Chapter Seven
MINDY
I woke to the soft glow of dawn creeping through the blinds, the warmth of Levi’s body against my back anchoring me to reality. My mind reeled for an instant—where were the twins? Then I remembered: they’d spent the night at Logan’s, leaving me and Levi blissfully alone. A dizzying rush of last night’s memories flooded in—his hands on my skin, his whispered reassurances, our breathy confessions.
A gentle arm tightened around my waist, and I felt the rumble of his voice near my ear. “Good morning,” he murmured, lips brushing the back of my shoulder.
“Morning,” I whispered, heart pounding with equal parts contentment and fear.
There it was…that nagging blend of joy and anxiety. I tried to bask in the afterglow, but my nerves sparked. This was the morning after I’d taken the biggest emotional leap of my life. I felt raw, exposed. I had two young sons to consider. So many questions swirled: What if this doesn’t last? What if I uproot my kids again only to be disappointed?
Levi must have sensed the shift in my breathing, because he pressed a gentle kiss to my bare shoulder. “You okay?”
I inhaled, turning to face him, the sheet sliding across my skin. “I…I’m good. Just…everything feels so huge right now.”
His honey-brown eyes held concern. “Talk to me.”
Emotions clashed in my chest. I tugged the covers up, nerves fluttering. “I feel closer to you than… than I’ve felt to anyone in a long time. But it’s been, what, less than two weeks since I landed on your doorstep?” I let out a shaky laugh. “I’m falling so fast, Levi, and it terrifies me.”
He stroked my cheek with the back of his hand, eyes steady. “I get it. I’m scared too. Part of me wonders if we’re moving at light speed.” He gave a wry smile. “But last night was real. There’s something here, Mindy.”
Tears threatened, but I forced them back. “We have so much at stake. The twins, your life here… I’m not used to letting someone else in, even though it’s what I’ve always wanted.”
He pulled me closer, our foreheads meeting. “You can trust me, baby. I won’t run. We’ll figure it out, okay?”
I nodded, breath hitching. I wanted to believe him. The protective warmth of his embrace made it easier. I let my head rest on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.
For a moment, we stayed like that, letting the quiet morning hold us together. Then he gently slipped away, pressing a final kiss to my hair. “I should head to Skyline soon. The morning deliveries might’ve come in.”
Sighing, I sat up. “Right. I’ll check on the twins. Logan’s mom said they could stay through the afternoon, so they’re probably not in a hurry.”
He paused by the bedroom door, turning back to me. “You’ll be okay?”
I mustered a smile. “Yes. I’ll be fine. Go.”
He nodded and left, footsteps retreating down the hallway. Once the front door clicked shut, I exhaled, letting myself acknowledge the flurry of emotions tumbling through my heart. I’m letting him in, letting him see me, letting him matter to me... Yet as scary as it all was, it also felt—right.
By midmorning, I’d showered and thrown on jeans, a sweater in my favorite shade of purple, and some semblance of makeup. The house was quiet, and I took advantage of the peace to tidy up, thoughts drifting to the possible future Levi and I could build here. Then my phone chimed.
Beth: Hey, Mindy! Great news: the board approved your contract. Could we meet this afternoon to finalize details?
My heart soared. I texted back an enthusiastic yes, then flopped onto the couch, phone clutched to my chest. The local job was official. No more wait-and-see. I’m staying in Hope Peak. The mere thought made me grin. The boys could grow up here, enjoy a small-town life, and I could keep forging deeper connections with Levi.
But just as my excitement peaked, my phone rang—an unknown number in Chicago. My brow furrowed, but I picked up.
“Hello?”
A familiar voice answered, crisp and professional: “Mindy, hi! It’s Eleanor from Norton Ad Agency. Heard you left Chicago abruptly, but we’re in a pinch for a Senior Account Director. Interested?”
My chest tightened. Norton Ad Agency had been the biggest competitor of my old firm. They were one of the top firms in the industry, employing only the best and brightest.
Eleanor continued, “We’d offer a substantial benefit package…significantly above what you had before…and a signing bonus if you can relocate back to Chicago.”
My stomach flipped. The kind of money I’d once dreamed about, the chance to climb the corporate ladder again. Could I do it? Could I move back? My gaze flicked around Levi’s cozy living room, remembering how frantic city life had drained me and how the twins had struggled. Yet the lure of stability, bigger pay, and prestige nearly hooked me.
I cleared my throat. “That’s…an incredible offer. I’m flattered. But I have to think about it. I’m kind of in the middle of a new opportunity here in Hope Peak, Montana.”
Eleanor let out a dismissive laugh. “Hope Peak? A small mountain town? Mindy, you must be joking. Your talent is too big for that. We need you in the big leagues.”
A pang of defensiveness flared. Yet I told her politely I’d consider it, promised to call by Monday with a decision. I hung up, mind spinning. This is real money, real career advancement. But it wasn’t just my dream anymore, was it?
I jumped at a soft knock on the front door. Curious, I peered through the window. Tessa. The strong resemblance to Levi was obvious, and her anxious expression mirrored my own nerves.
Gathering my courage, I opened the door. “Tessa, right?”
She mustered a shy smile. “Yeah, hi Mindy.”
I stepped aside, letting her in. “Come in. It’s cold.”
She entered, rubbing her hands together. We stood in the small entryway awkwardly. Her eyes darted around the house—Levi’s couch, the neat arrangement of boxes. “So, you’re here.”
I forced a friendly tone. “Yes, thanks to you impersonating your brother, I am.”
She winced. “That’s exactly what I’m here to apologize for. I messed up big time, Mindy. The catfishing was beyond unethical. I should’ve told you the truth earlier, but once I realized how invested you were, I panicked.”
I folded my arms, studying her face. There was genuine remorse there, tears threatening. “You hurt me,” I said quietly. “I left my job, my city, for a man I’d never met. I…” My voice cracked. “I felt so betrayed when Levi had no clue who I was.”
She nodded as her tears began to slip free, slowly dripping down her cheeks. “I’m sorry. I truly am. I swear, at first I just wanted to help Levi find someone. He’s been so lonely, even if he wouldn’t admit it. Then I started chatting with you. You were kind, intelligent, and I saw how badly you wanted a safe, stable place for your kids. I thought maybe Hope Peak could be that. And if you two connected…”
Pain lanced through me. But as I looked at Tessa, I saw the same fierce loyalty that Levi had. She’d lost her parents young, and Levi had basically raised her. This was her misguided attempt at helping him.
I exhaled a shaky breath. “You should’ve come clean sooner. But…Levi and I…” My cheeks warmed. “We…um…we’re figuring it out.”
Tessa’s face lit up. “That’s great! Levi’s been through a lot. He’s always worried about me, rarely takes time for himself. I wanted him to have someone else to care about.” She sniffled, wiping her eyes. “And you seem wonderful, Mindy. I know how you love your boys.”
My own tears welled. “I love them more than anything. And the truth is—I’m falling for your brother, and I’m pretty sure he feels the same way about me.”
Tessa let out a half-laugh, half-sob. “That makes me happier than you know. I just pray you can forgive my methods.”
It was impossible to stay angry. The swirl of events, plus my own happiness, made it easier to let go. I touched her arm gently. “You forced my hand, but you also led me to the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time. I’ll forgive you, just don’t catfish any more single moms, okay?”
She laughed through tears. “Deal.”
I smiled, the tension dissolving.
We hugged, tears and laughter mixing in a swirl of relief. She left soon after, promising to keep in touch. I closed the door, leaning against it with a shaky exhale.
Not long after Tessa left, Levi returned. I heard his key in the lock and met him in the living room. He paused, scanning my face.
“You okay?” he asked, setting down a small bag of groceries.
I nodded. “Tessa was here. She apologized.”
His eyes widened. “Really? How’d that go?”
I relayed the conversation, how she’d explained her reasons, how we ended up hugging. His shoulders relaxed visibly, relief crossing his features. “Thank God. I was worried you might never forgive her.”
I shrugged, smiling. “She meant well, even if it was a bad plan. I told her I’m grateful for the end result.”
Levi’s lips curved gently. “I’m glad.” He stepped closer, brushing hair from my face. “Speaking of results… any word from Beth?”
My pulse fluttered, remembering the morning’s text. “Yes, actually. I’ve got the official offer.”
He beamed. “That’s amazing!”
My expression sobered. “But I also got a call from a Chicago ad agency with a huge promotion offer. Triple the salary, big brand clients…” My voice wavered. “I have to decide.”
His face fell slightly, though he forced a neutral tone. “That’s a big choice.”
Tears prickled again. I swallowed. “Yeah. But…I don’t want that old life, Levi. I called them back and said no. I’m accepting the local job here in Hope Peak instead.”
Levi’s eyes lit up, a grin spreading across his face. “You are?”
I nodded, heart thrumming. “Yeah. The boys are starting to thrive, I’m happy, and…I don’t want to leave you. I want us to stay.”
Emotion flickered in his gaze. He set aside the groceries and pulled me into a warm, secure hug, breath unsteady. “You have no idea how happy that makes me. I was bracing myself for you to pack up and leave.”
I clung to him, inhaling his familiar scent. “No. We’re staying.”
A quiet beat passed. Then he drew back, eyes shining. “In that case…maybe we should talk about something more permanent.”
Heat spread through me. “Permanent?”
He cleared his throat, cheeks tinted pink. “I know it’s soon, but we’ve basically been living together. And Tessa’s fiasco aside, it’s felt right. If you’re open to it, I’d like you and the twins to stay, not just temporarily.”
My chest seized with a rush of joy. “Oh, Levi…”
“I know it’s a big step,” he added hastily, “but I’m serious about us. We can rearrange the house, get bunk beds for the boys in the office, or look for a bigger place if you want. Anything that makes this feel like ours.”
My eyes brimmed with tears. “Yes. Yes, let’s do that. I want to build a home with you, Levi, and a future.”
He cupped my face, smile trembling with emotion. “You just made me the happiest man in Hope Peak.”
A laugh bubbled up from my chest, half-sob, half-joy. “And you made me believe in love again.”
We sealed it with a tender kiss. I realized with overwhelming clarity that everything—Tessa’s meddling, the heartbreak that had led me here, even my corporate past—had converged to give me and the twins a second chance at happiness. I whispered my gratitude against Levi’s mouth, letting the promise of a shared future fill the house with hope.