Levi (Prairie Grooms, Book Five) (10 page)

He looked her up and down, and smiled. “Some things; but not all. Would you like some gravy?”

“Aren’t you going to say the blessing?”

He looked her over again. “My dear Mrs. Stone, you
are
the blessing.”

Fina swallowed, blushed, and clasped her hands before her. “Dear Lord, may you bless this food and those about to partake of it, amen.”

Levi smiled. “Short and to the point.”

She gave him a weak smile in return, and reached for a biscuit. “Are you going to tell me about your brothers?”

He opened a biscuit up, put it on his plate, and poured gravy over it. “In due time, my dear. But tell me, did you find out anything interesting about me today?”

Fina froze, a biscuit halfway to her mouth. What did he mean? Had he realized she'd found his…

“What's the matter, beautiful? Can’t speak?”

She set down her biscuit. “I’ve found you love to tease me, and that you're incorrigible.”

He smiled again. “That I am. What else?”

Her heart thumped in her chest loud enough that she wondered if he could hear it. What would he do if he knew she'd found the jewelry box and discovered what was inside? “You make very good eggs,” she blurted.

He looked at her plate. “How can you say that, when you haven’t even tried them?”

She picked up her fork, cut off a piece of the white, and popped it into her mouth. “Very good,” she said, her mouth full. “As I knew they would be.”

His smile broadened as his eyes raked over her. “Anything else you can tell me, Mrs. Stone?”

She quickly took another bite of egg. “No,” she mumbled as she chewed. “Nothing I can think of at the moment. Shall we finish our dinner?”

He smiled again. The look he gave her sent a chill up her spine. It was one of utter and complete anticipation
. But of what?
“Have you given any thought as to what we might have for dessert?” he asked.

She shook her head. “No, I hadn't considered dessert until now.” He took a forkful of gravy-covered biscuit, chewed it slowly, and watched her. There was a hunger in his eyes and a sudden heat flared in her belly. “What… what did you have in mind?”

“Something sweet,” he said as he took another bite of his dinner.

“Did your mother teach you how to bake, as well?”

“No, but I'm sure I can get something going for us.”

Fina's eyes widened and she swallowed hard. “We still have pie,” she pushed out.

He took another bite of food. “I had something else in mind, other than pie, Mrs. Stone.”

Fina could stand it no longer. She stood up from her chair in a huff. “I have eight days left, Mr. Stone!
Eight days
as per our agreement.”

He raised both brows, and laughed. “You are the most beautiful, adorable, and fascinating woman I have ever met!”

“What?” she asked in exasperation.

He laughed harder and dropped his fork onto his plate. “You should see the look on your face right now! It's priceless!”

“Levi Stone! Are you making fun of me?”

He nodded through his laughter. “Yes, I am!”

“Oh! You… you…
man,
you!”

“Yes, Mrs. Stone, I certainly am.” He moved so fast she had no time to react. Before she knew it, she was trapped in his arms and staring into his wickedly-handsome face. “You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, did you know that?” he asked as his eyes raked over her. There was nothing languid about the look he gave her now. No, this look was pure hunger, and it wasn't for biscuits and gravy.

“Unhand me!” she demanded as she squirmed in his arms.

“Never! You're too beautiful to let go,” he said, yet the muscles in his arms relaxed into a gentle hold. He kissed her forehead, then the tip of her nose, and smiled. “Fella, you’re a man's pure delight, and if I could bottle you up and sell you, I’d be a very rich man. But as my
wife
, you make me the wealthiest among men.” He swallowed hard as he looked into her eyes. “You’re seeing a side of me no one has ever seen, and it's all because you’re able to bring it out. When I'm with you, I feel freer than I ever have before, so much more than when I first came to this place years ago.”

Fina noticed her breaths were coming in short pants. “Why, Mr. Stone, I'm not sure I understand what you mean.”

He lowered his face, his lips hovering over hers. “What I'm saying, is that you make me feel alive, Fina Stone. More alive than I've ever felt before.”

“What happened to calling me, ‘Fella’?”

He gave her the tiniest hint of a smile. “So,” he said against her lips. “You like it when I call you ‘Fella’?”

“It doesn't bother me anymore… if that's what you mean.”

He kissed her then, like a starving man who’d just found food. He broke the kiss, looked into her eyes, and held her tight against his body. “To me you’ll always be Fella. It suits you somehow.” He smiled again. “Weren’t you going to come up with a name for me?”

Fina fought to form words. He'd done it to her again. “I… haven't had time to think about it.”

He kissed her again, fuller this time, longer. When he pulled away she was breathless. “Are you ready for dessert, Mrs. Stone?”

“What?” she managed in a weak voice.

He grinned, pleased with himself. “Shall I make us some tea and we can sit in the parlor a while?”

Fina looked at him in shock. “Tea? You want to make tea at a time like this?”

He laughed. “At a time like what, beautiful?”

“I… Ohhhh, buggeration! How do you manage to do this to me? I can't go on like this!”

“Like what, beautiful?”

“Oh… will you shut up!” she exclaimed as she put her hands in his hair and pulled his face to hers. Fina, much to her own surprise, then took the lead and kissed him. It was then that she realized
this
was the dessert he was talking about.

Ten

Fina lay in bed and stared at the ceiling. Last night had been heaven, and Levi stayed true to his word. Of course, that didn't mean he hadn't kissed her, or held her, or whispered in her ear, among other things. But what he also did was respect her, and let her know he could reduce her to a blithering puddle of jelly if he so chose. And even though he
had
reduced her to such a state, he at least kept her from blithering like an idiot by kissing her into silence.

He'd made tea, just as he’d said he would, and they sat in companionable silence on the sofa, each with their cups. But then he began to work his magic and gave her that
look.
The one that meant he desired her. What else could it mean? After he looked at her like that, he would get as close as possible, hold her, and then kiss her. But last night, he not only kissed her lips but her mind and heart as well. When he spoke to her, it was as if they’d known each other all their lives, but only Levi remembered it. He told her things about herself that deep down in her heart she knew, but how could
he
know such things? Was he truly that perceptive?

There was a knock on the bedroom door. Fina sat up. “Yes?”

“You gonna lay around in there all day, Mrs. Stone?” Levi called through the door.

She smiled and remembered the kiss he gave her, before retiring to the barn for the night. When she asked why he wasn't going to sleep in the other bedroom, he said nothing. Instead, he looked at her with a hunger she could not fathom, bowed, and left the house. She swore she heard him dump water on himself in front of the barn, but by the time she looked, he was gone.

“Let me get dressed,” she shouted at the door. “And then I shall be more than happy to burn your breakfast for you!” Deep male laughter erupted from the hall, and then slowly faded as he descended the stairs to the kitchen.

She let out a contented sigh, drew her legs up, and wrapped her arms around her knees. She looked out the window and recalled every last endearment he’d said the night before

beautiful, darling, my rose of Sharon, wife.

Fina took a deep breath. “And to think I still have seven days to go. However shall I make it?” It was only a matter of time before he wore her down and she knew it, just as he did. Well, he had another think coming! She’d busy herself with her painting and not think about last night. Besides, there was one thing about her new husband that puzzled her.

She got out of bed and went to the trunk. “Where could he have gotten such a thing?” she asked aloud then quickly glanced at the door. Had he heard? Did he know that she'd seen what was in the jewelry box? But how could he? She did admit to looking in the trunk, so wouldn't he conclude that she'd sorted through its contents?

Her eyes glued themselves to the trunk again. If she looked now, she'd be late starting breakfast and he might get suspicious. But when would she have another chance? If she'd been smart, she’d have looked at the jewelry box last night when she went to bed and would have, if her husband hadn’t had her so besotted. But maybe that was his game; to keep her off balance and make her fall in love with him, so she wouldn't ask questions!

Fina fought the urge to wring her hands together. To be safe, she should wait for a better opportunity to look in the jewelry box. Patience, however, had never been one of her virtues. Unable to help herself, she bent down to open the trunk.

Locked.

Fina gasped and stood, a hand against her mouth. He knew! He had to! Why else would he have locked it?

“Beautiful?” Levi called up the stairs. “I'm waiting!”

Fina glanced around the room, frantic. What should she do? What could she say? She closed her eyes and smacked her forehead with hand. “Oh for Heaven’s sake,” she whispered to herself. “He doesn't know you just tried to look again!” She started to pace. “Get dressed, go downstairs, and act natural. He won’t suspect a thing.” Breathing a sigh of relief, she reached for her clothes and dressed as quickly as possible.

When she went downstairs, Levi was at the stove, frying bacon. “I thought I was to burn
your
breakfast this morning,” she told him, trying to keep her tone calm and even.

He glanced at her and smiled. “I couldn't wait any longer; you can burn my lunch instead.”

She smiled despite her earlier panic. What she'd found in the trunk had to be nothing. There was sure to be a logical explanation, and when the time was right, she’d ask him about it. She took a breath to still her racing heart, and sat at the table. “Should I try to make some coffee?” she asked.

“I already did. Why don’t you pour us each a cup?”

She got up to do as he asked, and soon they were at the table, sipping coffee and nibbling on bacon and leftover biscuits. “I'll have to make more of these,” she said and popped the last bite of biscuit into her mouth.

“At least we know there's one thing you can make.”

“Bacon can't be too hard. I should be able to handle that without much trouble.”

“I'm sure you can,” he said, his voice husky.

“Oh, dear me,” she muttered.

Levi leaned toward her. “Has anyone ever told you how lovely you look with crumbs on your face?”

“Crumbs!” Fina reached up and brushed her mouth with a hand. Levi smiled and pointed at her left cheek. She swiped over it, embarrassed that she had made such a mess.

He pointed to the opposite cheek. “You missed a spot, sweetheart.”

Fina's eyes widened as she wiped at the other side. “I'll be sure to use a napkin next time.”

He scooted closer. “That's probably a good idea but, for now, I'd better take care of what's left.”

“Left? How can there be anything left?”

He closed the distance between them and kissed her. “There now,” he said as he pulled away. “You're all cleaned up.”

Fina couldn't help but close her eyes at the contact. When she opened them, he was inches from her face, gazing at her with a look she'd not seen before. This wasn't the

hungry look from last night; no, this was something different. Unfortunately, she had nothing to compare it to, nor any idea what it meant. “What… what are you going to do today?” She swallowed hard and waited for him to answer.

His eyes darted to her lips. “Oh, a little of this and little of that. Mr. Van Cleet gave me a few days off so that we could spend time together. Wasn't that nice of him?” He lifted a finger to her face and traced her jawline. “How many points do you think I’ll score today, Mrs. Stone?”

“I haven't the slightest idea. How… many… do you think I’ll gain?”

His finger glided down her neck to the other side, and up to her cheek. “I haven't the foggiest, Mrs. Stone,” he said, imitating her accent and drawing his face to hers.

Drat! Drat! Drat, drat,
drat!
This time when his lips captured hers, she was completely lost. “Levi,” she breathed as he broke the kiss.

“Yes?” he drawled.

“I… I…”

“You what… what?” he teased.

“I… oh, balderdash, I don't know.”

He rubbed her nose with his own and smiled. “You will in time, beautiful. Trust me, you will in time.” He reached up, brushed a stray wisp of hair from her forehead, and kissed it. “I'm gonna go do chores now; I won't be far. Call me if you need me for anything.” He kissed her again, stood, and left.

Fina sat and stared after him, her breathing coming in short, quick, pants. How was he able to do this to her every single time? She wasn't even sure if she could stand! And her heart felt like… like it had melted and been poured over a biscuit. A biscuit he held, and it was only a matter time before he ate it. Once he did, she instinctively knew he would have her heart forever, and then what was she to do? Would he be able to control her completely? Would she have
any
will of her own? How was she supposed to find out? Who could she ask?

Fina glanced at the ceiling and groaned. Maybe another cup of coffee would shake the spell he'd wrapped around her. She had to do
something,
or wind up gazing at him with mooneyes the rest of the day, and where would that get her? It certainly wouldn't gain
her
any points, that's for sure!

“Lena!” she blurted. “I can ask Lena if she went through this! She’d tell me; she’s my sister, after all.” Fina sighed in relief. “Oh, thank heavens. I’m so glad I thought of that.” She looked at the door. “And perhaps my dear sister can help me figure out why you’ve locked your trunk, Mr. Stone.”

* * *

As much as Fina wanted to run to her sister's home, and have Lena help her solve the mystery of Levi’s trunk, she also wanted to paint. She'd no sooner cleaned up the breakfast dishes and put them away when Levi came into the house, carrying several large slats of wood. “What are those for?” she asked.

“I thought you could paint these,” he told her with a smile.

“Ohhh,” she breathed. “I would love to.”

“Well then, let's see what you can do. I worked last night to get them smooth. I hope I did a good enough job.”

He placed them on the kitchen table and she ran a hand over their surface. “They’re perfect, Levi.” She looked at him, eyes full of appreciation. “Thank you.”

“So, why don't you?”

She cocked her head to one side. “I beg your pardon?”

“Thank me,” he said with a grin.

“And… how am I to do that?”

He pointed to his lips. “Any time now, Mrs. Stone.”

She blushed and stepped toward him. “Very well, then. Am I to assume this is to be the norm when thanking you?”

“You may assume.”

“I thought so.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed him.

“That's it?” he asked, as if offended. “That's all the thanks I get?”

“No,” she said as she stepped back. “I knew you would want more thanks than that. Dare I say a
lot
more?”

“A whole lot more,” he added.

“Which, of course, means that I just gained a point.”

“
What
point?”

“I correctly anticipated that you would want more thanks than what I just gave you. Am I not right? Did you not just agree with me on the fact?”

Levi groaned. “One point it is then,” he grumbled. “Now, how about my thanks?”

“Where's my welcome?” she shot back.

In one swift move, Levi wrapped his arms around her. She was a prisoner. “How much welcome can you take?” he breathed in one ear.

“Let go of me!”

“You started this, Mrs. Stone. Now, let's be polite to each other with our please, thank you, and welcome comments, shall we?”

“Oh! You're impossible!”

“I try to be,” he said with a wide grin. He kissed her on the cheek and released her.

“Why are you such a tease?” she asked, her face flushed.

“Because I like it and so do you.”

“What's the score?” she demanded, hoping to distract him.

His mouth dropped open as he stared at the ceiling. “Ahhh … I'd do believe it's now nine to seven.”

“You don't sound very sure of yourself,” she commented with a sly smile. “Could it be you’ve lost track?”

“Never!”

“Hmmm,” she mused. “I don't think you're keeping very good track at all at this point. In fact, I think this game business is quite silly.”

“You’re bluffing,” he said in a serious tone. “Or are you giving up?”

“I wouldn't think of such a thing.”

He eyed her, his smile wolfish. “You'll not last another day.”

“I will! You don't know me well enough to say such a thing.”

He laughed. “Don't I?”

“Ohhh, go feed your horse or something!”

Levi let out a boisterous laugh, and slapped his knee. “You are
precious
, do you know that? Just precious.” He smacked the slats of wood with a hand. “Paint me something, and maybe I’ll behave myself tonight.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

Levi spun on his heel and headed for the door. “I'm sure you'll figure it out, beautiful,” he called over his shoulder.

Fina shook a fist at his retreating form. She didn't know whether to kiss him, or throttle him! Every time she was with him, he got her so wound up, she felt about to explode. It wasn't in anger or even frustration, (okay, so maybe
some
frustration) but so much more. She looked at the slats of wood. She would paint away her feelings, and hope and pray it was enough to get her through not only the rest of the day, but the night as well.

With determined steps, she went upstairs to gather her art supplies, caught sight of the trunk as she entered the bedroom, and stopped short. Why would he lock it? Just what did he think of her? Did he think she was nothing more than a common thief? That she would take what she'd found and keep it?

She went to the window and looked at the barn. Levi walked into it, whistling as he did, with a pitchfork in his hand. He looked so happy and content, and it was all because he’d married her. She realized then that she wanted to have the same happiness he did, but how could she? Her eyes wandered back to the trunk. “Oh, Fina,” she muttered to herself. “Why did you marry someone you don't know?” She again looked at the trunk and a new thought struck. She let out a tiny gasp. What if he stole it? What if she’d just married an outlaw? A bank robber? Or worse? “Oh, Lord; what have I done?”