“Come on, Charlie…we’re all friends here, right?” Suzette prods with an evil grin. “You should go on a date or two. Maybe I can set you up. Or maybe Levi knows someone? Levi?”
Being put on the spot, Levi clears his throat and tugs at the collar of his T-shirt. “I mean…I guess I can? If that’s what you want. Charlie?”
Both sets of eyes are on me. One with hesitant curiosity, the other with open mirth at the situation she just tossed me into. Digging my teeth into my lower lip, I search for something to say but come up empty.
Must. Get. Out. Of. Here.
“Maybe we should cut the small talk for the day and uh…just get those dogs,” I mutter in an attempt to change the subject.
Thankfully, Levi backs me up. “Yeah. That’s a great idea. I have a meeting in a couple of hours, and I can’t be late. It was nice to meet you, Suzette.”
Clearly disappointed, Suzette purses her lips before turning on her heel. “I’ll go get a few rascals. Wouldn’t want you to be late.” Then she disappears to the back, leaving an awkward silence in her wake.
“Sooo…,” I drag out the word. “How ‘bout them Yankees?”
With a deep chuckle, Levi rocks back on his heels with his hands in his pockets. “Yeah. How ‘bout them Yankees.”
Leashes in hand, we push ourselves until our dogs are panting, and my chest is heaving.
“I give up! I give up!” I shout, finally slowing my pace as I watch Levi race up the hill with ease. “You’re too damn fast, Levi!”
Glancing over his shoulder, Levi waits for me to catch up. He matches my turtle-like pace, though his long strides still seem to eat up the distance faster than my short ones. Once he’s within arm’s reach, I tug him back. “Slower, Speedy McGee.”
“Sorry, slowpoke,” he teases.
“How are you still faster than me?” I whine.
With a wink, a cocky Levi explains, “Because I’m older and wiser.”
“Older, yes. Wiser? My ass.”
Tossing his sweaty arm around my shoulders, he pulls me into his side, and it takes everything inside of me to act disgusted instead of breathing in his musky scent that clings to his skin.
“Ew! Levi, you stink!” I squeal, attempting to wiggle away from him.
His arm tightens around me. “I smell like I just ran four miles and kicked your ass, Charlie. Now you get to bask in it.”
“Yay me.” I roll my eyes before peeking up at him. A drop of sweat rolls down his stubbled cheek before dripping off his chin. My mouth waters, but I squeeze my eyes shut.
“Thanks for inviting me today. I needed this,” Levi’s voice rumbles through his chest.
“You did need this,” I agree. “You’ve been pushing yourself too hard lately.”
“I don’t have a choice, Charlie.”
“You’ve always done well under pressure, Levi. But I’m afraid that this time, it might be too much.”
“It’s just coming at me from more angles this time, but a solution kind of fell into my lap. I’ll be fine. Promise.”
“What kind of solution?” I probe as Bonnie stops near a patch of grass to sniff something. Buddy, Levi’s companion for the day, follows suit. Leashes tangling, I find myself almost chest to chest with Levi as he answers, “Nothing crazy. Just….” His eyes explore my face, searching for something, though I have no clue what it is.
“Tell me, Charlie. Why don’t you date?”
“Who says I don’t?” I murmur, offended that he’d make such an assumption. I mean, it’s true. But he doesn’t need to go out of his way to point out the lack of attention I get from the opposite sex.
Sensing my defensiveness that’s bubbling below the surface, Levi drops his arm from around me and tugs his dog to keep moving. Bonnie and I do the same.