My head was spinning. “I’m sorry, but I’m really confused right now.”
Stevie returned to the kitchen with a knowing smile as Levi entered behind her. “It’s Levi,” she said in a sing-song voice.
“Carlton? Levi has just showed up in my kitchen, so when I know what’s going on I promise to call you back.”
“All right,” he sighed, amusement highlighting his tone. “Tell Levi I said I knew it.”
“Uh, I will, and thank you for keeping these dates open for me?”
He laughed. “Talk to you soon Lacey.”
The call ended and I stared at Levi, ruggedly handsome in a blue and green checkered shirt, jeans that fit a little snug, and casual boots that painted him as a Carson Creek native.
“Want to tell me what’s going on?”
He smiled down at me and I felt that smile all the way down to my soul. “I have a plan. Remember I told you about the civil unrest in Venezuela?” I nodded, brows still furrowed in confusion. “Well, I think this is the perfect story for you to get your feet wet as a journalist on location.”
“What?” I couldn’t believe the words that were coming out of his mouth. “Me? I’m a small town journalist, Levi.”
“No, you were a small town journalist. You haven’t told me everything, or much of anything about your future plans, but I am more than just a pretty face, you know?”
“You’re also a cute butt.”
“Gross,” Stevie grumbled behind Levi.
“Think of the experience, Lacey. Reporting a story on the ground as it happens. And best of all, you can post the stories as they happen.”
I sucked in a breath. “How did you know?”
“Because you were never going to leave Carson Creek while Stevie’s having the best cheerleading season of her life.”
“Totally,” my nosy daughter agreed.
“None of that matters, what matters is if you want this Lacey.”
My heart kicked up a notch, pounding against my chest like I’d just run circles around Carson Creek. “I do, Levi. I want it badly, but I’m not ready for boots on the ground reporting.”
He chuckled, the sound smooth and rich like a good scotch. “You’ll never be ready until you are, and when you get there, you will be ready.” His smile was so encouraging I started to believe him.
“I don’t know, Levi. South America is a long way from here.”
“Which is why you need to be there to tell this story. It’s a story the world will want to know about, and you can tell them why it’s important and why they should care.” He gave my shoulders a tight squeeze. “Carlton is the best, and he speaks Spanish which will help you get access to people to interview. You’ve got a long flight to research the situation and figure out how you want tell the story.”
He'd thought of everything. Had an answer for my every objection. Levi Branson could be my perfect man. Emphasis on could be. “You really are sweet as pie for a hardened world-weary investigative journalist.”
The smile he sent me came slow and sexy. “That’s because I’ve got layers, babe.”
“All right, that’s it.” Stevie slammed her text book shut and pushed away from the counter. “You guys are totally gross and kind of sweet for old people, but it’s too much.” Her smile softened her harsh words. “And Mom, this is totally an amazing opportunity. Super cool, and I think you should do it. I’ll even volunteer to spend the week with Dad so you have no excuse not to go.”
“Thanks honey.”
“No problem. I’m going now, so you guys can totally kiss,” she shouted as she made her way up the stairs in dramatic fashion, making as much noise as possible until her door closed with an almost inaudible click.
Levi pulled me in close, his hands on my hips, his gaze fixed on me. Only me. “You can thank me properly now.”
I tilted my head back and laughed. And then I got down to the very important business of thanking Levi.
Properly.
Chapter 20
Levi
The Carson Creek Daily Journal offices were a lot quieter without the presence of Lacey, who always managed to find a way to make noise. To make her presence known. Whether it was humming, the low rock-country music she often sang along to, the buzz of the printer or just the tap-tap-tap of her fingers flying across the keyboard, she was impossible to ignore. Without her, the office was deathly silent. Lifeless.
Even GG seemed to be affected by the loss he likely hadn’t truly believed was coming until one day passed without her, and then the next. The old man would never admit it, because he was from the old school where men kept their emotions hidden no matter what. Still, every car that drove past the office made him look up. When someone came in for an ad, he looked up with hope in his eyes that only faded when he realized it wasn’t his beloved daughter.