Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27555 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27555 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
"This is going to be so much fun!" He practically squealed as he bounded up the steps and disappeared inside the house, leaving me and Rob alone.
"That's Xavier," she said with a shy smile.
"He's a character."
Rob laughed, but it was perfunctory. "He's a good guy. And he's more likely to fight me for you than to fight for my love."
"Yeah," I said and nervously rubbed the back of my head. "I figured that out."
"You were jealous," she replied in a sing-song tone.
"I was," I admitted. "Insanely so."
"You have nothing to worry about, Levi. I'm pretty into this hot bartender I'm seeing. At least, I think we're seeing each other."
"We are," I growled and hooked one arm around her waist before I kissed the hell out of her, right there on her doorstep, where half the busybodies in town could see.
It wasn't a complete declaration of my feelings, but it was close enough.
For now.
17 ROB
"Have you given any thought to Easter brunch?" I wrapped my arms around Levi's shoulders, smiling at him even though the bar was totally packed tonight. It was the second day in a row that my morning sickness had been minimal, and I was excited about it. And horny. "It's just around the corner."
Levi nodded and tightened his hold on my hips. "I have thought about it, but isn't brunch kind of fancy?"
"Brunch is what you make it. It's often fancy, but this is Easter, so you'll be feeding all types. Make it good and serve it fancy, it's the best of both worlds." I pressed a soft kiss to his lips.
His lips twitched. "How many types do you think there are in Holiday Grove?"
"Easy." I held up my hand, ticking my fingers as I talked. "Moms who don't want to cook. Families who don't go to church but want to go out. Single girls and guys. Couples. All types."
"Okay, I promise it's at the top of my list of things to think about for tomorrow, okay?" Before I could answer, he kissed me again. It was hot with the promise of even more heat later.
"Okay. I'm not trying to be pushy, but—" I smiled. "You've been doing such magic in here, and the town is loving it."
"I know, and I'm really grateful to you for encouraging me to do this. And for being my bartender so I could give it a go."
"My pleasure." It really was. Watching him do something he so clearly loved only made me love him more. Yeah, I know, a few days in and I was already able to say the words to myself.
"So hey, I want to talk later. Wanna stay with me tonight?"
I nodded. If he was offering a sleepover, it was a safe assumption he wasn't about to dump me. But he could tell you he wants no part of fatherhood. Or that, I realized too late. "Sure."
The swinging door opened, and the new waitress, Livvy, popped her head in. "Sorry to interrupt, but we're backed up."
"Sorry!" I pressed a quick kiss to Levi's lips and slithered away. "I'm coming."
"There she is," Xavier shouted above the music and other conversations. "Flushed, mussed, and freshly kissed."
My cheeks flamed while Nix, Torey, and Hailey laughed. "Hush." Mac strolled in with Lee and Kayla, and I got busy making drinks from the backlog.
"Holy moly, do you grow 'em fine as hell in this small town," Xavier said, fanning his face the way he did most things, dramatically.
I stayed busy for the next hour, pouring beers, shaking cocktails, and setting Levi's beautiful plates on trays for the servers. It was a good job, one I never imagined I'd do again, but I enjoyed spending time with people I hadn't seen in ages, as well as meeting new people.
I couldn't help but wonder how different life would look five months from now, when my belly was round with my baby and I was too big or too slow to move around behind the bar.
Who would Levi hire?
Would he still be in my life? In our lives?
"Hey, Rob, where are those beefy cheddar and onion subs?" Dani rested her elbows on the bar with a wide grin. "The guys can't get enough of 'em."
Right. "Coming right up," I promised and pushed into the kitchen, where I froze at the sight of Sela with her curvy body pressed up against Levi. I swallowed down the pain of seeing them so wrapped up in each other, the same way we were earlier, and slapped on a smile. "Dani's still waiting on three beefy cheddars with caramelized onions." I turned around and walked out without another word.
"Hey, Rob, you okay?" Xavier called after me, but I didn't stop, and I didn't respond.
I rushed out of the bar and into the cool night air, sucking in as much of it as my lungs would allow. I tilted my head back to the stars, not because I was enjoying the starry night but because I needed to stop the tears that threatened to fall. I will not cry over another man. I won't, dammit.