Page 30 of Rescued Hearts
The corner of his mouth curved upward, and he nodded. “Yeah. The job is yours if you want it.”
The joy and relief that hit me were staggering, and I jumped, throwing my arms around his neck to hug him. Beau let out an oof before his arm banded around my back, supporting my weight as my feet left the ground. “Of course, I want it.”
“Then welcome to the team, bug,” Beau said, his voice tender. He’d never called me that before, but it felt nice. Familiar, like when Emmett said it. I realized then he was just another older brother to look out for Luke and me, and I hugged him a little tighter.
He set me down, and Claire, Delilah, and I had a group hug, both of them towering over me as we jumped around, squealing with excitement.
I couldn’t stop laughing and crying. This was big for Luke and me. Monumental. We could get an apartment in town now. I could get a car of my own.
I didn’t have to rely onanyonefor anything anymore.
It was a level of freedom I’d never had before. Not one time in my life.
Everything was falling into place, finally, after what felt like clawing through quicksand these last eight years.
My face hurt I was smiling so hard. I grabbed my phone out of my pocket, my mind on autopilot as I dialed Levi’s number, wanting to tell him straight away. “I’m gonna call Levi,” I said, already racing out of the barn.
“I got a job!” I squealed into the phone before he could even get a word out.
“What?” The excitement in his voice only heightened mine.
“The bookkeeping class I told you about. I’m gonna work for Golden Circle!”
“Oh my God, that’s amazing, Tess,” he said, and I only smiled more, my body quaking with adrenaline. “I’m so proud of you.”
A rush of warmth overtook me at the praise, and I slumped against the side of the barn, biting back my smile. “Really?”
“Yes, really. I wish I were there to celebrate with you.”
My gaze ran over the land that stretched out before me, the grass almost glowing in the warm afternoon sunlight. It was beautiful. Peaceful. And I realized I wanted him here with me to enjoy it too. I could picture him here so clearly—his dry humor, kind eyes, and that gorgeous smile. I wanted that. I wanted him. Now.
“You could come over,” I offered, my voice softer, lower.
There was only silence on his end, and my heart was beating so fast my chest hurt while I waited for him to respond.
Levi let out a shaky breath that gave me chills in the mid-August heat. “I’d be there in a heartbeat if I could, but I’m about to go to court.”
I shoved back my disappointment and forced a smile, even though he couldn’t see it. “That’s okay.”
“What about later? I do want to see you and hear all about it.” My insides turned to straight mush.
“Luke has karate tonight.”
“Another time then,” he said, quieter. His voice brushed against my skin like silk, and I squirmed.
I nodded, my mouth dry. “Yeah.”
“I should go.”
“Okay.” My voice was hardly more than a rasping whisper.
But he didn’t hang up. And neither did I.
I could hardly breathe the longer the silence dragged on, thick and heavy. I wondered how he looked right now. What hewas wearing. If he felt this electricity humming beneath his skin like I did.
“Levi?”
“Yes?” he breathed, the response instant. My eyes fluttered shut, my hand tightening around my phone.
