Finding Her Strength (Sonoma #3)

6. Levi

6

LEVI

M y breakfast sizzles in the pan in ways I’m not sure are normal. I’m doing my best not to burn the bacon and eggs that are cooking at the same time. Quinn makes this look so easy when she has, like, four pans going all at once. I figured I could handle two, but this is starting to get out of hand.

My bacon pops, and the grease lands on the burner, turning the stove into a large ball of fire.

A high-pitched scream pops out of my mouth in surprise.

I throw the pan off the burner, then turn off the stove, breathing hard from the fear of burning the entire apartment complex down. With smoke blanketing the air and my detectors blaring, I open my front door along with some windows to help air the place out.

I turn back to the kitchen to salvage my eggs, but as soon as I give them a stir, I know they’re a lost cause, as well. Black coats the bottom of both the pan and the eggs. All I can do is take them off the burner.

A knock on my open door has me turning around to find Cooper and Quinn standing in my small entryway. They both are grinning until Quinn’s eyes go wide, and she slaps a hand across her eyes.

“Dude, why is your door open when you’re dressed like that?” Cooper groans.

“Like what?” I look down at myself to find I’m only in my boxers. “Oh, sorry, guys.” I laugh. “I was trying to air out the smoke. I’ll go throw on some pants.”

My brother guides his wife further into my apartment since she still has her eyes covered, and I walk back to my room to put on some clothes. Once I’m decent, I find Cooper and Quinn standing in my kitchen, taking in the chaos.

“Sorry about the mess. I tried to make breakfast, and it didn’t go well.”

“I could tell by the black remnants of food in your pans,” Quinn says, her nose turned up in disgust.

“Not all of us can be five-star chefs like you!”

“Well then, I’ll just take these scones back home,” Quinn taunts.

I rush into the small kitchen to pluck them out of her hands. “You’ll do no such thing!” Opening the box, the smell of blueberries and sugar hits my nose, making me groan. My stomach gurgles as I grab one, shoving it into my mouth.

God, that’s good. “So, what’s up? Why are you here so early?” My mouth is still full, so it comes out a little garbled.

Cooper rolls his eyes at me while Quinn ignores my behavior, answering the question instead. “We need your help moving a new renter into the house. She doesn’t have much, so it shouldn’t take long, but there are a couple of bigger pieces we’ll need your help with.”

“Sure, just let me know when you need me there.”

“Thank you! She’s moving in tomorrow. We haven’t nailed down a time yet.”

“Sounds good. I’m technically off work tomorrow, but I was thinking about going to the Silvey house to work on some stuff.” I’ve got a bit of catching up to do now that the electrical wires got sorted.

“I will never understand your need to be constantly working.” Cooper shakes his head at me.

I shrug my shoulders, knowing there’s no explanation to fully satisfy him. I don’t understand it myself sometimes. It’s the way I’ve always been. I’m lucky my job is one of my passions. Otherwise, I’d probably be a miserable bastard.

“Thanks for helping out, Levi.” Quinn smiles at me, changing the topic. We all know it’s a horse long dead, but for some reason, Cooper just can’t let it go.

“Text me with details about tomorrow.”

Quinn nods, and they leave my apartment with a quick goodbye. The sound of the door closing has me turning back toward the kitchen. A deep sigh falls from my chest as I take in the mess. My kitchen is an absolute disaster that I have no desire to clean. At all. But, if I don’t do it now, it’s going to start smelling, which is worse than cleaning dishes.

I set to work, the blueberry scones sitting on the counter as a reward for when I’m done. The monotony of the chore causes my mind to wander. It’s why I like my job so much. It forces me to use every ounce of concentration to make sure the job is done correctly.

Cooper has never understood my need to be busy. When we were younger, I got him in trouble regularly because of my schemes. He was always such a rule follower, too. If we did something a little rebellious, he’d tell Mom and Dad quickly after. Usually, he’d be the one to get in trouble, which was fantastic for me. Then he smartened up and stopped going along with whatever plan I came up with.

When I have something to focus on, my mind doesn’t have the room to wander. Which has always been my ultimate goal. I hate when my thoughts begin spinning out of control. They go in so many different directions—usually all negative—it’s hard to rein them back in once they start going.

What if something else happens at the Silvey house, and I end up losing the job? What if I get hurt? How would I survive an injury where I couldn’t work for months on end? What if I get permanently injured and can’t ever work construction again?

On and on the thoughts turn as I finish cleaning the kitchen. My ringing cellphone pulls me from my thoughts—thankfully. Sara’s name is on the caller ID, which makes me grin. I haven’t talked to her in a few days since I’ve been trying to get back on schedule at work.

“Hey, you.”

“Hello, Levi,” she returns with a little bite to her words.

“What’s going on?”

“Did you happen to forget something very important?”

My brain starts scrambling over the last couple of days as I try to figure it out. All of a sudden, it hits me like a sledgehammer.

“Oh, my god. Sara, I’m so sorry. Your birthday was yesterday.”

“Yes, it was.”

“I’m the worst best friend in the world! How could I have forgotten?” I feel terrible. I was so caught up in making sure I was back on schedule, I lost track of time completely. Usually, I take her out to dinner at La Mensa—the best Italian place in town—and we gorge ourselves on breadsticks and pasta.

“You’re not the worst, but you are on my shit list right now.”

“How can I make it up to you? Dinner, obviously. Possibly a crate of wine to last you for years? Treats for your menagerie?” Sara has a very large zoo of pets she’s rescued at her house. They’re her babies. Getting something for them would be like getting her an expensive gift .

“You can take me to dinner tonight, then to the pet store for a shopping spree,” she counters, and I laugh at her choice of birthday gifts.

“I’ll pick you up at seven, then.”

“Be prepared to pay out the nose, Levi Jackson. You’re going to have to go big.”

“You got it.”

The overwhelming display of flowers has me swallowing hard. There are so many choices in this garden of greenery, I have no idea where to start. What kind of arrangement do you get your best friend for forgetting her birthday?

I roam around Blooming Beautiful, trying to find something Sara would like and potentially help ease her ire towards me. I finger the leaves of a leafy green plant. Another thing to take care of probably isn’t the best choice since she already has enough to deal with every day.

“Sorry about your wait. I was fighting with a bird of paradise.” A soft, melodic voice comes from the back of the room. When I turn, it’s as if someone slapped me in the chest, forcing all the air out of my lungs.

The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen stands behind the long counter. Her black, kinky-curled hair is pushed back with a red bandana, and her olive skin glows under the early evening sunlight shining through the windows. Her large almond-shaped eyes are dark but carry a warmth in them so inviting I could get lost if I stared too long.

“Sorry, did you say you were fighting with a bird? Do you need help?”

A gentle laugh brightens her face as she shakes her head. “No, a bird of paradise is a big, green plant.”

“Oh, sure. That makes way more sense.” Jesus. I mentally roll my eyes. A bird? Could I sound any more like an idiot ?

“Can I help you find something?”

“Actually, I need help picking out a flower arrangement.” I walk up to the counter, and the closer I get, the faster my heart beats. Am I nervous? This never happens. Talking to women comes naturally to me. Why would this one make me react so differently?

“Girlfriend, mom, or wife?”

I’m startled by her question. “Uh… none of the above?” I clear my throat. “She’s my best friend, and I sort of forgot her birthday.”

She looks at me with a raised eyebrow.

“I know, I know. I’m the worst. Can you please help me get something that says I’m really sorry?”

“I’m not sure I have the skills, but I can try. What’s her favorite flower?”

I grimace.

“Right.” She shakes her head. “Favorite color?”

“Yellow, maybe?”

“You’re killing it tonight.” Her grin is teasing.

“God, I know. I suck so bad today. Can you still help me?” I even throw in a pout for good measure.

She stares at me for a few seconds, then nods her head. “Give me a few minutes.” She turns to the coolers behind her, pilfering through the many flowers. My eyes stray down her body, taking in the white T-shirt and tight, black jeans showcasing her curves. Damn, she’s sexy.

She suddenly turns back around, holding several flowers I’d never be able to name. They’re a multitude of colors that seem like they’d never go together.

Ten minutes go by when she holds up a paper-wrapped arrangement. “Holy shit.” The words fly out of my mouth before I can stop them. There are oranges and yellows and reds all arranged in an artful spray of color. It’s beautiful and exactly what Sara would love. “It’s perfect.”

She smiles at me, making my chest ache. “And you’re gorgeous.” Yet again, my mouth is speaking before I can think. “Uh… sorry. I mean... you are pretty. I probably shouldn’t have said it out loud, though. I’m going to stop talking now.” Shut up. I snap my mouth closed.

The smile drops from her face as quickly as it came, and I feel the loss as if it were personal. She clears her throat, then steps to the cash register. “That’ll be fifty dollars and thirty-five cents.”

Okay, obviously blurting out compliments is not the right tactic. This woman isn’t anything like the women I normally spend time with. She’s sophisticated and aloof to my normal charms. Although, charming is a far cry from how I’ve acted today. Idiotic is a bit more like it.

I shake my head to focus back on the reason I’m here. Pulling my wallet out from my pocket, I hand over my card. I suddenly realize I don’t even know her name. The desire to learn it almost overwhelms me.

“I didn’t catch your name.” She slides my card through the machine and looks up at me. Her piercing gaze slices through any resolve I have to ask her out.

“I didn’t give it to you,” she says, which throws me off for a minute. This is a new one for me. Most of the time, it takes all of a perfectly timed smile or a solid compliment to get me a number. I’ve never had a woman push me away quite like she is right now. Her body language is almost stiff like she’s angry or something. Maybe I offended her with my comment. I meant what I said, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it was welcome.

I nod my head. “I’m sorry if I offended you a minute ago. My mouth got ahead of me. I probably shouldn’t have said what I did, even though I meant it. Thanks for the flowers and your help.”

A little of the tension drains from her shoulders while a small smile curls her lips. “If that arrangement doesn’t get you out of trouble, I’m not sure what will. ”

I smile at her, happy she’s no longer mad at me, then nod my head. “Thanks again.” Turning, I move to walk out of the store before I say anything else to keep shoving my foot in my mouth. At the last minute, I glance over my shoulder to get one more look at her. She’s still standing there behind the counter, an almost ethereal look to her as the sun shines around her.

A look of confusion crosses her face as I walk out of her store. I know this won’t be the last time I see her. I’ll make sure of it.