Page 46 of This Baby Business
“How can you laugh about this? I looked like a fool in front of the Lanes. That can’t be good.”
“Nah, you just looked like someone who takes her responsibilities seriously.”
“That’s what I was going for.”
“I’d say you got it done.”
She brought his hand down again, and this time he allowed it. “Thanks for taking care of me like a good fiancé might do.”
“No worries, though I don’t think they noticed me bring you inside. They’re with Cassie and Grace now.”
“So no one saw us come in here?”
“Don’t think so. Matt’s washing twice the number of pets right now, which is fine with me.”
“If I haven’t said it enough, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make life harder for you, pretending to be my fiancé. I should have considered you might be interested in, or dating someone else. It was shortsighted of me, I know. I just…reacted. I’m really sorry.”
“Being your fake fiancé is not the worst thing to ever happen to me.” Not even the second or third, but he wasn’t going there.
“Were you dating anyone here?”
Seemed like a crisis of conscience had overcome Cute Stuck-Up Girl. Cute Sexy, now. “A coffee date with Lily Hamilton. I was supposed to call and follow up for dinner.”
She closed her eyes, then opened them again. “Lily. She’s so nice. I’m so sorry, Levi.”
“It wasn’t a thing. And you should know, anyway, after you and I kissed, I had no intention of calling her. I haven’t had time to…date. Or anything.” And it had been far too long without theor anything. Also not going there.
“Me, too. I think I forgot how to act around someone of the opposite sex.”
His gaze heated. “You did fine the other night on the couch.”
She coughed. “Yeah. Thanks.”
“What’s wrong? You don’t normally wrestle a pig in front of a guy? Because that can be a mating call in some countries.” He managed to keep a straight face.
She rolled her eyes at him. “No. I don’t have the most stellar history with men.”
“Get out. My fiancée? How did you catch me, then?”
She didn’t laugh. “I wouldn’t normally go out with a guy like you, anyway. Guys like you don’t go for girls like me.”
“Guys like me?”
“I know I’m not sexy, or anything.”
“Yeah, you are,” he said. “Otherwise, I don’t think we’d be engaged.”
“That isn’t funny.”
“It’s alittlefunny.”
She didn’t say anything for a beat, but then stood. “I have freckles and wild wavy hair that won’t do what I tell it. I’m a little chunky. Oh, sorry. Curvy. I guess maybe your type is someone like Joanne.”
“Joanne?”
“Never mind. Forget I said anything. It’s just that I…don’t want you to think this pretending has to go on behind closed doors. You don’t have to act like you find me attractive. Or…tongue kiss me in front of Irene.”
“Oh, yeah. She saw that, didn’t she? Seriously, Carly. You’ve got to be kidding me if you have any doubts about how sexy you are. When I said you drive me crazy, I meant every word. You’re a knockout.”
