Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77959 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77959 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“I’m not flustered,” I lie, trying with everything in me to ignore the butterflies in my stomach that have taken flight and the fact that he’s once again making me dizzy.
“It’s cute.”
“Whatever.” I pull my eyes from his, thanking the good lord above when Muffin starts to do her business, then curse under my breath when she looks at me, stops, and walks to another spot to start her search all over again.
“So what are your plans for your birthday?”
“My parents are coming into the city on Friday to take me to see The Lion King. Every year for my birthday we see a show—it’s a tradition.”
“That’s nice, but your birthday’s Tuesday, right?”
“Yeah.”
“So what are you doing on your birthday?”
“I don’t know. I have work the next day, so I’ll probably just order a pizza from Caminos and watch a movie or something.” God, that sounds lame, even to me.
“No boyfriend taking you out?” he asks, and his arm tightens around me ever so slightly on the word boyfriend.
“No . . . um, no boyfriend.” I pull my bottom lip between my teeth and bite hard to keep from asking why he wants to know.
“And your sisters aren’t taking you out?”
“After tonight, I think I need a break from them,” I mutter drily; his arm tightens, and his body shakes with laughter.
“That bad, huh?”
“I told you they’re crazy.”
“Well, if you want some company, I’m off Tuesday. Just knock on my door—we can hang out and order pizza.”
“Okay.” I nod, knowing I’d be more inclined to run naked through Times Square than knock on his door for any reason, let alone ask him to hang out with me on my birthday.
“She’ll never knock,” he says to himself, and I look up at him.
“Pardon?”
“You won’t knock. Hell, if I see you after tonight, I’ll be surprised.”
“What does that mean?” I frown, and his eyes scan my face.
“Since I moved in, you’ve been avoiding me. I don’t see that changing.”
“I haven’t been avoiding you,” I lie, wondering how the hell he knows I’ve been avoiding him. Have I been that obvious? I don’t think I have been.
“Babe, I’ve knocked on your door and heard you on the other side turn off the TV and play possum.”
Oh my god, how the hell did he hear that? “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I bet you don’t.” He sighs, and I can’t tell if it’s a sigh of annoyance or something else as his arm tightens again, forcing me deeper into his side as we stop at another tree.
“Good girl,” I call to Muffin when she finally takes care of business and turns her head toward the sound of my voice. Her ears perk up, and her tail wags, shaking her whole body as she gallops back toward us and bumps her nose into Levi’s thigh.
“Are you ready to head back?” he asks me while rubbing the top of her head.
“Sure.” I let out the breath I’ve been holding as he turns us around and leads us back through the park and across the street to the apartment building. Once we are both inside our building, I expect him to give me Muffin’s leash and remove his arm from around my shoulders, but he doesn’t. Instead he keeps us locked together side by side as we take the stairs with Muffin ahead of us. I want to dislike the way it feels being tucked almost protectively under his arm, but I don’t. Instead I’m wondering what kind of excuse I can make up to spend more time right where I am without actually having to admit to myself that I like him.
“If I don’t see you on your birthday, I hope you have a good time,” he says, letting me go once we reach the landing between his apartment and mine. Turning to face him, I take Muffin’s leash as he holds it out, then look up into his golden eyes.
“Thanks.”
“My pleasure.” His fingers touch the underside of my chin; then his thumb sweeps just below my bottom lip. Getting lost in the way he’s looking at me, I lean into his touch and hold my breath as his face starts to descend toward mine.
“Oh good, you’re back. I was just coming to check on you.” Mac breaks into the moment. I jump back a mile like I’ve been caught with my hand in the cookie jar, and I hear Levi curse quietly behind me. “Oh sorry, I thought you were out here alone,” Mac says, and I don’t even have to look at her to know she’s smirking.
“It’s fine, I was just coming in . . . um, night, Levi.” I wave in his direction without looking at him, then growl under my breath when Muffin tugs on her leash, preventing me from making my escape.