Fourteen
They moved their family date, as Ollie called it, to Sunday, as it seemed easier for everyone. Other than Levi’s dad, who said he couldn’t join them. Jilly hated seeing Levi look so defeated over his father’s reactions to his being home, to them starting something, and toward Levi’s dreams in general.
“I’m going to be a chef, a wilderness survival guide, and a game show host,” Ollie said as Levi cleared the counter for them to get to work.
Jill knew he didn’t need their help but it was nice that he followed through on his word to Ollie, telling her she was his sous-chef.
The sun shone through the wide kitchen windows. It was a perfect, breezy May Sunday. Ollie, Levi, and Jill had headed over to the lodge early today to get things set up and give Levi time to cook.
“That’s a lot of jobs,” Jill said, meeting Levi’s amused gaze.
“I like to be busy,” Ollie said, washing her hands at the kitchen sink.
Levi laughed as he set out items he’d need. She and Gray had offered to pay for the food since he was feeding them, but he insisted that he wanted to host even if it wasn’t his kitchen.
“That you do.” She passed Ollie a tea towel, noting that their supply was low.
She pulled out her phone to add it to the list of things she needed to pick up. Her gaze wandered to Levi double-checking his ingredients. She liked watching him like this. Usually, he had a carefree aura about him, an easy laugh, a quick smile. But in the kitchen, when he was getting ready to cook, he was focused. Serious. Kind of like when he looked at her when they were alone.
Levi passed a small cloth bag to Ollie. “I got you something.”
“You did?” Ollie took the bag, her grin so wide it was easy to see the spot where two of her teeth were missing.
“Sure. Every chef needs one of these,” Levi said, folding his arms across his chest.
Jill couldn’t deny that her attraction to him increased with the way he watched her little girl open the gift.
She unwrapped a white chef’s jacket. “This is so cool! Gordon Ramsay wears one of these. Do you have one?”
Levi nodded, grabbed his from one of the bins on the other counter, and put it on while Jilly helped Ollie.
“What do you say?” Jilly asked, meeting Ollie’s excited gaze.
“Thanks, Levi. This is the coolest.”
He held out a fist to her, which Ollie quickly bumped. “No problem. Now, we match.”
Jilly stared at him a moment. There was nothing but genuine interest when he spoke to Ollie. He didn’t look at Jill and gauge her response or see if she was impressed.
“Sorry I didn’t get you one,” he said, then one side of his mouth curved up in a sexy smirk. “I haven’t forgiven you for the lazy lasagna yet.”
Jilly laughed. He couldn’t know that this was better than a gift. So much better.
“Okay,” Levi said. He clapped his hands together. “Let’s get started. Have you ever made biscuits?” He didn’t speak to Ollie like she was a little kid, something grown-ups tended to do.
She could see Ollie noticed it as well. “Mom and I make the Pillsbury ones. Does that count?”
Jilly bit her lip, fighting her smile when Levi’s gaze met hers again and he groaned.
“It doesn’t. Though I’m not too much of a food snob to admit they’re yummy.”
Ollie nodded. “They’re delicious. And I’ve made pancakes. And once, Pete let me help him make waffles.”
Levi stood straighter. “He did not,” he said, his tone full of shock.
Ollie nodded quickly. “He did. He said I was the best helper.”
“He won’t let me anywhere near his waffles,” Levi said, his tone low and awestruck for her daughter’s benefit, which had the effect of turning Jilly’s heart to mush. “You must be a pretty great helper.”
“I am. I work here at the lodge, too. If you visit this summer, I can take you for a hike.”
Levi glanced over Ollie’s head toward Jillian. She saw affection mixed with amusement. “As long as it’s easier than the one your mom took me on.”
Jilly’s phone buzzed in her hand. Unknown number again.
“If you have things to do, we can handle this,” Levi said.
“Yeah. We got this, Mom.” Ollie grinned at her.
“Why don’t you go grab the stool so it’s easier for you to reach everything,” Jill suggested.
When Ollie ran out of the room, Levi stepped closer, leaned in, and kissed her cheek.
“I like your kid,” he whispered.
Mush. “I think she likes you back,” Jilly said, putting one hand on his chest, mostly because she liked touching him but also because it steadied her.
“How about her mom?”
Jilly shook her head, looking up at him. “She likes you a little too much, I think.”
He made a low sound in his throat before sealing his mouth over hers in a quick, electric kiss. Like he heard Ollie coming, Levi stepped back and turned toward the counter, leaving Jillian somewhat dazed as her daughter set up the stepping stool.
“I’ll just…” Her words didn’t work properly. “I’m going to make some phone calls.”
“Sounds good,” Levi said.
She watched for a moment as Levi showed Ollie how to set up her ingredients to make better use of her time. As she backed away through the swinging door, she realized that Ollie had her uncles and grandfather but this felt different. Ollie got along with everyone. She had an easy way about her and a genuine interest in so many things. She wondered how she’d feel about Jillian including Levi in more of their activities, or if that was even wise at this point.
Her phone buzzed again and this time she answered it as she walked through the dining room toward the front lobby.
“Hello,” she said, thinking about the things she wanted to get done while they were here.
“Jillian.”
Andrew’s voice stopped her in her tracks. She looked around the high-ceilinged room that both welcomed the guests and offered them a place to relax, like he might materialize out of thin air.
“Why are you calling me?” Leaning against the front desk, she slowed her breathing.
“That’s not a very nice way to say hello.”
Her shoulders stiffened. “I don’t want to say hello or anything else to you. Why are you calling?”
“I’d like to see you.”
Why? Why now? After all of this time, after letting her go and letting them down, why would he reach out now?
“No.”
“I’d like to see Olivia.”
Nothing strengthened her resolve like protecting her daughter. “That’s unfortunate because the answer to that is no as well.”
“I have business in Michigan. I’d like to see you and my daughter. It would be easier if you wouldn’t fight me on this.”
That was the story of their marriage. How could she make it easier on him? But she wasn’t in love with Andrew anymore, she wasn’t blinded by the vows they’d taken. She was five years wiser and stronger than she’d been when her marriage ended.
“Funny thing,” she said, hoping her voice sounded steadier than she felt. “I’m not interested in making anything easier on you. I don’t want to see you. And neither does Ollie.”
She hung up, her hands shaky. Taking a minute, she forced herself to take a deep breath in through her nose, hold it, and let it out.
Then she did what any grown adult woman would; she texted her best friend. Then she texted Presley. They’d be here this afternoon and Jill could talk to them about Andrew. About Levi. About what the hell she was doing and how, even at thirty, she still felt like a mixed-up teenager.