wanted to hug me, I’d never let you, because you smell funny and don’t know how to eat in public and—oof!”
Jack had grabbed her in a bear hug, lifting her off her feet. “God, you’re heavy,” he grunted. “Lay off those Girl Scout cookies.”
“Shut up and put me down,” she said, smacking him on the head.
Dad was watching with a smile in his eyes. “You’re so much like your mom,” he said.
The words, intended as a compliment, made Faith’s smile slip.
“Thanks,” Jack answered. “I get that a lot.” Then he noticed Colleen smiling at him, and his grin disappeared.
“Don’t be scared, Jack,” Colleen said. “I only bite on request.”
“Well, I’m heading home,” Dad said. “Jack, you ready?” Her father tousled Faith’s hair. “’Night, sweetie. Oh, hi, there, Sarah, how are you?”
“Hi, Mr. Holland,” she said. “I’m fine, how are you?”
“I’m going, too,” Faith said, her heart sinking a little. Another crappy date. Ah, well. At least she hadn’t wasted too much time running a background check. She’d go home, cuddle with Blue, call Jeremy and give him the report, then discuss how he’d make this up to her. “Have a good night, everyone.”
“Hey, Faith,” Sarah said. “Um...do have a second? I was wondering if I could talk to you. About San Francisco?”
Faith glanced at Levi who was on the phone, then back at Sarah. “Sure, honey.”
“Your nephew? Ned?” Her cheeks blossomed with color. “He was telling me you’d been out there a few years. Do you like it?”
A crush, how sweet! “I love it out there. It’s gorgeous.”
Levi shoved his phone back in his pocket. “Sarah, I have to go on a call. You want to come?”
“What is it this time?” Sarah asked. “Another chicken under the porch?”
“It’s actually a possum in the Hedbergs’ basement. Their dog went crazy, which scared the cat out the window, so now they’re afraid a coyote will eat the cat.”
“Isn’t there animal control in this town?” Sarah asked.
“Yes, but the guy’s old, and it’s past ten.”
“I’ll pass. Meet you at home.” She turned back to Faith. “So, did you like living away? I just can’t imagine living anywhere but here. I mean, I remember how you were, um...left at the altar. Maybe you went because you... Oh, jeesh. Sorry if I’m bringing up bad memories or whatever.” Sarah grimaced.
“No, no, that’s fine. Common knowledge.” Alas.
“Faith, can I talk to you for a minute?” Levi said.
He didn’t wait for an answer, just took her by the arm and towed her away. The simple touch made her entire arm buzz with heat. Levi’s green flannel shirt made his eyes look darker, and crikey, he had big, manly hands. So...alpha. Colleen said big hands meant—
These lustful thoughts will send you straight to hell, her conscience chided in the sharp voice of Mrs. Linqvest.
“So, listen,” Levi said.
“Yes, sir, Chief Cooper.”
“Sarah’s got some serious homesickness going on. Trying to drop out of college and move back here. I’d really like her to get an education. So if you two are talking about living away, I’d appreciate it if you encouraged that. I don’t want her to end up here because she never gave anything else a chance.” He ran a big hand through his hair, and Faith’s inner slut gave a moan. She remembered that hair, the soft, silky—I’m serious, said Mrs. Linqvest. Knock it off. He shoved his hands in his pockets, the fabric of his shirt straining against those thick, masculine arms.
Faith cleared her throat. “No, I get it. Everyone should live away from home, at least for a while.”
His eyes came back to hers. “Exactly.”
His eyelashes were awfully nice, long and straight and blond.
“You go get that possum,” Faith said. It sounded vaguely sexual, for some reason. Yes, Levi. Get that possum. Don’t stop getting it. Get it good. Mrs. Linqvest got out the ruler. “I’ll hang out with your sister. We can walk home together.”
“Thank you.”
The words caused a warm, liquid rush through her knees. “You’re welcome,” she said, her voice a little husky.
Then he turned and left, raising his hand as someone called a good-night to him.
* * *
BY THE TIME LEVI GOT BACK from the call (the possum having been flushed out through the hole in the stone foundation, the hole temporarily patched with the help of young Andrew, and the cat found safe and sound, much to the sobbing relief of the Hedberg girls), O’Rourke’s was mostly empty. “Did my sister go home?” he asked Colleen, who was wiping down the bar.
“Faith said they were going out on the beach,” she said. “Don’t know if they’re still there.”
“Thanks.”
Levi went out the back door, past the parking lot where he’d pulled Faith from the window. That seemed like a long time ago. He wouldn’t mind seeing her in that black bra again, that was for sure. Or out of it.
Shit. He shouldn’t be having those thoughts again. Faith was...well, she wasn’t his type. Too—too much, that was all. Too delicious edible complicated. He should not have kissed her that morning. That had been really, really stupid. Hadn’t planned it, that’s for sure, but one kiss, and he’d felt an almost violent rush of lust slam into him, heavy and thick and immediate. Her mouth was so soft—all of her was so soft, like a bed you could sink into—and the smell of her, as inviting as cake warm from the oven, and when she’d made that little sound, he’d nearly lost it. Pulled back because if he’d kissed her another second, he’d have done her against the wall.
And that kind of thing, that got a little...out of control.
Faith was, first and foremost, Jeremy’s ex. Whatever the circumstances, Jeremy was her first love, and Levi didn’t like the thought of being runner-up to his best friend. And secondly, there was that overwhelming sense of being lost in the moment, being oblivious. He didn’t like that. He’d felt that twelve years ago when he’d kissed her, a kiss that had erased common sense and loyalty and whatever else that mattered.
And thirdly...she wasn’t even here permanently. John Holland had told him he was hoping Faith would stay in Manningsport. But the truth was, she had a whole life back in California. Once before, he’d fallen in love with a woman who’d left him. He shouldn’t charge head-on into doing it again.
Not that he was in love with Faith Holland.
The town beach was actually a little park—grass and some flowering trees, a few benches,
