Chapter 27
Hayley smiled sweetly up at him. “We really need to work on your delivery, big guy, or I might get the impression that you’re not happy to see me.”
“No, sorry. Of course I’m happy to see you. Just surprised.” Levi shifted his weight and cast a quick glance behind him. As expected, every member of his family was straining their necks to try and get a peek at who was at the door.
He held back his groan. The timing of this couldn’t have been worse.
His family was boiling over with more questions than a Jesuit priest during the Spanish Inquisition, and that curiosity was going to naturally bleed over to Hayley when they saw her.
He wished he could be confident that his sisters and mom would be cool and not overwhelm Hayley with their interest, but they were more likely to jump all over her like a puppy recently released from the pound.
It wasn’t like he hadn’t planned to introduce his family to Hayley and Hayley to them, but he’d always thought that would be after they’d gone out on a few official dates.
After he felt assured that Hayley was as committed to pursuing their relationship as he was and not entertaining any thoughts that he’d somehow be better off without her or that ending things before they got started would somehow spare him a measure of future pain.
But, as they said, it appeared that time waited for no man and had literally come knocking on his door that very moment.
Levi felt the presence of others at his back before he saw or heard them.
“I apologize in advance for anything that’s about to happen or be said,” he rushed to say.
Hayley stared at him quizzically right before the door opened wider and Constance appeared on one side of him and Nova on the other.
“Hello there,” Nova greeted brightly.
Hayley’s gaze flicked between Levi and his sisters. “Um, hello?”
Constance slapped him on the chest with the back of her hand while she smiled at Hayley. “Pardon our brother’s rude manners. I’d say he was raised by a pack of wolves, but then that would make us the wolves, wouldn’t it? I’m his sister, Constance.”
Hayley’s eyes cleared, and she smiled in return. “Oh! Hello! I think I owe you a big thanks.” She lifted her chin to look up at Levi. “Right?”
He nodded, resigned. The cat was about to jump right out of the bag in three, two, one . . .
“I hope you don’t mind that I had to borrow your clothes recently. You really helped me out.”
Levi could feel the vibrating energy bouncing off both of his sisters. Between the two of them, he’d probably set off a Geiger counter if someone pointed one his direction.
“I don’t mind at all,” Constance crowed. “In fact, I’m extremely happy that you were able to make use of them.”
Her words were perfectly normal, but the unhinged grin on her face and the barely contained excitement were enough to make anyone feel hesitant.
For some reason, however, Hayley didn’t seem to pick up on the undercurrent of nosiness as she stood there relaxed instead of on guard, as she should be.
Maybe he could still rescue her from a ruthless though well-meaning cross-examination.
“What are you doing here?” He winced as his tone came out gruffer than he intended.
Hayley’s brows collapsed over her eyes as she looked at him. Why are you acting like this? her expression seemed to say. Her mouth, however, said, “I left something that I need, so I came back to get it. I didn’t realize this was a bad time, though.”
Her journal. She’d come back for her journal.
Nova stepped forward and wrapped an arm across the back of Hayley’s shoulders. “This isn’t a bad time at all.” She looked at Levi with narrowed eyes. “Is it, brother?”
“It’s our dad’s birthday, and we were just starting dinner. Why don’t you join us?” Constance held out her arm in invitation while also turning to stare Levi down and dare him to revoke the invitation.
Hayley looked to Levi, a silent question in her eyes.
He gripped the back of his neck before nodding once.
Constance and Nova gave each other quick glances of triumph before leading Hayley to the back deck, Levi on their heels.
The rest of his family seemed on high alert, like a pack of prairie dogs popping out of their underground burrows to give unblinking focus to the newcomer.
He suppressed a sigh and prayed the attention about to be poured on Hayley wouldn’t scare her away.
“Everyone, I’d like you to meet Hayley Holt, the circulation librarian from Little Creek.” Levi went around the table introducing all the members of his family to Hayley.
His mom quickly put the beginning of his story of Little Creek obtaining a bookmobile together with Hayley’s sudden appearance. “So this is who stayed with you while the road was closed? It’s so nice to meet you, my dear.”
Levi retrieved another plate and some silverware from the kitchen and set them down on the table beside his own. The bench seat was snug with one more person, but he wasn’t going to complain about having Hayley pressed up against him.
His dad elbowed him and winked. “Cozy.”
Levi refrained from rolling his eyes. No matter what he claimed, Dad was just as bad as his mom and sisters were.
“Levi was about to tell us about the rockslide and his mystery guest, but now that you’re here, why don’t you tell us about you yourself?” Mom smiled warmly before bringing a bite of salad to her mouth.
“Well, what would you like to know?” Hayley leaned further into Levi’s side, even though the action wasn’t necessary since they were glued together like two pieces of paper in a kindergartener’s art project, and whispered to him, “Can you pass the zucchini, please?”
Six pairs of eyes darted around the table, connecting with someone before shooting off and connecting with another member of the family. Everyone had one burning question that they were dying to know, but no one wanted to come right out and ask it.
Levi scowled at his family as he handed over the dish. “Really?”
Hayley laughed, the melodic trill that never ceased to take the edge off his fraying nerves.
She patted his leg under the table. “It’s all right.
A girl gets trapped with a guy and everyone wonders if the forced proximity is the environment needed to kindle a romance.
Considering they’re your family and love you, Levi, it only stands to reason that they’d want to know if something happened or not.
” She took a bite and chewed, her face showing surprise.
“This is really good. What did you season it with? Lemon?”
He nodded absently. She wasn’t upset or overwhelmed or feeling awkward about his family’s invasiveness? Did that mean he had room to hope that she felt as sure about the rightness of them being together as he did?
“So . . .” Aliyah drew out. “Did something happen?”
Hayley nodded without contest. “Oh, something definitely happened.”
Every person around the table except Levi and Hayley erupted, all talking over one another in an effort to get their question answered first. Levi’s ears burned.
“You need to spell this out for us. We require details.”
“I hope he was a complete gentleman and didn’t take advantage of the situation.”
“Are you guys, like, together, then?”
“Was it love at first sight?”
Hayley’s hand on Levi’s leg squeezed, bringing his attention to her. His nerves were rumbling under his skin like the engine of an F1 race car, and he was afraid they’d take off with his sense of control if everyone kept talking all at once.
Hayley winced. Sorry, she mouthed. She reached into her pocket, held out her hand, and uncurled her fingers. A pair of noise-reducing ear defenders lay in her palm. “I had them in my jacket from a concert I went to recently. Trust me, they help,” she whispered.
Levi looked down at the small earplugs. He caught Trinity watching him with bated breath out of his peripheral vision.
With slow movements, he took the earplugs from Hayley’s palm and pushed them into his ear canals.
He could still hear the cacophony and chaos around him, but the noise was muted to a more manageable level.
Hayley tipped her chin up and leaned closer so her mouth was by his ear. “Now cover your ears real quick.”
He did as he was told, and as soon as his hands pressed to the sides of his head, Hayley let out a piercing whistle.
Everyone ceased talking and gaped at her.
“Phew, now. That’s better.” She picked up her fork like nothing at all had happened and took a bite.
Levi’s dad elbowed him again. “I like this girl.”
Levi stared at Hayley in disbelief. His appreciation for her was only growing as well. Soon it would overtake his whole being.
Hayley helped herself to the platter of chicken, ignoring the wide-eyed stares directed at her.
Levi couldn’t help himself. He busted out laughing, deep belly laughs that shook his whole body and made his sides start to ache. Had he ever seen anyone shut his whole family up that way? Especially when they were on a roll like that? The moment and the looks on their faces had been priceless.
Hayley’s grin took on a twist of pride while everyone else peered at him like he’d grown a second head.
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard him laugh like that before, have you?” Aliyah stage-whispered out of the side of her mouth to Trinity.
Trinity simply shook her head, still staring at him dumbfoundedly.
His chortles slowly died, and Hayley flipped her hand on his leg palm up in invitation. He twined his fingers through hers.
“I hope you’ll forgive our bad manners, Hayley.” His mom cleared her throat. “I think we all lost our heads there for a second.”
“I probably should have worded what I said a little differently,” Hayley offered magnanimously.
“But to put your mind at ease and answer at least some of your questions, your son was a complete gentleman, and, in twenty-first-century standards, nothing happened.” Her cheeks took on a becoming rosy hue.
“You know, like—” she gave a delicate little cough—“that.”
Levi swallowed the second round of laughter threatening to bubble out of him. His little sprite was adorable with her flushed cheeks, but he didn’t want to embarrass her further by making her think he was laughing at her discomfort.
“Was anyone really worried on that account? He’s never even liked a woman enough to get over his issues and kiss her,” Aliyah said.
A second later, her eyes rounded, and she covered her mouth with her hand.
“I’m so sorry. That was inappropriate and uncalled for.
Ignore me.” Her face turned scarlet from either shame, embarrassment, or both.
“I’m the sister who too often puts her foot in her mouth. ”
Hayley’s grip on Levi’s hand tightened.
Levi hung his head. Aliyah may not have meant to say that out loud, but they were probably all thinking it.
What woman would be okay with all his rules?
For his sisters, he’d asked them not to wear scented skincare products, to use headphones when listening to music, to eat any of their favorite crunchy snacks in their room so he wouldn’t have to hear them chew.
They’d all agreed because they were his sisters and loved him, but they obviously didn’t think any other woman would be willing to restrict their lives in such a manner.
Hayley shifted in her seat so she faced him. Her nostrils flared, and the pink flush to her skin had darkened with the rise of her emotions. He realized with a start that she was angry.
He opened his mouth to reassure her. Aliyah hadn’t meant to be hurtful. She just sometimes spoke without thinking it through first.
“Levi, your sister seems to think you couldn’t possibly be keen on me.” While her gaze remained gripped on his, her features softened. Her eyes still sparked, but with mischief and playfulness taking over the ire of before.
Everyone else around the table faded away. He could ignore them all, their boisterous well-meaning invasion of his private life. He could ignore anything as long as he was tethered to the lifeline of her unwavering gaze.
“I think we should prove her wrong.” Her gaze dipped to his lips meaningfully for a second before rising again in question.
His eyes widened in surprise. If he’d had a million guesses, he still wouldn’t have been able to predict that this was the direction the evening would have taken.
He registered some sort of noise coming from the other side of the table but blocked out the intrusion.
He dipped his chin and gave Hayley an are you sure look.
In response, she lifted both of her hands and threaded her fingers through his beard to bracket his head and pull his mouth down to hers, sealing their lips together in a kiss.
Hoots and hollers echoed around them, and Hayley pulled back with a satisfied smirk on her face.
“Instead of birthday cake, y’all are eating humble pie for dessert,” his dad laughed.
Levi’s neck heated as Hayley ran her thumb over his lips.
“Lipstick,” she said by way of explanation, then picked up her fork again to resume her meal.
Levi stared at the side of her face as everyone began talking around him.
He could hear them asking questions and sharing anecdotes, but he wasn’t paying all that much attention to the conversation.
He had his own questions burning in his mind.
Ones he couldn’t ask until he could finally get Hayley alone again.