Harlequin Love Inspired March 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 by Patrice Lewis (best large ereader .txt) 📕

can make butter tomorrow if you have enough cream,” Jane offered when he came back up.

“Danke. I think there’s enough.” He sniffed. “Dinner smells good. I’m starving.”

While he ate, Jane lifted the jars of jam from the water bath and set them on a towel to cool.

“What inspired you to make jam?” Levy spoke with his mouth full.

“The amount of raspberries left unharvested. It seems sinful to let them go to waste.”

“This time of year there are more raspberries than I can sell, and they have to be picked fresh for the farmer’s market.” He rubbed his chin. “Maybe I can sell your jam too.”

“I can keep picking berries through the week, then, and make more jam. Be sure to build in the cost of the jars and lids, since they’re yours. I found them in the basement.”

“I’ll split the money with you, then. My supplies, your labor.”

“Deal.”

She felt a tentative truce was in effect, so she sat down and reached for a grilled cheese sandwich. Between them, the baby rested in her seat, making small motions with her hands.

“May I ask you a question?” Levy asked as he spooned up some soup.

“Ja.”

“Why are you here? What I mean is, why did you decide to come to stay with your aunt and uncle?”

It was the last question Jane expected, and she nearly choked on her sandwich. “Why do you want to know?”

“Just curious. Is it a big secret or something?”

“Nein… Nein, not really.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Yet it seems you left something behind in Ohio. Did I hire a woman of questionable background to watch Mercy?”

“Of course not.” She looked away, then heaved a sigh. “The truth is, the man I loved married my best friend. End of story.”

“Whoa. Sounds more like the beginning of a story to me.”

“I would rather not talk about it. It’s painful and it’s something I chose to leave behind me. It comes from having a best friend who was pretty. Very pretty. And that’s all I’ll say about the matter.” She stood up. “In fact, it’s time for me to go. Leave the dishes. I’ll do them tomorrow. Mercy’s been fed and diapered. See you tomorrow.”

She practically ran from the room and down the porch steps. Walking toward her aunt and uncle’s house, she was angry at how she’d handled his question.

Her heart was pounding like it was going to pop out of her chest. What did it matter if Levy knew about the reason why she came to Grand Creek? It was not, after all, a deep dark secret.

Yet she realized Levy was the last person in the world with whom she wanted to discuss her love life—or lack thereof. How awkward was it, after all, to discuss it with her employer? She had no intention of baring her soul to him.

Thoughts of Isaac receded as she began thinking more and more about Levy. Despite his stubborn refusal to give Mercy to another family to raise, he had many excellent qualities. He was hardworking, devout, loyal, clever, dedicated and—when he chose to be—kind. His rare smiles lit up his face and made her heart beat faster.

What did that matter to her? He didn’t see her as anyone attractive or interesting. And she refused to engage her heart where it wasn’t wanted. She did not intend to turn Levy into another Isaac, longing for a man who didn’t see her as a woman but merely as a tool.

“What is the matter with me, Gott?” she whispered. She seemed to settle her interest on men who didn’t—or couldn’t—return the interest. Was she unlovable? Or was she destined only to love those who couldn’t love her back?

CHAPTER SIX

With some amusement, Levy watched Jane flee from the house. So she’d left her heart behind in Ohio, had she? Smiling, he shook his head at her embarrassment. And found himself curious about her.

He was determined to pry those secrets out of her one way or another.

He went about caring for Mercy—a bit more comfortable now, thanks to Jane’s baby lessons—and barely paid attention to why he was so interested in Jane’s past.

Because he was interested. Not just in her life before she got to town, but in her. She was a unique package, unlike any woman he’d met before. On the surface she seemed quiet and demure, even plain. But underneath? He sensed a strong streak of stubbornness and, more importantly, strength. Strength of character, strength of integrity. He admired that in a woman.

He grinned at Mercy as she tried out a tentative smile at him. She was certainly an adorable boppli. “Come, little one,” he said as he gathered her up in his arms. “Let’s think of a way to pry your nanny’s story out of her, shall we?”

* * *

When she arrived at her aunt and uncle’s, Jane found Catherine just making some tea. “Gut’n owed, how went your day?”

“Fine. Fine.” Jane gulped.

Catherine looked at her. “What happened?”

“Oh nothing.” Jane dropped down into a chair. “Except I dodged some questions from Levy about why I left Jasper and came here. It was…awkward.”

Her aunt prepared a second mug of tea and placed it on the table for Jane. “Why was he asking?”

“It just came up.”

Her aunt frowned. “Was he flirting?”

“No!” Her denial came too quick. “Of course not.”

“Because if he was, you could do worse,” continued her aunt. “Levy’s a gut man.”

“Tante Catherine, please. Don’t play matchmaker.”

“Ja, sure.” Her aunt looked unconvinced. “But you’re young and pretty, so it’s normal for me to wonder who’d make a gut husband for you.”

“Pretty? I’m nothing of the sort.” Jane shoved her glasses back up her nose. “Don’t you know lying is a sin?”

“I’m not lying, liebling. You just have no confidence in yourself.”

“Maybe not.” Jane toyed with the tea strainer in her mug. “Years of experience, I guess.”

Catherine sipped her tea. “There’s been no one special for you? No rides home from singings?”

“Nein.” Jane laughed with the very tinge of bitterness that had concerned her mother. “And the