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“Am not,” I insisted but the effect was ruined at the knowing look he shot me. “It was really good, so that’s actually a compliment to you.”
“Thanks?”
“You’re welcome,” I sighed and went back to folding dumplings.
Dinner was fun and a little bit boisterous, exactly how I’d always wanted. Almost exactly, anyway. Stevie asked Levi a million questions about his travels, which he answered with patience and kindness, and a hint of amusement. Mickey peppered the table with bits of trivia that only little boys found impressive.
The atmosphere was loud, the food good and the company was entertaining. It was a good night. With Levi of all people. Stranger things have happened, I told myself and refused to act even a little bit flattered by the appreciative look he gave me across the table.
“That was the best Chinese food I have ever had,” Stevie said on a sigh with an air of authority. “I haven’t had much but this was better than anything I’ve ever had. Thank you, Levi Branson.”
“Mr. Branson,” I corrected her and was rewarded with an eyeroll for my efforts.
“It was my pleasure. I love to expand people’s horizons.”
“You have to try the pigeon pie,” Mickey offered, looking at Stevie with hero worship as he leaned in with a mischievous grin. “There’s no pigeon in it though.”
“That’s weird,” she offered with a frown.
“Right?” Mickey giggled. “That’s what I said.”
“Anytime you need a babysitter, Mr. Branson, I will accept payment in the form of food. Nothing boring like steak and potatoes though.” To punctuate her point, Stevie pointed in Levi’s direction.
He held his hands up with a laugh. “I wouldn’t dream of it, but I will keep your offer in mind.”
“If you want to go on a date or whatever old people do together.”
“Stevie!”
Levi simply laughed again. “You need to work on your compliments, Stevie.”
She laughed. “Not the first time I’ve heard that, so you might have a point.”
Chapter 6
Levi
The last time I stood beside a woman, sharing the task of cleaning up after dinner, I was a married man. This time there were two kids in the living room fighting sleep instead of one. That was a lifetime ago and it was never as easygoing as it was with Lacey. She didn’t need to fill every moment of silence with mindless chatter and when she did speak, it was with a purpose.
“You really don’t need to help with the dishes. You did enough.” She turned and flashed a beautiful smile up at me. “Thank you again, for the help with dinner. I owe you one.”
A favor from Lacey wouldn’t be so bad. “If you insist.” It was meant to just be one good deed to help out a colleague but I learned in my career that you never turn down a favor. “Now that we’re friends, can I ask you about Stevie’s dad?”
Lacey sighed and stared out the window into the black backyard. I didn’t think she would answer but eventually, she did. “The divorce was finalized six months ago but he’s been living with the twenty-four year old love of his life for the past eighteen.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” Lacey shook her head to clear her mind of whatever thoughts put the sad look on her face and sighed. “I don’t miss him and I don’t want him back, it’s just that I worry about Stevie missing out on having a traditional family unit, you know?”
“It’s part of why I’m here in Carson Creek now. I chose to take every assignment offered to me when Michelle was a child, and the worst part? I knew, deep down I knew the damage it would do to my marriage and my daughter. Still, I took them because I couldn’t help myself, I was so damn determined to become who I became that I didn’t put anyone else first. Ever.”
“Wow. No wonder you’re such a good writer. You have a way with words, Levi.”
“Thanks,” I answered around a laugh. “I’m trying to make up for it now, not that it’s even possible.”
“You can’t make up for what you missed, but you can give Mickey what he’s missing, a male role model. A hero.”
“I’m no hero,” I shot back with a growl.
“Maybe not to you, but he thinks you’re the best man who ever lived.” She sighed again, this time it was more amused and wistful than anything. “It is nice to know that you’re human like the rest of us though.”
I laughed and bumped her shoulder. “Definitely human. With more flaws than the average human, I’m sure.”
Lacey barked out a laugh and rolled her eyes. “So you even flaw better than the rest of us? Typical.”
Her words pull another laugh from me because Lacey is funny and charming. Despite the hard edges around her and the way she focuses on business, she was a laidback woman. She was easy to be around. “Your husband sounds like an idiot.”
