Page 66 of Wilde Ride

Without even questioning his son, Levi sat down. I was positive my mouth was hanging open as I stared at the little matchmaker in training. Looking at Mom and Dad, I saw they both attempted to hide their smiles—and failed.

“Where may I sit?” Rhett asked my father.

Dad cleared his throat and schooled his face as he pointed to his own chair at the head of the table, next to Levi. “You can sit at the head of the table.”

Rhett’s eyes went wide. “I can?”

I took a plate and cut a small piece of lasagna. I held it up for Levi to see.

He nodded. “Perfect amount. Salad, Rhett?” Levi asked.

“Yes, please! Ranch dressing on my salad, Daddy. And make sure there’s a tomato in there!”

I placed the plate in front of Rhett and nearly melted when he looked up at me and smiled. “Thank you, Ms. Emeline.”

Sitting down, I tried to ignore the fact that Levi was so close to me. My mind wandered to the days when he would come over and eat dinner with us regularly. He always sat across from me, and I would dream he’d glance up and blow me a kiss. Or he’d finally ask if I wanted to see a movie or go to dinner. Of course, that never happened.

“Em?”

Levi’s voice caused me to jerk, and I looked over at him. “Yes?”

He chuckled. “You were a million miles away. I said your name like three times.”

“Oh, sorry. I’ve got a lot on my mind with the camp starting soon.”

He smiled, and I had to tear my eyes away from his mouth. When my gaze met his, I cleared my throat and focused back on my food.

“Are you excited about helping out, or is it more of a hardship?” I asked before taking a bite of my lasagna.

“It’s not a hardship at all. I’m actually looking forward to camp. Rhett is, as well.”

I glanced at Rhett, who was engaged in a very animated conversation with Gatlin.

Laughing, I motioned to them. “He really likes Gatlin.”

Levi grinned. “He loves all of you guys.”

“I thought he was going to sit next to me. He asked if anyone was sitting there.”

“Really?” Levi asked, glancing at his son, then back to me. “I have a sneaky feeling he wants us to be more than friends.”

Coughing, I quickly grabbed my water.

Levi laughed softly. “Don’t worry. I think it’s just a phase he’s going through. The therapist, back in Denver, said that Rhett’s worried about my happiness.”

Studying Rhett, I ached for the little guy. He had such a tender heart. “That’s got to be hard on a kid who’s only six. To worry about his parents, I mean.”

Levi nodded but didn’t say anything.

The rest of the meal was filled with different conversations between smaller groups. Levi and Gatlin started talking about the cattle ranch, while my grandfather Gus, Caden, and my father discussed buying a new tractor. My mother, grandmother Nellie, and Ensley were chatting about one of the horses Ensley had recently shoed, and how she needed to be rehomed.

When I looked over at Rhett, he smiled at me before shoving a forkful of salad into his mouth. I returned the gesture and sat back in my chair, quietly observing everyone.

“What about you, Em?” Levi asked.

Setting my glass of wine back on the table, I glanced at him. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t listening to what you were talking about.”

Gatlin replied first. “Levi was saying he thinks we should do a clinic at the ranch.”