Page 53 of Hopeless Romantic
Instead of a trademark comeback, he jammed his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels, as if suddenly nervous. “It sounds like you haven’t had dinner. Do you want to stop and grab something to eat beforehand?”
As if on cue, her stomach growled. She hadn’t eaten since lunch, and with Levi showing up unexpectedly, she hadn’t had time to make her usual dinner of PB&NCD. Peanut butter and Nacho Cheese Doritos.
“Are you hungry?” she asked.
He gave a small shrug. “I ate at my mom’s, but I can always eat.”
It was tempting. But they had to get across town for bowling. She didn’t want to keep the team waiting, and if he’d already eaten, it would be awkward. “I don’t want to be late. I can grab a hot dog at the bowling alley.”
“Or we can stop and get you something to eat that hasn’t been sitting in a heater since the place opened.”
She rolled her eyes, not that he saw, because the porch light went out, plunging them into twilight. She could make out nothing but his big, gleaming white smile. “Trying to get me alone in the dark?”
“Thomas doesn’t like the way the light hums.” She went about the task of finding her keys. Not so easy when her bag doubled as purse, glove box, home office, and vending machine.
“How do you see when you get home late?”
“I have a flashlight.” That was attached to her keys.
She was reconsidering her logic when a click sounded next to her, and a light, bright enough to be seen from Mars, illuminated the inside of her purse. Not to mention the cockiest grin this side of reentry.
“Thanks.” For the light and for reassuring her that she’d picked out the right shirt. She found her keys and wiggled them to show how capable she was. “I got it.”
He turned his light off, and she grimaced. Why was it so hard to accept help from him? She wasn’t exactly eager to sit in the passenger seat, but she wasn’t rude about letting people know.
Except for Levi. When it came to him, she would rather fall on her face than appear weak. He was one of the few people who didn’t walk on eggshells around her—and now that he’d seen her house, she didn’t want him to start.
“I know I must come off like a borderline crazy person control freak,” she said, purposely taking her time as she locked the house, so she wouldn’t have to look at what she assumed would be his shell-shocked expression. “Sometimes I even think I sound like a warden at Alcatraz, but if I don’t lay out the rules and set alarms, then disaster often strikes. And yes, in case you thought you heard wrong, I do live with my dad and brother. Not because I’m incapable of living on my own, but because it’s easier.”
“Beck,” he whispered, his warm breath against her ear causing her to shiver. “You are the most capable person I know.”
Even though her eyes still hadn’t adjusted to the dark, she turned. “Really?”
“Really.”
Beckett felt her chest tighten. “I get that it’s a lot, my life, so if you decide you’d rather let me drive myself, it’s no big deal. Because ifI’dwalked into this, I’d probably—”
“I like your brother,” he said, and just when she thought he couldn’t get any sweeter, two large hands settled on her hips and slowly turned her until she was facing the most gorgeous man she’d ever met. “And I’m sure, if your dad is anything like you, I’ll like him, too.”
“He’s more like Thomas. I’m kind of the odd one in the family, if you can believe that.”
“I like how you care for your family,” he whispered again, and again she shivered at his nearness.
“You cold?”
Nervous. Feeling shy. Thinking about fornication.“I’ll be fine.”
But he’d already slid off his coat and slipped it around her shoulders, the inside still warm from his body heat.
“Tonight we’re aiming higher than fine.”
Grabbing the lapels of his coat, he gave her a lingering sweep with his gaze. Then he zipped it up until she was surrounded by a cozy cocoon that smelled like yummy man and romantic spring nights.
Beckett wondered what he saw. A bold and put-together woman, or the big mess under the designer top? She knew no matter what he thought, he’d be polite and pay her a compliment. Hadn’t he implied that his mom had raised him right?
To her surprise, instead of saying she looked pretty, or any of the other throwaway lines guys used that always made her uncomfortable, he leaned down and whispered in her ear. A few simple, lighthearted words that meant more to her than any empty platitude.
“Matching socks, huh? I hope I’m worth it.”
