Page 5 of Hopeless Romantic
“I hope this someone is human.”
Gregory took the moment to flap his little misbehaving butt onto the bar top again. Levi leveled a glare at him and then pointed a threatening finger.
“Oh, be careful, sometimes he . . . bites,” she trailed off, completely in awe when, instead of pecking at Levi, Gregory hopped back down into his chair, his clucking quickly morphing into a soft cooing.
“Wow, how did you do that?”
He leveled her with the same glare and,oh boy,those intense blue pools had her body cooing in no time. That’s when she noticed that his eyes looked almost turquoise in the light, with a sky-blue ring around the pupil.
As if he could sense exactly how her body reacted to that look, his lips curved. “Now, do me a favor and either take him home or leave him in the car. At least during prime serving hours.”
“What kind of person leaves a living being in their car?” she asked, horrified.
A familiar sadness welled in her gut. She knew firsthand the exact kind of person who would do something so selfish and inhumane. Which was why, over the years, Beckett volunteered her time connecting animals with human companions, because no one should have to face their fears alone.
“Plus, I drove my scooter tonight.” And every night, since she didn’t own any other vehicle. When absolutely necessary, she’d borrow her dad’s truck. But to her, a car was nothing more than a giant steel cage on wheels.
“I’ll give you a pass tonight, but starting tomorrow, this is a fowl-free zone.”
“That I can agree to.”
“Are you meeting Software Engineer Steve? Isn’t like him to be late. He usually shows up a half hour early for your dates. Sits in the corner booth right over there.” He pointed. “Then you show up, and he stands so he can pretend you both arrived at the same time. It’s kind of cute, in a lapdog sort of way.”
She was a little speechless that he’d paid enough attention to know not only that she was dating, but alsowhoshe was dating. Her dad, family, and friends called her dates The Boy to simplify matters. And yet, Levi remembered.
Which was as startling as it was sweet—for a jerk.
Even though Beckett had lived in Rome for almost a decade, and Levi was of the born-and-raised variety, they didn’t really know each other all that well. It was only recently, after his best friend began dating her best friend, that they’d shared words beyond, “Your largest margarita, please” or “A pint of whatever IPA you have on tap.” Beside a few run-ins at Annie’s house, they’d never spent any time outside of the bar together. Their time in the bar had led to some fun banter and arguments about animal rights, but they’d never talked about anything personal.
Then again, hewasMr. Personal—with every person who sat at his bar. His interest in her was nothing more than a necessary skill of the trade.
“No, Steve is now engaged to the love of his life,” she said, smiling at how happy Steve had been when she’d last spoken to him. He’d wanted the whole white-picket-fence fantasy, and he’d found it. “They’re getting married this summer. I’m meeting Bruce.”
His eyes lit up with humor. “Is Bruce a biologist?”
“No.”
“A bus driver?”
“No.”
“How about a beauty consultant?”
She considered this. “He does have great pores. But no.”
He snapped his fingers. “I got it. A bailiff.”
“No,” she said, then buried her face in the curve of her elbow. “He’s a banker.”
Levi burst out laughing, and she shushed him with her hand. “It’s a fluke. I promise you, name and career alliteration isn’t a requirement in my dating prospects.”
“Thank God for that.” With a tummy-flipping grin, he slid a frosty mug across the bar. “Although, I was once a junior lifeguard. In case you’re taking applications.”
Her cheeks burned. He noticed, then winked. And,lord have mercy,it did funny things to her. Like make her lean closer and consider walking back and forth acrossthe lineas if it were a tightrope and she had the balance for such things.
“Cock-a-doodle-doo.”Gregory ruffled his feathers, his neck straining up as he screeched. Then pooped on the barstool.
Beckett stole a guilty glance at Levi, who silently handed her a towel.
