Right where we belong, p.5
Right Where We Belong, page 5
“Beth,” Izzy chided gently. “Come on.”
Beth’s eyes widened. “What? Anyone can see she’s got the hots for him, and who can blame her? He’s hot AF.”
Izzy frowned. “That may be the case, but—”
“It is the case,” Indigo said quietly, deciding it was high time she stopped behaving like a teenage girl about it. She was twenty-five, for God’s sake. And okay, she had issues with trust, and she didn’t much like men as a species, but that was all due to her upbringing. Not that Grandma hadn’t had reason to distrust people and men in particular since her daughter had basically abandoned her along with Indigo for one. But Grandma was gone and so were her parents. And Indigo was in Brightwater, where it was obvious there were a whole lot of people she could trust. People who genuinely cared about her and who had her best interests at heart.
She was trying to be less guarded and less prickly, and snapping at her friends for telling the truth wasn’t okay.
Izzy was right. Chase and Finn were good men, and they wouldn’t be friends with someone who didn’t deserve it, which meant that Levi was also a good man. He was a pain in the ass and persistent as all get-out, but he wasn’t awful.
Yes, her attraction to him was a problem she didn’t know how to handle, but really, if she could interact with him like a normal person and not a spitting fiend, that would help.
But the way he looked at you—
No. She wasn’t going to think about that. She could maybe figure out how to handle her own attraction to him, but if he returned the feeling? No, that was a bridge too far.
Izzy and Beth were now staring curiously at her.
“So, you agree?” Beth asked. “That’s he’s hot AF?”
Indigo steeled herself. “Yes. He is.”
Beth’s green eyes danced. “OMG! If you and he get together, then we could—”
“No,” Indigo interrupted flatly before her friend could get going. “I’m not going there. He doesn’t feel the same way about me and—”
“Are you sure about that?” Beth’s face was alight with excitement. “I’ve seen him—”
“Beth, if Indigo doesn’t want to go there, she doesn’t want to go there,” Izzy reached across the table and laid a calming hand on Beth’s. “Though, Indigo, if you want him, you should talk to him.”
But even the thought of talking to Levi about how hot she found him made Indigo squirm with discomfort.
She shook her head. “No. I don’t want to get into that at the moment.”
“Is this an ‘I don’t have time for men’ excuse?” Beth said. “Because seriously. There’s always time for men.”
“For you, maybe.” Indigo frowned at her. “I just want to get a house sorted out and a place where I can do my dyeing, okay?”
Beth gave a gusty sigh. “Fair enough. I’m not trying to be an asshole. I only want you to be happy.”
And it was true that while Beth could be relentless with her optimism and her honesty, she had a caring heart too, and Indigo appreciated that a lot. Like Izzy, who’d left a career in ruins and a broken engagement back in Texas to come to New Zealand, Beth’s journey to Brightwater hadn’t been an easy one.
She’d lost a baby back in Deep River and had fallen into a severe bout of postpartum depression and had come to Brightwater to find some relief. Which she’d found in the form of Finn Kelly, Chase’s handsome, reserved brother. Of course, it had taken an accidental pregnancy and Finn’s grief over the death of his first wife before they could find their happy ending, but find it they had. And Indigo couldn’t be happier for her.
But her own happy ending involved a little house, a dyeing shed, lots of yarn, an herb garden, a cat, and possibly some chickens. And absolutely zero men.
“I know that.” Indigo met her friend’s gaze. “I really do know that.”
Beth smiled. “Good. So, what do you want to do about Levi’s offer then?”
“Obviously she’s not going to just let him pay for everything,” Izzy said. “Right?”
“Definitely not,” Indigo agreed, swirling the contents of her teacup slowly as she thought. “But I’m not sure what else to do. Even if I did get him to build it for me, I don’t have the money for the kit set I liked, and I don’t have it to buy some land to put the house on.”
“Hmmm.” Izzy tapped her chin thoughtfully. “We could get Finn and Chase to help with the building, and I’m sure there are some others who would also pick up a hammer. Cait’s not bad with a saw, for example. But the land question is an issue.”
Indigo sighed. “Sadly, Levi’s land is the most useful place to build it, since it’s close to the gallery.”
“Or, I don’t know,” Beth said. “You could learn to drive.”
Indigo pulled a face. “Uh, no thank you. Machines freak me out.” Which wasn’t a lie. They did.
Beth shrugged. “Then you’re limited to where you can go. And you’re right, Levi’s is perfect.”
Indigo took a sip of her tea, relishing the spicy taste and trying not to think about how it reminded her of Levi’s warm, musky scent. Dammit, why did he have to smell like one of her favorite spices? It wasn’t fair.
It also wasn’t fair that Beth was right. Levi’s land was perfect. But she wasn’t sure how she could bring herself to accept it.
She wanted the house and the land to be hers so no one could take it away from her, but it would never feel like hers if it came as a gift or charity. There was also the chance that Levi might change his mind and rescind everything, because she knew all too well how promises could be broken, and then where would she be?
“He won’t take money for it either,” she said, giving her tea another swirl. “I asked him if he would lease me the land or whether I could pay rent or something, but he said that he’d promised Jim he wouldn’t sell it or rent it or anything else. That the land was to stay as is.”
“Well, it’s great that he keeps his promises and all,” Beth muttered. “But that’s not much good to you, is it?”
Promises… The word echoed inside Indigo uncomfortably. If he’d promised Jim he wouldn’t sell it and he still held firm to that years later, then perhaps he genuinely was a guy who did what he said.
Izzy was frowning. “So…why don’t you ask Jim? Get him to okay you paying rent or leasing the land, and then Levi can’t argue, can he?”
Actually, that was a good idea. It would solve the issue of her being dependent on the word of a man she wasn’t sure she could trust.
Why hadn’t she thought of that?
“Do you think Jim would go for it?” she asked. “You know what people are like about this town, and especially about us being here.”
Not all the inhabitants of Brightwater had been pleased to see the three Americans, and for the first month or so, there had been a degree of suspicion thrown their way. But over time, that suspicion had morphed into something warmer and friendlier, especially when it became clear that the gallery was a great idea and that tourists were enjoying it.
“I think he’ll be fine with it.” Izzy smiled. “He likes you.”
Indigo felt a little jolt go through her. “How do you know that?”
“You gave him a good excuse to get out his crochet hook. Plus, I have it on good authority, AKA Chase, that he likes you because you’re ‘not a chatterer.’”
“Oh,” said Beth, who very much was a chatterer. “I see how it is.”
Izzy grinned. “He likes you too. You know that.”
But Beth wasn’t offended. She grinned back. “I know. He’s crocheting me a baby blanket.”
Indigo also had plans for a baby blanket and was a bit miffed that Jim had gotten in first. “Okay, I’ll speak to him,” she said. “And if he says no, I guess I’ll have to figure something else out.” She bit her lip, thinking. “So, if the rent is good to go, I’m still going to have to think about materials for the house. I mean, I love that kit set.” She looked longingly at the brochure on the top of the pile. “But it’s just too pricey.”
She had a little nest egg that her grandmother had left her after she’d passed away, but she needed that for capital for the business and living expenses. There wasn’t enough to cover building a tiny house too, or at least not the one in that brochure.
Then again, she didn’t have to get a kit set. She could do something similar with cheaper materials maybe. Or, even better, she could use recycled stuff, which would be much better environmentally.
“Looks like you have an idea,” Izzy said, looking at her.
“Actually, I do.” Indigo put her teacup down, suddenly feeling energized and just a little excited. “What about using reclaimed or recycled materials?”
“Oh yes!” Beth clapped her hands together. “I love that idea. You could find some really cute stuff that would make it much more individual.”
Indigo’s excitement fizzed, visions of a much more quirky, rustic little house dancing in her head. “I know, right? It could be so cool.”
Izzy coughed. “Um, hate to tell you this, but if you don’t get a kit set, you’re going to have to get someone to design the house for you.”
Argh, that was true.
“Gah,” she muttered. “Architects are expensive. Does Chase have any contacts who might be able to do some drawings for me cheaply?”
“Not sure, but I’ll find out for you.” Izzy grinned, clearly catching her and Beth’s excitement. “Hey, this is going to be so fun. I’m almost jealous I don’t need a tiny house too.”
Indigo didn’t blame her. Because this was going to be good. And best of all, it would be hers. No more Clint’s. No more hotel. She would be living in the community like her friends. A real local.
“You know,” Beth said. “If you build the house on wheels, it means that if Levi is a dick and you end up not wanting to be on his land, you can move it somewhere else.”
Oh, of course. She hadn’t thought of that, but it was true. She could just move it.
“Okay, okay,” she said, grinning. “Now all I need is a pen and paper, and I’ll draw up a quick budget.”
* * *
Levi stepped into the pub at the Rose that evening feeling unexpectedly grumpy. He was supposed to meet Chase and Finn there for a beer, because Finn had told him the pair of them wanted “a word.”
Levi was pretty sure it wasn’t going to be just one word, and he was also pretty sure he knew what that word was going to be, and quite frankly, he wasn’t here for it. He wasn’t in the mood for a lecture.
Because of course this was going to be about Indigo.
The pair of them had already grilled him extensively about his interactions with her, and he’d told them in no uncertain terms that he wasn’t interested. And it wasn’t his fault if she kept turning up wherever he was and digging at him.
Nothing had changed, not even since last evening when his body had put in another enthusiastic bid on how delightful it would be to seduce her. But while he might be the king of bad ideas, starting anything with pretty Indigo Jameson was one bad idea too far, and that wasn’t happening.
Jim gave him a level look as he came into the pub and went straight up to the bar. The old man said nothing, just gave him his usual, a pint glass from the lager he had on tap—Levi didn’t much care for craft beer—then nodded toward the table at the back of the room where people usually went if they wanted a private conversation, since that particular table was set apart from the rest.
The pub in the Rose was a quirky little place. The walls were festooned with what looked like the contents of someone’s attic—miners’ helmets and framed photos. Beer coasters and old newspaper clippings. Antlers. A raincoat. Someone’s boot—and Levi had fallen in love with the place the moment he’d stepped inside it.
But you did have to be careful about what you said, because those walls also had ears in among all the clutter, and sometimes what you told someone in confidence ended up as town business in five seconds flat.
Levi nodded back, picked up his beer, then turned toward the table. Of course the two assholes were already there, no doubt rehearsing the lecture they were going to give him.
He marched up to them, put his beer down on the tabletop, then sat and gave his two friends a narrow look. “Before you say anything, it’s not happening. I already told you two that.” He lifted a finger. “And another thing—”
“Levi,” Chase interrupted calmly. “What did you think we were going to say?”
Finn was sitting back in his chair, his arms folded across his chest, holding his beer in one hand. He didn’t say anything, merely lifted one dark eyebrow. A man of few words was Finn.
Caught off guard, Levi scowled. Telling them he was anticipating a lecture about Indigo would reveal far too much, especially when he’d probably come off sounding defensive as hell.
“I don’t know,” he muttered. “Something about flirting with the clients.” Which was true, he did do that. But only if the client flirted with him first and seemed into it. Which most of them did.
“Well, it’s not,” Chase said. “It’s about Indigo—”
“I knew it. Look, I’m not—”
“And your plans to build her a tiny house,” Chase went on as if Levi hadn’t spoken.
Levi shut up before he incriminated himself, then took a swallow of his beer. “I see,” he said evenly. “Who told you I wanted to build her a tiny house?” A redundant question since he knew full well who’d told Chase: Izzy. But still, he wanted to hear Chase say it.
“Izzy,” Chase said, surprising absolutely no one. “You went round to Clint’s last night and put an offer to Indigo.”
A memory rose in Levi’s mind—of Indigo leaning against him this morning, her dark hair falling over his arm, the scent of her skin clouding his thinking…
He shifted uncomfortably, conscious of his body’s enthusiastic reception to the memory. No, it was not happening. Not happening at all.
“Yeah.” He cleared his throat. “I did.”
“Any particular reason you want to build her a house?” Finn’s tone was very casual, but Levi knew the question wasn’t casual in the slightest.
He got it. He was a bit of a man whore, it was true. But he owned it, and he only ever indulged himself with women who didn’t want anything more than what he did, which was a couple of hours of harmless fun.
Finn might have still been a bit pissed with him about how he’d given him the hard word about Beth back when that relationship had first been starting. But hell, someone had to. Beth was such a sweetheart and didn’t deserve Finn blowing hot and cold and being a dick. That he had good reason to, Levi was well aware, but still. If you were grieving your first wife, you didn’t mess around with someone else’s heart.
Levi had known that Chase would have been reluctant to talk to Finn, since he was hugely protective of his brother. Which was why he’d decided to have a word. And yeah, Finn hadn’t been pleased, but too bad.
Anyway, the whole point was that he wasn’t touching Indigo. He’d decided that right back at the beginning, when she’d first arrived. She was here to build a new business and make a new life for herself, and he wasn’t about to mess with that just because baser parts of his anatomy were interested in her.
He might be a man whore, but he liked to think of himself as a man whore with ethics. An ethical man whore, if you will.
“Yeah, there’s a reason.” He gave Finn a direct look. “She doesn’t have a place to go, and I know what that feels like.”
He didn’t like bringing up his past, especially not to make a point. But he didn’t want Finn thinking he was only doing this to get into Indigo’s pants, and quite frankly, now that he thought about it, he was pissed off that despite his continual denial that he was doing anything with her, Finn still didn’t believe him.
Finn’s dark gaze sparked with annoyance, and he leaned forward in his chair, his mouth opening.
“Shut it, Finn,” Chase ordered, the SAS commander he’d once been clear in his tone. “I don’t know what your deal is, but if Levi says he has no ulterior motive, then he has no ulterior motive, okay?”
Finn sat there a second, his jaw tight. Then abruptly he blew out a breath, put his beer on the table, and ran a distracted hand through his black hair. “Yeah, sorry. Keep worrying about Beth. This whole pregnancy thing is doing my head in.”
Immediately the tension in the air eased as did Levi’s own annoyance.
Beth was expecting her and Finn’s first child, and Finn was a protective bastard. Of course, he’d be worried. He’d lost his first wife, so this couldn’t be easy for him.
“It’s okay,” Levi said. “You have reason.” He took another swallow of his beer, then gave both Finn and Chase a level look. “I mean it. I only want to give her a home. That’s it. I’ve got the perfect site for what she wants, not to mention the money for the kit she really liked, so why not?” And then, because he might as well put all his cards on the table, he added, “It’s not a sex thing. I want to do it for her because she’s part of this town and I’d do the same for anyone here.”
Two sets of eyes, one gunmetal gray, one dark brown, gave him a hard stare. But he was used to it, and he met it without complaint.
Being involved in a business with two of the most stubborn assholes he’d ever come across had been tough at first, since all three of them very much liked getting their own way and found it difficult to concede or give ground.
But they’d found a way to handle difficulties, because when all was said and done, Levi would have given his life for either of them. Chase, because when Levi had met him in the SAS, he’d discovered a kindred daredevil spirit, the brother he’d never had. And Finn, because any brother of Chase’s was also a brother of his. That was just the way it worked.
“Okay then,” Finn said after a moment. “We’ll help, obviously.”
“Yes, we most certainly will,” Chase agreed. “What do you need?”
Levi folded his arms on the tabletop and leaned on them. “I need Indigo to say yes.”
Finn’s gaze narrowed. “What do you mean, you need her to say yes?”
