Chapter Seven – Emeline
Emeline
My phone buzzed and I picked it up to see it was Moreen, calling me again. I’d tried to avoid her calls because I knew she would have a million-and-one questions about Levi. I drew in a deep breath, let it out, then answered.
“Hey, girl, what’s up?”
“What’s. Up?” she replied. “Um, should we start with the fact that you’ve been ignoring me for the last twelve-plus hours?
Let’s start there, then move on to you having lunch with Levi Tucker.
Why didn’t you tell me he was back in town?
He’s getting divorced from she-who-shall-not-be-named!
Why were you guys in the store? How are you feeling?
Have those old feelings for him come back? ”
“Oh my gosh, Moreen, slow down with the questions, will you?”
“I’m sorry, Emeline, this is HUGE. The one guy you’ve been crushing on since you were fourteen is back in town, single, and having lunch with you. Excuse me for freaking the fuck out!”
I sighed and closed my eyes. “Okay, I get the freak-out, but slow down anyway.”
“Sorry, it’s just…you’ve been avoiding me, then you had plans with Lilibeth last night and…”
Her voice trailed off, and I felt terrible for avoiding her. “You know you’ll always be my very best friend, Moreen.”
“I know that, but it’s nice to hear it sometimes.”
Now I could hear the smile in her voice. “It was a business meeting about the camp. Lilibeth is going to teach the kids how to make candles, perfume, and cologne. You know that. We were working out times and days she’d be able to make it work.”
“I think the kids will love that. Now that we got that out of the way—Levi?”
Laughing, I leaned back in my chair and looked at my office door, which was closed.
“I had no idea Levi was back in town until yesterday when he arrived at the ranch and met with Caden. He wanted him to check on one of the horses. Then the next thing I knew, he was asking me to lunch to talk about his son, Rhett, coming to camp. My mother may have also roped him into volunteering at the sessions before he gets too busy at the vet clinic.”
“Go, Mrs. Wilde.”
Sighing, I dropped my head back against the chair. “God, Moreen, I thought I’d gotten over this stupid crush on him.”
“No such luck, huh?”
I stared up at the ceiling. “Nope. The moment I saw him, all those feelings came rushing back. I felt like I was in high school again. It’s like my body woke up from a slumber I hadn’t even realized it was taking for years.
It was like…something supernatural. Like I could drag in a full breath for the first time in ages, just the strangest feeling.
And it’s all for naught because Levi Tucker will never see me as anything other than his best friend’s little sister.
And what kind of person lusts after a man who’s going through a divorce and has lost a child? A monster! That’s who.”
“You are not a monster, Emeline. Don’t be so dramatic. You’re a girl who likes a boy who happens to be married.”
“Ugh, Moreen. You can’t say that anymore. He’s definitely not a boy, and I’m not a girl. Plus, he’s almost divorced.”
“He’s home for good, then?”
“Yes,” I said on a sigh. “My heart breaks for him and Rhett. I can’t even imagine.
I tried so hard not to look at him as anything other than a friend, but those eyes.
That mouth. His body! I had dreams last night, and let’s just say they were R-rated.
I woke up panting. Panting, Moreen. How am I going to be around him on a regular basis? ”
“You’ll be fine,” she said. “You did it before, you’ll do it again. Just remind yourself that he’s off limits.”
“Is he, though?”
She paused for a moment. “Okay, so he may be separated from his wife. But like you said, he isn’t divorced yet, Emeline. He’s had a traumatic loss, and if I had to guess, the last thing he’s looking for is a relationship.”
“Especially with his best friend’s little sister, who’s younger than him by seven years.”
“What are you going to do?”
I thought about it for a moment. “There isn’t anything I can do except be his friend. I need to push the idea of being with Levi Tucker out of my mind for good. Maybe now that he’s back, I’ll see how different our lives are. I mean, he’s a father, and we have nothing in common. Right?”
“Um, I don’t know about that,” Moreen replied. “Okay, here’s one! You’re not ready to be a mother.”
I bit my lip. That was something my best friend was wrong about. Why did she think I loved our summer camps so much? I adored kids, and I couldn’t wait to have my own someday.
A light knock on my door had me sitting up. “Got to go, someone’s here.”
“Dinner tonight?” Moreen asked.
“Come in!” I called out. “Not sure yet, I’ll text you later.”
The door opened, and I expected to see my mother. Instead, the man I’d just vowed to move on from stood there with a brilliant smile on his face—and standing next to him, a mini version of Levi.
Yeah, there was no way I could push these feelings away.
“Okay, talk soon!” Moreen said as I hit the end button and stood.
“Levi, I wasn’t expecting you until later this afternoon.”
“Rhett was dying to come and see Aurora, and I thought I’d check in on her.”
Rounding my desk, I smiled, then crouched to greet Rhett. I held out my hand. “Hi, Rhett. We haven’t met yet. I’m Emeline Wilde.”
Rhett’s deep blue eyes sparkled as he smiled. “I’m Rhett Tucker, and it’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am. Are you dating anyone?”
Surprised, I jerked my head up to glance at Levi, who closed his eyes for a moment, clearly in exasperation. “I’m so sorry, Emeline. Rhett here knows better than to ask things like that.”
“I wasn’t asking for you, Dad. I was asking for me.”
That time, I laughed. “For you, huh?”
He tipped his little black cowboy hat, and Levi let out a groan. This young man didn’t act like a six-year-old. More like a sixteen-year-old.
“Well, Rhett. To answer your question, no, I’m not dating anyone. I’m afraid you’re just a little too young for me, though.”
“You could wait a few years.”
I bit my lip so I wouldn’t laugh again. Nodding, I gave him a thoughtful look, but before I could say anything else, Levi spoke.
“Rhett Tucker, I know you did not just say that.”
Rhett shrugged his shoulders. “You always tell me it never hurts to ask. The worst that can happen is you’re told no. So I took a chance.”
I stood and covered my mouth with my hand and stared at Levi, who was also trying hard not to laugh.
“I did say that, but this is different. You’re a little boy, and Ms. Emeline is a grown woman.”
Why did it heat my body to hear Levi say those words?
Rhett kicked at nothing on the ground, then looked up at me and flashed a smile. “You don’t have to wait for me, Ms. Emeline. But if you’re not married in…” He closed his eyes and started counting on his fingers before looking at me and saying, “Twelve years, maybe we can talk then.”
“Dear God,” Levi said, scrubbing his hands down his face.
Smiling, I held out my hand again. As we shook, I said, “It’s a deal.”
Rhett grinned, then added, “And if you and my dad fall in love and get married, I’d be okay with that, too.”
My eyes shot back to Levi. He simply shook his head and gave me a look that said, Let it go.
Clearing my throat, I said, “Shall we go see Aurora?”
Rhett fist pumped. “Yes!”
I motioned for Rhett to head back out of my office, where we ran into my mother.
“Mom!” I said, a little too eager. “Levi brought Rhett to see Aurora.”
My mother bent down to say hi to Rhett. “My goodness, you’ve grown since the last time I saw you.”
The little boy looked slightly concerned. “I don’t remember you. I’m sorry.”
Laughing, Mom said, “You were pretty young when your daddy brought you to visit, when your sister was just a baby, so I’m not surprised you don’t remember.”
I looked at Levi to see if my mother’s mention of Brooke caused any pain, and it didn’t appear that it did. As if he could feel my eyes on him, he returned my gaze.
I forced a casual smile, then looked back at my mother and asked, “Have you seen Aurora this morning?”
“I was here early enough to see you’d slept in her stall last night, Emeline Wilde.”
I felt my cheeks heat.
“You slept in her stall?” Levi asked.
“I think she’s close, and I wanted to make sure she was okay. Marshall took the first half of the night, and I came in around one in the morning to take over. He’s back out there with her now.”
Levi nodded. “Is she showing signs?”
I rolled my eyes. “She’s a horse, and a stubborn one. She’ll drop that baby while she’s eating her oats, most likely.”
We all laughed, and a second later, Rhett joined in, having no idea why we were laughing.
My mother took the boy’s hand. “Come on, Rhett, let’s go see how she’s doing.”
They started down the aisle of the barn. Levi took hold of my hand to keep me in place, and I ignored the flutter in my stomach at the contact.
“If we could hold back for just a moment,” he said. His brown eyes were filled with worry.
“Sure, what’s up?” I hoped my voice sounded void of any jitters, but if he didn’t let go of my hand soon, I’d be swooning at any moment.
Seeming to realize he was still holding my hand, Levi dropped it like it was a hot potato. “I’m sorry about what Rhett said, about you and me.”
I waved off his concern. “Don’t even worry about it.”
“I haven’t talked to him at all about moving on with anyone, let alone you.”
Don’t let your feelings show on your face, Emeline.
“Of course not me. What a crazy idea,” I managed to say, but even I could hear the hurt in my voice.