“Okay.” She grabs a serving spoon, and while she dishes some of the casserole onto the two plates, I take in every movement she makes.
There’s no urge to run back to my house. There’s no annoyance of being overstimulated. There’s zero disgust.
Instead, the attraction I felt earlier has grown, and it makes me curious to know everything about Kelcie.
But even if she felt attracted to me, there could never be anything romantic between us. I just plan to hang around until I’m sure she’s okay, then I’m heading back to Grand Rapids.
There’s no way she’ll tolerate having me in her life when she finds out who I really am.
Chapter 6
Kelcie
Sitting at the table outside, I try to focus on the food I’m eating, but I still don’t have an appetite. Eventually, I give up and drink some of the sweet tea.
My eyes wander to Levi, and I watch how he holds the plate with his right hand, his body seemingly relaxed. When he takes a bite, I feel a strong pull of attraction, finding it hot how his jaw moves.
The man is next-level handsome, but I’m more surprised by how nice he’s been to me since we started talking. After hearing how grumpy and rude he’s been to people in town, it was unexpected, to say the least.
If someone told me this morning I’d be spending my evening with Levi, I would’ve told them they’re crazy.
But here we are.
He actually makes me feel comfortable and isn’t pushy in any way. Unlike the rest of the town, he hasn’t bombarded me with questions or condolences. There’s no pity in his eyes when he looks at me.
I had a panic attack in front of him, and he didn’t make me feel weird about it at all. Instead, he was supportive, as if he’s done it a million times before.
Earlier, when he approached me, he seemed troubled, but with time, he’s relaxed. I wonder if he has always been like this. So quiet and withdrawn. Or did something bad happen to make him this way?
Levi’s gaze lifts and connects with mine, and when he catches me staring at him, he asks, “What?”
I shake my head and turn my attention to the trees lining the back of our properties.
“You can ask me questions.”
I hesitate before I reply, “That means you’ll ask me questions in turn. I’d rather pass.”
“I won’t.”
I glance at Levi again, and as the sun begins to set, it strikes me once more how attractive he is. The dark stubble on his face gives him a rugged look. I think he’s in his early or mid-thirties.
He has hazel eyes. The green lines around his irises are so dark that they make the brown appear golden.
At first glimpse, the permanent frown on his forehead and dip of his eyebrows give the impression he’s grumpy, but the longer I look at him, the more I see the expression for what it is.
This man has suffered.
With my gaze still glued to his, I whisper, “Why don’t you touch people?”
He clenches his jaw and looks down at where Lick is sleeping like the dead. “Bad childhood.”
My heart squeezes with empathy. Whatever happened in Levi’s childhood must’ve been traumatizing for him to hate touching people.
“I’m sorry,” I say, my tone soft and filled with compassion.
When he inhales a deep breath, his chest strains against the fabric of his shirt to the point that I can make out his muscles. The sight has my stomach buzzing with a nervous energy I haven’t felt before.
Lick wakes up from her nap and goes to get her ball. She drops it near my chair and stares obsessively at it.