Page 49 of Hopeless Romantic
The physicians’ team, led by Gray, had scored enough wins this season to go on automatically. But the nurses needed a win to make it to the next round. Beckett was their ringer. Too bad she didn’t know how to dress herself.
“It can’t be that bad. Let me see,” Annie said, her puckered face filling the screen when Beckett flicked the camera view to face the camera at her mirror. “Is that one of your work shirts turned inside out?”
She flicked the camera back. “It’s the only newish thing I own that’s clean. And doesn’t have buttons.”
Thomas hated buttons. On his good days, he could deal with seeing them in public, but if one was visible in the house, especially around food, he became physically ill. It made dining out impossible.
“What about that cute green sundress you wore to my birthday dinner?”
“It’s April. In Rhode Island. The dress is thin and silky, and I can still smell the frost in the air. Even with tights, I’d freeze.”
“Write this down,” Annie said seriously. “Never wear tights with that dress. Understood?”
“Great, so we’ve agreed the dress is out.” She held up a baggy, soft green sweater. “How about this?”
“You’re filling in for someone on maternity leave; that doesn’t mean you have to dress like you’re on maternity leave.”
Beckett didn’t even pretend to be offended. The sweater had been a Christmas present from her great aunt, who was more of a one-size-fits-all kind of knitter.
“What about my maroon sweater?”
“The one with moth holes in the armpits?” Annie scrunched her nose. “How about the pretty black shirt with the cutouts across the belly? Paired with dark jeans and your red leather boots. You’ll look hot.”
“Shirt’s dirty, and you borrowed my boots.” Beckett reached into the cleanest-looking pile and randomly selected a shirt. “How about my blue-and-white-striped long-sleeve tee?”
“I love that top. It’s very nautical. Might even make Levi think you’re asking to be his skipper.”
“Never wearing that in public again.” To bed was a whole other story.
“You’ll look great in whatever you wear,” Annie said sweetly. “Just avoid tights, work shirts, and anything that looks like maternity clothes.”
“So you’re good with my ‘real cocks have feathers—everything else is just a dick’ shirt?”
“Your boobs look great in that shirt!” Annie laughed. “I still vote for the dress, because it makes your eyes pop, looks great with your complexion, and would be worth the frostbite. Plus, if you get too cold, I’m sure some handsome sailor would offer you his coat.”
“Are you setting me up to take home the win or setting me up on a date with your fiancé’s friend?”
“Can’t it be both?” Annie asked sweetly.
If the cake tasting had taught Beckett anything, it was that no, some people can’t have their cake and eat it too. The other thing it had taught her was that she was in danger of forming a serious crush on Levi. So tonight, she’d go to the game and have fun, but she’d keep the talk about the bowling, her eyes on the ball—no matter how amazing Levi’s butt looked in denim—and above all else, she’d keep her distance.
“It’s not the right time,” she confessed. She had a lot on her plate and some big decisions ahead of her. Even rearranging her schedule and figuring out a family solution so she could go bowling turned into an ordeal.
More than ever, Beckett needed to remain focused, not get all girly over being set up by her friend with a guy who was distraction personified.
“How long do you think it will be until it’s the right time?” Annie asked.
“I don’t know,” Beckett admitted, her palms going damp at even the thought of letting someone into her life. “Why?”
“I mean, you’re not the least bit excited he’s going to be there?”
“Would you believe me if I said the idea of seeing him landed somewhere between ‘sticking my fingers into dark, unknown holes’ and ‘playing with strangers’ balls’ on my list of reasons not to go tonight?”
Annie snorted. “No.”
Beckett plopped onto her bed and let her head hang over the side. “Me either. He’s growing on me, and I’m not sure how I feel about that.”
“When I was going from man-free living to living with a man, I had to force myself to stop thinking about how I felt, and justfeel.”
