Luring Levi (Tarnished Saints Series Book 2) (24 page)

“I’d like to add something,” said Mrs. Durnsby
, and Levi knew she was feeling threatened by what he’d just promised. It didn’t matter. There was nothing she could say that could possibly sway the judges’ votes now.

“Go ahead,” said the host.

“What I wanted to say was that the reason I wanted a trip around the world was because I’d hoped to adopt a poor underprivileged homeless child while I was visiting a third world country.”

“Really?” asked the host.

“Yes, you see I am a widow and tho I am no longer young, I made a promise to my dying husband that I would do this since we are childless. I have lost three children in this lifetime and it would make my life complete to finally have a family and help a poor unfortunate child as well.”

If she didn’t stop with the whole poor unfortunate child line Levi was going to rip that damned chef’s hat off her head and shove it in her mouth.

“I am in a position such as you,” the old judge from the network told her. “And I have always wanted to adopt as well, so I know how you feel.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize that,” she gasped.

Like hell, Levi thought. He’d never heard this cockamamie story out of Mrs. Durnsby before. Neither did he remember her ever losing any children, and he’d known her since he was a kid. She’d obviously done her homework and was playing right into the judge’s hands.

“Family is very important,” said the judge. “Don’t you agree?” he asked the host and other two judges. Of course they agreed, and Levi knew now instead of making up more promises he thought they wanted to hear
, he should have just told the truth and talked about his own family plans.

“Your thirty minutes start now!” said the host.

Levi moved faster than he had in any of the previous rounds, thinking he’d make ice cream since everyone always liked that. He had his ingredients mixed and was walking over to the only ice cream machine when Mrs. Durnsby stepped out in front of him and they almost crashed.

“Go ahead,” he said, motioning for her to go, always being the lady’s man. But when he realized she was heading for the ice cream machine, he took off at a sprint, trying to get in front of her. But she was a crude woman and large –
not easy to maneuver his way around her, and she got to the ice cream machine first.

“Damn,” he spat and heard the air horn going off again behind him. He knew he wouldn’t have time to make ice cream as by the time hers was done, he’d only have minutes left. He’d just have to think up another plan.

He went back to his table and decided he had to make something that would more or less bury the taste of the disgusting vile pickles. So he made crepes stuffed with mascarpone cheese and a little nutmeg and chopped some pickles up finely and added only a small amount inside. Then he covered them with cookie crumbles and topped it off with a little powdered sugar and home made whipped cream. He knew it wasn’t his best work or very creative but he couldn’t think straight at the moment since Mrs. Durnsby had him so upset.

“Time is up! Now b
ring your dishes to us,” said the announcer.

The judges first tasted his dish and seemed to like it.

“I only wish you would have made the taste of the pickles more pronounced,” said the network’s judge, and the others surprisingly agreed.

If only they’d known what those kerosene pickles really tasted like by themselves he knew they never would have said that.

Then they tasted his competitor’s dish, and he knew that eating ice cream would put a smile on anyone’s face.

“We love your pickle ice cream,” announced the host, as he had tried it too. “You really brought out the flavors of the basket ingredients and showcased those pi
ckles in a very creative way.”

“You’ve got to be kidding,” mumbled Levi, not liking the way this was going. And then before he knew what was happening, his dr
eams of a future life with Candace and the kids were being threatened.

“Chef
Durnsby,” said the network judge. “We liked both yours and Levi’s main dishes as well, however you have the advantage over the mayor, since he used a sprig of thyme that had no business being on the plate.”

“Wonderful,” said Levi,
thinking too little time had been causing him trouble, and now too much thyme was causing him problems too. Still, there were the two previous rounds they still needed to consider, so he still had a chance to win.

“However . . .”

Always a good word, he thought.

“The m
ayor’s appetizer was far superior over yours.”

Ok, things were looking up.

“But . . .”

Never a good word in his book.

“Since you embraced the challenge and really showcased the pickles in the dessert round, we declare you the winner of
Sliced
and of the fifty thousand dollars!”

“Damn it!” spat Levi. “What the hell?”

The air horn blasted several times in succession right next to his ear about causing him to go deaf.

The crowd cheered and Mrs. Durnsby threw kisses to the audience and ran up to accept her large cardboard check for fifty grand that was bigger than her
own round body. The crowd gathered around her congratulating her and the cameras zoomed in before the lights flicked off.

“That’s
a wrap,” called out the man with the headphones and everyone scattered, going back to the fair.

“Well,
you tried,” said Candace laying her hand on his shoulder.

“I wanted that money for you and the kids,” he told her. “To show you I could be a good father and support you three.” He looked at her and bit the side of his cheek trying to maintain his composure. “I wanted to start my own restaurant again, Candy. And most of all
, I wanted that money so I would feel worthy of possibly marrying you.”

“Oh, Levi,” she said with tears in her eyes. “You should have said that instead of promising things you thought would lure them in and win the judges over.”

“I know,” he said. “I am sorry, Candy that I failed. The more I try to fix my life the more I screw it up.”

He walked away
, noticing that Judas was standing not five feet from them and had heard every word he’d said.

Chapter 19

The
Sliced
competition had been two days ago and Levi was still sulking. Candace had tried to get him to go to church with her and the kids this morning, as well as with Angel and her kids, but he wouldn’t go. He’d told her that God was frowning on him and he didn’t think it’d be a good idea to show up in church after the mistakes in life he’d made.

Angel stopped the SUV in front of the cabin and the younger kids all shot out and ran over to the barn to play. Angel hadn’t been able to get Thomas or the older two boys to go to church and neither was she able to convince Judas or Zeb either.

“Well, this is the last day of the fair,” said Angel. “Thomas is taking all the kids to the demolition derby. Dan and Sam have really been looking forward to it since they often help him work on refurbishing the cars.”

“That’s nice,” she said. “A father spending premium time with his kids.”

“What are your plans after today, Candace?”

“Well, I guess I’m going to go back to Chicago with the kids,” Candace told her sadly.

“And leave Levi? Your kids aren’t going to like that. They seem to have really gotten attached to Levi since they found out he was their father.”

“I know,” said Candace feeling a knot in her stomach. “Little Val has not been able to stop clinging to him ever since Levi saved her from drowning.”

“Val?” she asked with a laugh. “I’ve never heard you call her that before.”

“Well, since Levi started calling her that, she insists I call her that as well now.”

“Has Levi said anything more about marrying you?” asked Angel curiously.

“No,” she answered sadly. “He only mentioned it the day of
TV show and not again since. I think he feels like he won’t be a fit father or a good husband if he doesn’t have a paying job or money to support us.”

“Well, money does help,” said Angel.

“It doesn’t matter to me,” Candace told her. “I love Levi either way, but he’s yet to say he loves me.”

“Don’t hold your breath,” she said with a laugh. “The Taylor boys are not the most romantic
of men. And they rarely ever talk about their feelings, so don’t take it personally. I’m sure he loves you and the kids but just doesn’t know how to show it.”

“He’s been spending all his time these last few days helping Margery at the restaurant during the day and monitoring the fair, and his nights are spent taking the kids fishing or to the fair or just playing.”

“Well, that’s wonderful. Isn’t it?”

“It is for them,” she said. “But Levi has seemed to be ignoring me
these past few days. And Angel - we haven’t made love since the day he found out he was the kids’ father.”

“Well, Thomas did say that when something is bothering Levi, he keeps busy so he doesn’t have to face his problem.”

“So you’re saying I’m a problem?” she asked.

“No, honey, not at all.” Angel reached out and patted
her on the arm. “I’m just saying he probably feels like he’s let you down and is just having a hard time facing you, that’s all.”

Candace looked up into the rear view mirror and saw Levi’s car pull up behind them.

“It’s him, Angel. He’s here.”

“Why do you seem so nervous?”

“Because I’m going to tell him that I’m going to be leaving with the kids tomorrow and I don’t know how he’s going to take it.”

She jumped out of the SUV and so did Angel.

“Hi, sweetheart,” he said, coming over and giving her a quick peck on the cheek. “Angel, is Tommy here?” he asked. “I stopped at the house first and Zeb told me he left early this morning.”

“I believe he’s wo
rking on a car in the pole barn with Dan and Sam.”

“I’ve got to talk to him.” He started away and Candace called after him.

“Levi, I’m leaving tomorrow with the kids.”

He stopped in his tracks but didn’t turn around. “Why?” was all he said.

“Well, the fair is over today and since I’m out of money I really need to get back to work. Unless you can think of a reason why I should stay?”

She looked at Angel, and they both exchanged worried glances, waiting for Levi’s answer.

She saw him run his hand through his hair as if he was thinking, and then he just walked away, mumbling, “I’ve got to talk to Tommy.”

Candace felt her eyes tearing up and bit her bottom lip to keep from crying.
“He doesn’t love me, Angel. I told you so. If he did, he would have said something - anything to try to keep me from leaving.”

“Oh, Candace, I’m sure he has a good reason.” Angel went to put her arm around her to comfort her but Candace just stepped away and raised her chin.

“I’ve survived without him all these years, I can do it again.”

“Is that really wha
t you want?” Angel asked her.

“You know it isn’t,” she said. “But I don’t really have a choice now
, do I? I’ve got to go now, Angel, as I need to start packing.”

Levi stopped at the entrance to the pole barn and turned to look back at Candace. He could tell she was upset and Angel was trying to comfort her. He had wanted to ask her right then and there to marry him and to be his wife, but he couldn’t.

Since he didn’t have a paying job or even any money, he at least needed to present her with some kind of ring when he asked her. He had to show her somehow that he was serious and meant to be the best damned father to those kids as well as the best husband to her
that a man possibly could. He needed the promise to be sealed with a ring in order for her to believe he meant it and really wanted to change.

“Levi!” Thomas stuck his head out from under the hood of the car. “I haven’t seen much of you in the last few days, what’s up?”

“Hi, Uncle Levi,” said Sam, and Dan nodded as well.

“Boys I need to talk to your father in private if you don’t mind,” he told them.

“Sure,” said Dan.

“Anything you want,” said Sam. And with that, t
he boys headed out of the barn.

“So what’s the serious face about?” asked Thomas, wiping his hands in a rag. “I know that look
, little brother, and something is really troubling you.”

“I want to ask Candy to marry me,” he blurted out.

“And?” he asked. “I know there’s more to it than just that or you would have done it already.”

“I need to give her a ring when I ask her
, in order to show her I really mean it.”

“Levi, I don’t think she’ll care if you have a ring or not, now just ask her.”

“Do you have anything I can use for now?” he asked.

Thomas walked over to his desk and using a key from his pocket he opened the top drawer. He picked up a ring and held it in his hands reverently.