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A Tale of Two Kitchens
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Collide Southern Manners
After her goodbyes to her family, Dani decided she’d better head to the store to at least get some staples to avoid getting herself into more problems just because she needed to eat. The HEB parking lot was relatively empty. She’d forgotten what a great time Sunday afternoon was to shop. Sunday after church was spent at home with family and then watching whatever game was on that afternoon, not shopping.“Great! I can get in and get out,” she thought as Pearl beeped when she hit the black fob.Once in the store, however, she realized she had no idea what she wanted to buy. Salad stuff, maybe? Lettuce, tomatoes and cheese could live in the fridge and didn’t need actual cooking. Salad fixings went in the cart. Packaged tuna? Oh look, flavors!As she was digging through the little boxes on the shelves that held the myriad of Charlie the Tuna’s selections, she heard a now familiar, deep voice behind her.“Well don’t you look pretty enough to break hearts today,” the voice said.She brief
Collide A Dinner to Remember
She followed Levi into the bunkhouse and immediately saw the kitchen to the right of the large one room building. She’d never been to the bunkhouse before. When she and Levi had been together, the bunkhouse was empty of hands. Levi’s dad wouldn’t employ any, preferring the free labor he got from his son. She thought it may have been used for storage. It was a large space with four bunk beds lining two walls to the left. One bed appeared to be in use with pillows and a beautiful old quilt folded on top. Next to the bunk space was an open space with some ratty recliners, chairs and side tables. She could see where a TV had probably stood at one time on a TV table at the back. On the other side was a large, open kitchen area and a long wooden table. The appliances looked new and stood out amid the tones of avocado green of the counters and the dark pine cabinets. She assumed a bathroom was behind the only other door next to the kitchen.Everything looked like it had seen better days but
Collide Emergency
Dani’s knees buckled and Levi had to hold her up as she heard her Uncle’s voice on the line and sirens loud in her ear. “Something’s happened to Lu. We’re in the ambulance. I need you baby girl.” “I’m on my way right now. I’ll meet you in the ER,” Dani told her uncle even as her feet were moving toward the door.“I’ve got to get to the hospital,” Dani told Levi, throwing open the door and digging for her keys. Tears started running down her face as she searched for the key ring without success.Levi grabbed her hands and held them still in his until she looked at him.“Come on, we’ll take my truck. I’m not letting you drive like this.” She just nodded as he towed her toward his Tundra and beeped open the cab. She threw herself into the passenger seat and Levi backed down the driveway taking off down the road as fast as possible.“Jesus, Dani, put on your seatbelt,” Levi commanded as she nearly hit her head on the roof after he hit one of the larger potholes he hadn’t gotten patched y
Collide Marking Territory
Levi sat in the Tundra for several long moments staring through the window to the ER waiting room. He watched Dani sit down with Zane and her uncle and take both their hands. Who the hell was this Zane character? Had he and Dani been together before that Brandon guy? They seemed way too comfortable together for Levi’s liking. He ground his jaw thinking about it and watching through the glass. Shit, Cooper, you’re acting like some fucking stalker. Get your shit together. He gave the steering wheel a punch then started the truck. As he drove toward his place, he rolled down his window and took in deep breaths of the heavy night air. He knew he had no right to be jealous. A few stolen kisses didn’t make a relationship no matter how badly he wished they did. He’d just have to keep being there for her. This Zane dude would be gone shortly anyway, he told himself. And I’ll still be here. For as long as it takes.He pulled up to the bunkhouse in the pitch black. He’d forgotten to turn the p
Collide Two Against One
On the way back to the farm with Dani at his side, Levi couldn’t control his curiosity. He knew it was a bad idea to go there but he couldn’t seem to help himself. “So, how long have you known this Zane?” He threw his arm across the back of Dani’s seat and tried to appear casual.She gave him a side eye and smirked. “Oh, I’ve known this Zane for about five years. Why?”Levi squirmed in his seat. “No reason. Just making conversation.” He let a few breaths pass then asked, “He must be a really good friend to run all the way from Dallas to check on Lu just because you called.”“He is,” she agreed, trying to gauge his expression, “and a brilliant neurological diagnostician. I don’t know how I would have gotten through Aunt Lu’s illness without him.”Levi ground his molars until the muscle popped in his jaw. He knew he was being unreasonable about her friendship with the doctor but couldn’t seem to help himself. “Were y’all ever a thing?”“A thing?” Dani didn’t know whether to be irritate
Collide My Heart Says Yes
After gorging on the airy sopapillas covered in chocolate sauce, Zane declared that he really had to be getting back to Dallas. He was on call at the hospital that evening. As they got to the door, Levi put his arm around Dani’s shoulders possessively and held his hand out to Zane. “Have a good trip,” he said as the other man shook his outstretched one. Dani tried to take a step away but he held tight.“Good to meet you, Levi. Look me up if you ever get back to Dallas to visit. Dani has my number,” Zane offered. Levi’s arm tightened around Dani a bit more when Zane mentioned her having his number, but with some effort, he maintained the easy smile on his face.Zane leaned down and kissed Dani on the cheek. “We’ll talk soon,” he whispered before straightening and shooting Levi a breezy grin. He couldn’t help poking the bear just a little.“Call me later, Mags,” Dani said, moving Levi out the door so Zane and Maggie could say their goodbyes with a little privacy.On the sidewalk, she p
Collide Maggie to the Rescue
That evening, Levi had just gotten back to the bunkhouse from repairing a pasture fence that one of the bulls had broken through when his phone rang. A smile lit his tired face when he saw the name on the caller ID, Dani. “Hey, darlin’, whatcha doin’?” he asked cheerily as he answered.“I’ve been fighting with contractors all afternoon. How about you?”“Fixin’ fences. Damn bulls broke down another length of fence. I’m gonna need to build brick walls around the pastures if they keep this up.”Dani chuckled and sounded like she was drinking something before she spoke again. “I was thinking…How about I make you dinner? You know, to repay you for teaching me spaghetti. They just finished the electrical in the kitchen today and the new plumbing’s all in.”“I’d like that a lot, but…I thought spaghetti was all you could make now?” Levi hated to question her, and he would never turn down the invitation, but figured he’d better find out if he should eat before he got there, just in case.“You
Collide Just a Kiss
Right on time. As she walked down the hall to let Levi in, she took in his image through the screen. He was striking in his black button down and black hat and was holding a pink box in his hand. “Hi there,” she said as she opened the door for him.Levi ducked down and kissed her cheek then presented the box to her. “These are for you. I figured you’d like them more than flowers.”“Uh, thanks,” she said, suddenly a bit nervous. She took the small box and pulled off the white ribbon. Opening it she found four perfect truffles sitting in branded tissue from Gaston’s Chocolates in Tyler. Her mouth watered just at the sight. She’d forgotten Gaston’s. She gave him a big grin.“I remembered how much you used to like them so I ran over earlier today. I hope you still like them,” Levi said when she didn’t immediately say anything.“I love them,” she assured him. “I can’t believe you remembered Gaston’s.”“I remember everything when it comes to you, Dani Lynn,” he said huskily.She cleared he
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