“Not necessarily. It’s not always about getting into someone’s pants. But there’s usually something people want in return when they’re nice.”
“Yes, they want kindness in return, Levi. When did you become such a cynic?”
“I’m not a cynic. I’m a realist. Half the time, we don’t even recognize we’re doing it. It’s just human nature. If your rent is late, you’re a little nicer to your landlord because you’re going to need an extension. You have two weeks to return something and it’s been two and a half since you bought it? You walk into the store and smile at the lady behind the counter. You want in a woman’s pants, you offer to help her find the contractors she needs.”
I folded my arms across my chest. “Oh really? Well, you just helped me clean up after dinner. What exactly would you like from me?”
Levi’s eyes flickered to my lips a moment. It was so fast that I almost thought I’d imagined it. But the heat between my legs told me I hadn’t. He looked away. “We’ll agree to disagree. But don’t say I didn’t warn you if the good coach wants more than to be helpful.”
***
The following afternoon, I again sat with Kat on the bleachers, waiting for camp to end for the day. That woman had some sort of radar, because she didn’t seem to miss any hot-guy sightings.
“Holy crap.” She lifted her chin toward the bottom of the bleachers. “I’m glad that guy wasn’t standing in front of me at the gym this morning. I was doing thigh presses, and I might not have been able to open my legs to pee later.”
A man stood at the railing watching the field. His back was to us, but the view was pretty damn great anyway. He had broad shoulders, tan skin, and the tapered V-shape of a swimmer. Not to mention, he wore a backwards baseball cap, which I’d always found sexy, for some reason. I was just about to comment that I might join a gym if that guy was a member, when the man turned around and faced the bleachers.
Shit. I shut my eyes. Seriously? I did not need to see any more of Levi’s skin. As it was, I’d spent too much time daydreaming about piercing it with my fingernails. I was really glad I hadn’t commented to Kat now.
But what was Levi doing here, anyway? And more than that, why didn’t he have a damn shirt on?
Levi scanned the bleachers. Spotting me, he smiled and jogged up the stairs.
Kat nudged me. “Oh my God, is that Tanner’s brother, Levi?”
“It is.”
“Christ on a cracker. Wow. He’s even more gorgeous in person than he looks on TV. You have to introduce me.”
I inwardly rolled my eyes, but put on a southern smile as Levi approached.
“Hey,” I said. “What are you doing here?”
“I was passing by on my way back from the store, so I thought I’d stop and watch Alex play for a bit.”
“Did you...lose your shirt at the store?”
“No, wiseass.” He thumbed toward the other end of the bleachers. “There’s a kid down there in a wheelchair. He recognized me when I walked in and said he was a big fan. I had on a Broncos T-shirt, and he said he liked it. So I gave it to him.”
“Oh…that must’ve been Cody Arquette’s older brother,” Kat said. “He’s got spina bifida, and he does love football. Comes to every game at the high school.” She held out her hand. “I’m Kat, by the way.”
“Levi Miller. Nice to meet you.”
“Does that always work, Levi?”
“Does what work?”
“You give away clothing when someone compliments you on it? Because if so…” Kat paused for a dramatic lash-batting. “I really like your shorts.”
Levi laughed. “You ladies mind if I join you to watch for a while?”
I’d been sitting at the end of the row, but Kat practically jumped out of her seat to make room. She scooted down and patted the empty bleacher between the two of us. “We’d be delighted.”
That time, my eye roll wasn’t inward. As Levi took the seat, he leaned in and whispered in my ear. “Your friend is very nice. Wonder if she wants something…”
I’m sure she does.
Over the next several minutes, Levi watched the game closely, criticizing every other move Jeremy made with the kids.
“I’d love to tell him how it’s really done. But I don’t want to embarrass Alex. So I’ll shut up.”
“Well, the technique doesn’t have to be perfect,” I said. “This is camp, not training camp.”
Levi huffed and behaved for the most part after that.
When camp ended for the day, Levi had stopped to sign autographs as Alex and I waited beside him. After, the three of us were headed toward the parking lot when Jeremy came up behind me for a moment.
“Do you have a second, Presley?”
“Sure.” I turned to Levi. “One second, okay?”
Jeremy led me several feet away. “I didn’t want to do this in front of Alex, but I was wondering if you might like to go out for a drink sometime?”
Oh. Taken aback, I wasn’t entirely sure what to say. Damn, Kat and Levi were right. But ultimately, I couldn’t find a reason to say no.
“Sure. Why not?” I smiled.
“Great. Are you free tomorrow?”
I bit my lip and thought for a second. “I just have to make sure I have someone to watch Alex. Is it okay if I text you in the morning?”
“Sure. And no worries if you can’t find anyone. I’m flexible most nights this week.”
“Okay, good to know.”
His eyes lingered on mine. “Alright. I’ll let you get back to Alex. Have a great night.”
“You too.”
After all, I needed to get out, and taking my mind off the tension with Levi would be a good thing.
Speaking of Tanner’s brother, he was now glaring at me as we continued to walk to our cars in silence. Was it my imagination, or had my escaping with Jeremy for a couple of minutes ticked him off?
CHAPTER 7
* * *
Levi
I’d just gone to the kitchen to grab some coffee the next morning when I heard Presley on the phone with her mother.
“I was wondering if you could watch Alex tonight, early evening.”
Great. I bet my suspicions were correct—the coach had asked her out yesterday. She was probably planning for her little date with the dude who wanted to give her his pipe rather than help her fix them.
“Oh, shoot. I forgot you had that,” she said after a moment. “No biggie. I’ll figure something out or change my plans.”
She wrapped things up with her mother and hung up before she noticed me. “Oh…hey.”
“Hey,” I said, stirring some sugar into my coffee. “I can watch Alex if you need me to.”
Presley looked surprised as she picked out a mug for herself. “Oh. I wouldn’t have thought to bother you.”
I arched my brow. “Why?”
“I guess I just assumed you might have plans.”
“I’m free tonight, if you need me.”
She paused. “Actually, that would be great.”