14
The sound of laughter and sizzling bacon pulled Emery from sleep. She sat up slowly, a bit groggy, but smiling as she heard June’s giggle from the kitchen.
She padded down the stairs and leaned against the railing at the bottom, arms crossed as she hugged herself, her heart doing a little flip at what she saw.
Levi was at the stove, flipping pancakes with one hand while June perched on a stool next to him, carefully pouring orange juice into two glasses with extreme concentration.
“You guys starting a restaurant without me?” Emery rasped with a smirk.
June turned. “We made breakfast! Daddy said you should rest.”
Levi gave her a smooth sideways glance, lips twitching into a grin. “Was gonna bring it to you in bed. Figured you earned it after pulling solo-sick duty.”
“You’re sweet,” she murmured, walking over to join them in the kitchen.
“And you're beautiful, but you look exhausted,” he replied, more serious now. “Why don’t you really rest today? I’ve gotta run into town for a bit—errands, feed pickup, and I promised June we’d stop at the hardware store to check out the new baby chicks.”
June gasped in excitement. “I wanna pick one out and name it Popcorn!”
Levi chuckled. “We’re not getting another chicken, but you can name someone else’s.”
Emery smiled, feeling warm, and a wave of exhaustion seemed to come from nowhere. “Okay, you two have fun.”
“You good?” he asked, coming closer to press a hand to her forehead. “You’re warm, I hope you're not getting June’s cold.”
“I’m fine,” she lied. “Probably just tired, definitely gonna cash in on a nap.”
? ? ?
LEVI: We’re heading back soon. The hardware store was a zoo. June made three different employees guess her favorite animal.
EMERY : Poor guys, they never stood a chance.
LEVI: You feeling okay?
EMERY: Yeah, just have a headache. Got a little worse. I took some Tylenol. Lying down now.
LEVI: Em...
EMERY : Don’t Em me. I’m resting. Promise.
LEVI: I’m picking up soup and Gatorade. You’re not fine. I can see right through you, baby.
LEVI: I’ll swing by Lainey’s and water her plants. You better be in bed when I get home.
EMERY : Or what?
LEVI: Or I’ll put you there myself. Gently. With extra pillows.
When Levi walked through the door, June bounced in ahead of him, talking a mile a minute.
His eyes found Emery instantly, curled on the couch, cheeks flushed, her hair a little extra mussed. A blanket was tucked tight around her, but her skin was pale, her lips slightly dry, and the tissues on the coffee table told him everything he needed to know.
“Alright,” he said, setting down a bag on the counter. “You’re officially banned from doing anything but existing today.”
She tried to sit up, and he was immediately at her side. “Nope,” he said firmly, hands on her shoulders as he guided her gently back down. “You're mine now, sunshine. And I’m gonna take care of you.”
Mine? Emery swooned as she thought about how she’d never wanted any promotion as badly as she wanted to be Levi’s. As June got settled down at the table with her coloring book, Levi brought over a bowl of soup and crouched in front of her. Emery couldn’t help the soft flutter in her chest.
“Eat a little, okay?” he said softly.
Emery nodded, blinking as the steam rose from the bowl, making her eyes sting more than they already did.
As she took a few sips of broth, she felt it creeping in—the vulnerability of being taken care of like this.
The quiet way he anticipated her needs, the way he didn’t hover but never strayed far.
He didn’t act annoyed. He didn’t make it seem like a favor. He just showed up—like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Even sick, even worn down, she’d never felt more cared for.
Her body ached, and her head pounded; she knew she had to be looking rough in her current state, but somehow the way he looked at her made her feel deserving of the attention he offered.
She napped on and off the rest of the afternoon, with Levi waking her periodically to give her medicine or remind her to keep drinking some water or sip on the hot tea with honey he’d made her.
She woke a few times to the sound of his voice, low and warm, talking to June, or the gentle rustle of him pulling a blanket back over her shoulders.
Once, she stirred to find his hand resting on her ankle like he needed the contact just as much as she did.
She couldn’t remember a time she’d felt this safe, this loved .
He handled dinner duties and got June off to bed, and then came back to the living room and helped Emery sit up slowly; the tea sat half-finished on the coffee table. Her eyelids were heavy, her cheeks flushed from fever, but she still managed a faint protest when he slid an arm under her knees.
“Levi, you don’t need to carry me. I can walk.”
“I know you can, but you’re not going to. ”
“You’re gonna catch it,” she murmured as he lifted her. “And I look gross.”
He huffed a soft laugh, now at the top of the stairs as he carried her down the hall. “You don’t look gross. You look tired and sick, and you still somehow look pretty doing it. Let's get to bed.”
“Let's?” she groaned into his shoulder. “You’re not sleeping next to me like this. I probably have stinky fever sweat, and I haven’t brushed my hair since yesterday morning.”
“Well,” he said as he nudged open the bedroom door with his foot. “Lucky for you, I’ve smelled worse than fever sweat. I run a ranch, sunshine.”
He lay her down gently on his side of the bed, then pulled the sheet up. “Just let me take care of you. You can argue with me when you’re not burning up.”
Emery looked up at him through heavy lashes. “I don’t want to get you sick.”
He leaned in, brushing a knuckle along her cheek. “I’m not scared, baby.”
Levi stood, tugging off his shirt and tossing it onto the chair in the corner. He flipped off the overhead light and returned with a glass of water, setting it on the nightstand. When he climbed in beside her, she shifted instinctively, nestling close before remembering and pulling away.
“Levi—”
“Nope.” He pulled her gently back into his side. “Just hush and rest.”
“But—”
“You’re not contagious through cuddles,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “And even if you were, I’d still be right here.”
Emery looked up at him, her eyes glassy, lashes wet.
Levi shifted, pushing a stray wisp of her hair from her face. “What’s got tears in your pretty eyes?”
“Nothing,” she whispered and then let out a watery laugh.
“God, it’s probably just the cold meds.” She shook her head, embarrassed, blinking fast. “I just—this feels safe. I didn’t know being with someone could feel like this.
” Her voice cracked again, and she covered her face with one hand.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. ”
“There’s nothing wrong with you,” he said, his voice low and steady. “You’re allowed to feel safe. You should feel safe.”
She let out a breath, dropping her hand and staring up at him. “I’m just not used to being... taken care of like this.”
His jaw flexed, something raw flickering behind his eyes. “Then get used to it,” he said, quiet but certain. “Because I want to be the one who does it. I want to take care of you.”
She blinked at him, startled by this softer side of the cranky cowboy exterior he had.
He leaned down, kissed her temple gently. “Now get comfy, fever girl. You need sleep.”
She let out a breath, finally relaxing against him, her head resting on his chest.
? ? ?
The early light was filtering through the bedroom curtains. She was tucked beneath the covers of Levi’s bed, still wearing the oversized tee he’d given her the night before, and even though her body still ached, there was comfort in the stillness.
Levi wasn’t in bed, but he must’ve sensed she was awake, because a moment later his soft footsteps crossed the bedroom floor. She shifted under the covers and felt the bed dip as he sat beside her, brushing a hand gently through his hair.
“Morning, sunshine,” he said softly, his usual rough edges softened. “You feeling any better?”
She gave a weak nod, her throat still scratchy, but her heart a little lighter just hearing his voice.
“Achey. Tired. But…” Her throat was still scratchy. “Better, maybe.”
He nodded and brushed a thumb gently over her temple, just like he had the night before. “You still feel warm, but not as bad. June says you need pancakes, so I figure that’s doctor’s orders.”
A small laugh escaped her, even though it was hoarse. “Can’t argue with that.”
“I started some water for you,” he said, tilting his head toward the bathroom. “A hot shower might help with those aches. Towels are on the rack. Go slow, okay?”
“You don’t have to take care of me,” she murmured, a hint of protest still lingering in her voice.
He lingered a second longer, then stood and stepped back. “Shower. I’ll finish breakfast. And if you feel up to it, maybe some sunshine and fresh air.”
She gave him a sleepy grin as she slowly pushed the covers back. “Deal.”
? ? ?
The morning had faded into a perfectly warm day.
Levi found Emery sitting on the porch swing, her gaze distant, lost somewhere between the bright sunshine and the slow hum of the ranch around them.
He had been right—the hot shower, the pancakes, and the fresh air had her back to feeling human again.
He settled beside her without a word at first, the creak of the swing the only sound as they swayed gently.
Finally, Levi broke the silence, his voice low but steady.
“I’ve been thinking.”
She looked over, meeting his gaze—cautious, but curious.
“This whole trial thing...” He shook his head with a slight grin, but his eyes stayed serious. “I don’t want it to be a trial anymore. I want you here. Not just for June and the chores, but for us—me and you. More permanent. ”
Emery’s breath caught a little. “Permanent?”
He nodded. “Yeah. I know things started off hard to navigate, and I get that it’s a lot. But you fit here. With June, with me... I don’t want you going back and forth anymore. Stay here at the ranch.”
Levi reached over, brushing a stray curl from her face, his touch gentle but full of meaning. “We don’t have to be perfect. Just us.”
Emery smiled, a weight lifted from her chest. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Yeah. I want that too… Lainey will be back in a couple of days, and then I can make the full switch.”
Emery sat there, still thinking about the letter from her old boss.
She needed to tell Levi about it. She’d been ignoring it for days and had shoved it to the bottom of the stack of mail on the counter.
But now, sitting here with Levi, the words replayed in her mind.
The threats of blacklisting her, ruining her reputation, making sure no one would hire her again. .. and worse.
Her heart sank. What would Levi think? Things were going so well. What if he thought she was trouble—or worse, what if he believed Denny’s lies that she’d actually slept her way to the top, just like the rumors those women in town whispered.
Her hands fidgeted as she imagined how Levi might react if he ever learned the whole story. “You’re not the kind of woman I want my daughter around.” “I don’t need drama. I need someone I can trust.”
The doubt gnawed at her. Maybe Levi would hate her, or pity her. Maybe all the hope she felt about making this work would come crashing down.
What if this was the one thing that would push him away?
What if she let herself fall too deep, only for Denny to come back and tear it all apart?
“Emery… I feel like you’re holding back.”
She looked down at her hands, picking at the frayed edge of her cut-off shorts.
“I’m… just scared, Levi. That’s all. ”
He scooted closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and holding her tight.
“Scared’s okay. But don’t shut me out. Not like this. I'm not changing my mind.”
She wanted to believe him. She knew she had to tell him everything.
“Emery, look at me.”
She met his eyes. Damn, he was gorgeous. The way his eyes seemed to deepen in serious moments like this, the way she couldn't help glancing at his lips, and he had probably the most perfect teeth she’d ever seen.
“I’m not just in this because it’s convenient or easy. I want you—all of you. The parts you’re proud of, and the parts you’re scared to show.”
He reached up, brushing another loose strand of hair behind her ear, his thumb lingering on her cheek.
With that, Levi leaned in again, pressing a slow, deliberate kiss to her lips. The kiss deepened, filled with the kind of tenderness and need that left no room for doubt, only the beginning of something much bigger .
And in that quiet moment, Emery knew she was ready to take the leap with him by her side. She would tell him everything tonight once June was asleep.