Page 103 of Wilde Ride

I quickly replied, “Oh, no. Not this time.”

Levi smiled at me, and my stomach dipped and swayed. “Are you sure you don’t want to come over and make sundaes?”

My head was swimming. Was Levi trying to show everyone in town that we were a couple?

Leaning forward, I asked, “What happened to slow?”

He winked. “That went out the door last night. Now that,” his eyes went to Rhett, then back to me, “that happened, I don’t want to waste another minute, Em. I want to spend as much time with you as I can.”

“Me too!” Rhett declared.

A wild fluttering started in my chest, and a part of me wanted to pinch myself.

Is this really happening?

Rhett put his hands together and gave me his best pleading face. “Pleeeease, Ms. Emeline.”

Laughing, I replied, “Well, how could anyone say no to that face?”

Levi

I pulled up and parked my truck behind my father’s. I sat there for a minute, taking in a few deep breaths.

“What’s wrong, Daddy?”

Glancing in the rearview mirror, I smiled at my son. “Your dad is about to take a big step, buddy.”

“I can help you.”

My heart nearly exploded. “Oh yeah? That would be great.”

He smiled and unbuckled his seat belt, crawling into the front of the truck. “What do you need help with?”

“Well, something big is happening in our world, Rhett.”

His eyes grew wide. “What?”

“Ms. Emeline.”

Rhett stared at me for a few seconds, then asked, “Huh?”

I laughed. “You like Ms. Emeline, right?”

He nodded. “So much. She’s really pwetty.”

“She is. She’s beautiful both inside and out.”

Emeline pulled up and parked behind me.

“Come on, bud, let’s go make some sundaes.”

Emeline walked toward us with a smile that seemed a little forced.

“My parents aren’t here.” A look of relief washed over her face, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “Were you nervous?”

“I was,” she replied.

Rhett took her hand in his. “Come on, Ms. Emeline!” He practically dragged her into the house and to the kitchen.