Levi pushes off Cletus and takes a few steps toward me, looking around the shop. “Now I’m curious, though. Did you name anything else besides the kittens while you were here?”
Wait. What happened to flirting? Did I miss my opportunity? “That depends,” I draw out the last word so it sounds more likedeep ends, trying to come up with a way to get back on the playful-banter train.
He stops his aimless stroll and turns to look at me. “Depends on what?”
“On whether your tow truck already had a name or not.” Yeah, I think I need to work on my flirting game.
His gaze moves to where his big tow truck is parked on the other side of the asphalt pad. “You named my truck?”
The funny thing is, his voice doesn’t sound at all incredulous. In fact, if I had to place an emotion to it, I would almost say he sounds slightly giddy by the prospect.
I nod, turning to look at his big hulking truck as well. “Considering I was a damsel in distress and he came to my rescue, I dubbed him Sir Galahad.”
Levi’s face splits into a grin. “One could argue that it was I who came to your rescue.”
I nudge his side with my shoulder. “Sure, one could argue that, I suppose.”
“But the 4x4 is the one that gets the title of a chivalrous knight?”
I sigh deeply and shake my head as if sayingwhat can ya do?“I do not make the rules, sir.”
Levi laughs, deep and rumbly, and I want to punch my fist in the air and do a little happy dance. While he’s been freer with his smiles and laughter, each one still feels like sweet victory.
“By definition, I believe you are exactly the one who makes the rules.”
I hold my hands palms-up and shrug in a maybe gesture.
He shakes his head, mirth still present in the crescent shape of his mouth.
“Speaking of the kittens...” I’ve been putting this conversation off, but there isn’t any more time left to delay talking about our triplets.
His brow quirks. “Were we speaking of the kittens?”
“You asked if I had named anything besides them,” I point out helpfully.
“Ah yes.”
“Anyway, the kittens.” I nibble on my bottom lip. “I know they were my idea—to rescue them, I mean—and take care of them, and I kind of foisted them on you.”
He grunts, and I’ve become such an expert on what each of his unintelligible guttural throat sounds are that it’s basically my second language now. Which means I know that this particular grunt, short and clipped and more of a deep rumble, means he disagrees with everything I just said.
Which, sure, to watch him interact with the kittens, no one would believe that I in any way twisted his arm or that he wishes they weren’t disturbing his sleep every few hours for feedings and bathroom massages, but still. The truth remains, I was the one who brought them into his perfectly private life and now I’m peacing out. Guilt, anyone?
“Now that I’m leaving, we should probably talk about custody. Three baby kittens are a lot of responsibility. Do you think we should separa—”
“We’re not splitting up a family,” he growls.
I bite back my smile at his vehemence at keeping baby animals together when litters are separated and adopted out all the time. I mean, I feel the same way—I don’t want to split the brothers up either—but I didn’t really expect Levi to feel so strongly on the matter.
Just when I think I can’t possibly get any more attracted tothis man, he does or says something so incredibly teddy-bear-sweet like this, and I melt like butter on a hot biscuit.
“Okay, so they stay together. I’ll have a hard time getting away from the library for their scheduled feedings, but I’m sure Evangeline and Martha can—”
“Hayley.” Levi’s palms land heavy on my shoulders. “Harry Pawter, Meowfoy, and Dumpurrdore can all stay here.”
“Are you sure?” I can’t help but feel a little relieved.
I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to make it work, honestly. I’d begun to come up with a rudimentary plan to smuggle the kittens into the library, but it required a pair of cargo pants and lasers, and I’d let my mom borrow my cargo pants the last time her and Dad went camping. Considering she still hasn’t given them back to me yet, it’s a good thing we have a plan B.
