Page 5 of Blind Date with a #FORMERPLAYER
“Okay,” I say, drawing out the word.
“I need you to do me a favor.”
“Of course. It’s the least I can do for letting me stay here indefinitely.” I give her a crooked grin.
Arching her eyebrow, she probes, “How long are you staying?”
Chuckling, I ignore her inquiry, not knowing the answer myself. “What do you need Aunt Miranda?”
She exhales harshly and holds my gaze with a steely determination, hinting that I may not like what she’s about to say. “For you to go out on a blind date.”
A laugh escapes and I arch my brow in disbelief. “You want me to do what?” There’s no way I heard her right.
She scoffs. “Oh, don’t act like it’s such an inconvenience, Levi. I see you with different women all the time in the media.”
My eyes narrow and my stomach twists. I expect that from other people, but not from my family–at least not here. “Don’t believe everything you read.”
Flushing, she waves her hand. “I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant. It can’t be a hardship for you to go out on a date with one woman while you’re here.”
Heaving a sigh, I run my hand through my hair and drop it to my hip. “Is this in exchange for staying here or something?”
“Of course not. You’re our nephew. You are always welcome here and you know that. I’m just asking for a small favor, but I would never make you do it.”
“A small favor is cleaning the pool, helping with dinner, or running to the store to pick up some things. It isnotme going on a blind date,” I reiterate, waiting for her to crack a smile, telling me she’s joking, but it never comes.
She worries her bottom lip, as if debating on what to tell me before releasing it. “It’s for my book club. They play matchmaker for some of the single women in Love Canyon, setting them up with a different book boyfriend.”
My chin falls to my chest and I groan in annoyance. “Why me? I’m not anyone’s book boyfriend.”
Tilting her head and pursing her lips, she crosses her arms over her chest in disbelief. “You may be my nephew,but if you think that, you don’t understand what book boyfriend means. And besides, the recent ego I’ve seen from you tells me you know better.”
I scoff. “Thanks a lot.”
“You know I love you, Levi, but all the women I’ve seen you with in the past couple years has burned a hole in my retinas and completely scarred them. I know I shouldn’t take any of it seriously, but it’s not you and it breaks my heart to see it.”
My stomach knots. She’s not wrong, but that doesn’t mean I want my aunt to call me on it. “So, because you’re disappointed in my choices with women, you and your book club can make me go on a date with some woman here?”
She shakes her head. “I won’tmakeyou do anything. I’m asking.”
Closing my eyes, I exhale a heavy sigh. “I thought being in Love Canyon meant I got away from cleat chasers.”
She laughs and my eyes open, veering to her. “I don’t think you have anything to worry about with that.”
“How am I supposed to trust that’s true? Good women are a rare breed in my world and I’m pretty sure all of them are already married.”
She gives me a sad smile. “Levi, I promise I wouldn’t do that to you. She’s a genuinely nice girl.”
“Great. Just the word every guy wants to hear.” My head falls back in frustration, knowing I’m going to relent. Hopefully thisnicegirl doesn’t know who I am.
“Will you go? Please? I don’t want her to sit and wait and have no one show. She doesn’t deserve that.”
I frown. Aunt Miranda knows she’s getting to me. That’s not something I want for anyone. “When?”
“Tonight. The diner. 5pm.”
“Isn’t that a little early and short notice?”
She shrugs. “You’re not busy and it’s when we eat around here.”
