Page 56 of Hopeless Romantic
If it was anything close to those ass-shaping jeans and sexy ankle-high boots she had on, he’d die a happy man. He’d never been a fan of those crazy printed socks that were sold at the tourist shop downtown. But his gaze kept being drawn down to the dancing flamingos and just how far they went up her leg.
“I’d rather not,” he said, knowing how uncomfortable Beckett would be if she overheard them talking about her.
“I’d rather. How about you?” Emmitt looked at Gray.
“Rather.”
“That makes two against one,” Emmitt said. “You lose.”
The idiots laughed over how clever they were, and Levi went back to inputting names in the automatic scorer. He could feel the looks behind him, knew the guys were smirking.
“Stay out of my business,” Levi said.
“Did you stay out of my business when I was making a complete ass out of myself over Annie?” Emmitt asked.
“If it wasn’t for me, there wouldn’t be a you and Annie.”
“And if it wasn’t for me, you’d still be spinning your wheels with Beck.” Emmitt laughed, and Gray toasted him with his beer.
“I do fine on my own.”
“Says the guy who took a girl to a cake tasting, and now the whole town thinks they’re getting hitched.” Emmitt grinned.
“How’re the wedding plans coming along?” Gray asked.
“Good. We’ve got the cake, the venue, and the ceremony site locked down,” Levi said.
“I think he was talking about the other plan. The one that involves using my wedding to get you laid,” Emmitt said. “I know it’s customary for someone in the wedding party to hook up, but the invites haven’t even gone out.”
“He needs all the time he can get,” Gray said.
Levi leveled them with a look. “You want your wedding at the justice of the peace? Then you should be thanking me. Beckett already had a ton on her plate without adding planning a surprise wedding.”
Emmitt watched Annie testing bowling balls at the counter. “Annie’s afraid that she pushed Beckett too hard and that she’ll put her own plans on hold again. Work so hard to make Annie’s dream perfect, that she’ll neglect hers.”
Levi was afraid of that, as well. “Why do you think I’m overseeing everything?”
“Because you want to get in her pants?” Emmitt said.
“Because if I didn’t, your wedding would be: A, held at the justice of the peace. Or B, rival Prince Harry’s, and Beckett wouldn’t have a single client left.”
“I still think it’s C, you’ve got a thing for Dolittle. But Annie and I appreciate it all the same.”
“Yeah, well, if Paisley’s inheritance goes belly-up because my staff robs me blind while I’m picking out floral arrangements, remember this conversation.”
“Now I know why you asked me to plan the bachelor party,” Gray said.
“Wait, what?” Levi asked. “You askedhimto plan your bachelor party?”
“You’re already doing so much with the wedding.”
“But you askedhim.” Levi pointed at Gray. “To plan your bachelor party?”
“Why do you keep saying it like that?” Gray smacked Levi’s hand aside. “I’m the only one who’s actually been married before. I think I can plan a bachelor party.”
“What the actual fuck?” Levi said to Emmitt, who was smiling like an unapologetic asshole.
It was bad enough that Levi was already sharing the role of best man. But now the good ol’ doc, who didn’t know a gentleman’s club from a geriatric pole class, was recruited to plan the bachelor party.Thesame bachelor party Levi and Emmitt had been planning since they’d found his dad’sPlayboyat the bottom of his toolbox—Vanna White was on the cover, and Levi’s fondness for blondes was cemented.
