I throw as hard as I can, and Lick tears across the yard to fetch it.
“I have a couple of steaks and was thinking of firing up the grill,” Levi says, his tone much kinder. “Want to join me?”
Keeping my attention on Lick, I answer, “That sounds nice. I can make corn on the cob.”
“Sounds good.” He gets up, and when he walks back to his house, I steal a glance at him.
His broad shoulders and trim waist have my stomach fluttering, and I frown at myself.
You have to kill the attraction before it gets out of hand. Levi is clearly not interested in anything romantic, and you shouldn’t be either.
Chapter 8
Kelcie
While I make sure the corn on the cob doesn’t burn, Levi keeps an eye on the steaks.
He cuts off a piece and sets it aside. When he notices I’m looking, he explains, “I’m letting it cool down for Lick.”
“Why did you name her Lick?”
“Because as a puppy, she used to lick every damn thing she could get her tongue on.”
I let out a chuckle and remove the corn on the cob, then head into Levi’s kitchen to set them down on our plates. Seconds later, he joins me with the steaks.
I glance around, and spotting drawers, I try the top one. “Bingo.” I grab knives and forks for us before asking, “Where do you want to eat?”
He gestures at the kitchen table. “We can sit here.”
While I set the silverware down, Levi brings our plates before heading to the fridge. “I have beer and water.”
“A beer will be great.”
Sitting down, I try to ignore the burst of happiness I feel because I’m getting to hang out with Levi. It’s the first time in a really long while since I’ve felt something positive.
I take a bite of the steak, and when it melts in my mouth, a satisfied groan escapes me. “So good.”
Levi stares at me until I begin to feel awkward, then he looks down at his food and cuts into the meat.
We enjoy our meal in silence with Lick sleeping beside the table. Once we’re done, I carry the dishes to the sink and rinse everything off before placing them in the dishwasher.
Picking up my beer, I take a sip and try to come up with a reason to visit a bit longer.
When I glance at the back door, Levi asks, “Do you want to go home?”
I shake my head.
“Let’s go sit in the living room,” he suggests.
I try to suppress a smile as I follow him out of the kitchen. When we step into the living room, I take in the TV mounted on the wall, the light gray couches, and the shelf with books.
Moving closer, I read the titles and look at the framed pictures of his movie and publishing deals. There are also images of his book covers and them ranking number one on various lists.
The last frame contains a photo of Levi standing beside Easton Rowe.
“It’s so cool that Easton starred in the movie. Did you know he’s from Verona?”
I glance over my shoulder in time to see Levi nod. “I read about it in an article.”
