwdriver in his toolkit, and then skipped out the door, cookie in hand.

“That boy surely needs a father figure who does not let him down,” Camille said pointedly.

“Unfortunately, Rosie does not want to date, not now and maybe not ever,” Levi said, sipping his coffee slowly. The steam rose in gentle spirals, blurring his vision for a moment as he stared off into the space Elliott had just vacated.

Camille leaned against the doorframe, her arms crossed. “Doesn’t want to date or doesn’t want to get hurt again?”

Levi shrugged. “Could be both,” he said, his voice low. Behind the nonchalant shrug, something flickered in his eyes, something like hope mixed with uncertainty.

“A piece of advice, Levi.” Camille straightened up, a determined set to her chin. “Be patient. But also, don’t let Rosie walk out of your life without telling her how you feel.”

“I don’t intend to,” Levi said. “I just need to find a way to make her see how good we could be together without forcing the issue.”

“You mean now that she’s said no to dating, you have to try to date her without it appearing like a date?” Camille asked lightly.

“Yes.” Levi nodded. “I asked if I could take her to the festival and she said no. But we’re both going to be there…”

“And there could be dancing and romancing.” Camille grinned as she sashayed from side to side.

“Maybe.” Levi sipped his coffee and then placed it down on the stove before he resumed his battle with the screw.

Camille watched him for a moment longer. “It’s a fine line, Levi. But I’m sure you’ll read the signals right. After all, you have those shifter senses in your arsenal.”

Levi focused on the screw, his hands steady though his heart was not. “I do. And I’m going to need them. The last thing I want to do is push her away.”

“You’ll do just fine,” Camille assured him. “And one good thing, you have already won over Elliott.”

“He’s the best,” Levi said, as he held up the offending screw with a triumphant smile.

“And so are you,” Camille told him. “And personally, I cannot wait to welcome Rosie to the family.”

“Ah, so you have an ulterior motive for giving me all this good advice,” Levi said, feeling much more confident.

“I do,” Camille said. “But mostly, I want to see you and Rosie, and Elliott, happy.” She shrugged. “From what Rosie has told me, it’s been hard for them. And I want her to experience the same love, loyalty, and dependability that I have with Ezra.”

Levi nodded and picked up his coffee cup, his senses trained on the little boy in the backyard who was running around as carefree as a child should be at his age. “I want to be that person for them.”

“You already are that person,” Camille told him. “And you’ll find a way to make Rosie see that. And believe it. Believe in you and the mating bond.”

“Thanks, Camille.” Levi drank his coffee and then picked up his screwdriver. “I need to hear that.”

You need to believe it,his bear told him.

I do believe,Levi said.

Does that mean mope time is over?his bear asked.

I believe it does,Levi answered. All we have to do is figure out our next move before the festival.

Levi stiffened. Rosie was close, heading their way. Her meeting must be over.

It seems like we need to figure out our next move now,his bear said, happy at the thought of seeing their mate again so soon.

“Are you okay?” Camille asked.

“Yeah.” His gaze swept past her and he stared into the distance as he locked onto his mate’s presence.

“Is Rosie back?” Camille asked.

“She is,” Levi confirmed.

“Then maybe I should join Elliott in the backyard.” Camille gave him a wink and then headed out through the back door before he could stop her.

Why would you stop her?his bear asked. She’s right, we need time alone with our mate.

Levi picked up his hammer, and then placed it back in his toolbox and grabbed the measuring tape, wanting to look busy.

But when she knocked on the door, and he answered, all he looked was awkward. He didn’t know where to fix his gaze. He could not meet her eyes.

“Hi,” she said, lingering outside as he held the door open for her.

“Hi.” He stood there, shuffling nervously. Then he sucked in a breath and calmed his nerves. What was wrong with him? He’d never been afraid of anything in his life before, so why was he afraid now?

Because nothing had meant more to him before. This was life or death.

“I hope Elliott hasn’t been getting in the way,” she said, clutching the strap of her purse so tightly the whites of her knuckles showed.

“No.” Levi managed to crack a smile. “He’s been very helpful.” He let go of the door and walked backward toward the kitchen. “Come on in. Coffee?”

“I’d love one.” Her shoulders relaxed a little as she stepped inside and shut the door behind her.

Levi set about pouring the coffee, his movements precise and purposeful, a stark contrast to the restlessness that gripped him.

Talk to her,his bear encouraged.

“How did your meeting go?” Levi asked as he handed her the cup of coffee and stood in the kitchen doorway, while she lingered by the front door.

“Oh, it was good. Really good,” Rosie said, looking a little more relaxed. “Bear Creek Honey Mead. Have you ever tried it?”

“Yes.” Levi grinned. “It’s wonderful and Breeze grows all the ingredients, including the berries she adds to…” His grin widened. “But then you knew that since you just had a meeting with her.”

“I did,” Rosie said. “And tried a couple of samples. It’s good. Really good. It’s just what I am looking for.”

“Does that mean your trip is a success?” Levi asked.

“Business-wise, I could do with signing up four or five producers for my company to stock and promote in their small town, big taste promotion. As for personally, I’ve enjoyed spending time with Elliott. We haven’t ever really had a vacation. Which sounds bad, I know…”

“I might be biased, but Bear Creek as your first vacation destination is a fantastic choice,” Levi said.

“You are not wrong.” She nodded. “Although, I might have a different opinion if you hadn’t gotten Elliott his game charger.” She looked past Levi, into the kitchen. “Where is he?”

“Oh, he and Camille are in the backyard,” Levi explained, with a casual flick of his head toward the back door.

Rosie’s expression faltered. “He misses our old house. It had a big backyard, and he used to have his friends over to play after school.”

Levi’s gaze softened, empathy threading through his next words. “Change can be tough on kids.”

No wonder Rosie wants to put her personal life on hold. She must have lost a lot in the divorce, his bear said.

No wonder Grandma Jo calls Elliott’s father a jerk. If he caused all this heartache.Levi tensed his jaw. He wished he could wave a magic wand and make it all better for them.

But life does not work that way,his bear said. We have to build a new life for them here.

Or help Rosie make a new life here, Levi said. I get the feeling she wants to earn that life for herself.

So that no one could take it away from her again,his bear agreed.

“He seems to have adapted well,” Levi said.

“Yeah. He’s coped better than I have,” Rosie said. “In many ways he’s just moved on and adapted, while I have this…” She put her hand on her heart. “I have this anger I carry around with me that I just can’t seem to shake.”

“It’s understandable,” Levi said gently. “You’ve been through a lot. Healing takes time, and that’s okay.”

Rosie took a deep breath, as if absorbing his words into her soul, then slowly released it. “Thanks, Levi. I guess I needed to hear that. It’s just when I see him so happy, it makes me wonder why I can’t just let go.” She shook her head, a wistful smile tugging at her lips.

Levi took a step closer, offering a comforting presence. “You will, in your own time.”

“Never say never,” she said, meeting his gaze.

“Never say never,” he murmured.

And hoped that included dating.