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“Thanks, Levi. I’m feeling better now, just starving. I couldn’t even eat much of the lunch they served us. My stomach was flip flopping the entire time.”
“What if I took you out to an early dinner? To celebrate? Just as friends, of course.”
She smiled. “I’d like that, Levi. But really, you don’t have to.”
“I want to,” I said. Again, I meant it. I wanted to celebrate this amazing woman and her accomplishments. She deserved it. “I just need to get cleaned up, and I’ll see if I can find a place that can seat us early.”
My brother, Dylan, lived in L.A., and I figured I’d reach out to him for suggestions. Somewhere special for a special woman.
“I think I’m going to lie down for a bit, but definitely, I think that sounds like a fabulous idea,” she said with a smile that made me weak in the knees.
* * *
Dylan had given me the details for an exclusive, highly sought-after restaurant in Beverly Hills. Normally, it would have been impossible to get in, but with the right connections and because we were booking an early slot, they were able to fit us in.
Anna dressed for the occasion, wearing the sexiest little black dress I had ever laid eyes on. It hugged her perfect body, showing off every curve. It was hard for my eyes not to wander, but I did my best to keep them where they belonged - looking into those baby blue eyes. Which, I had to admit, were just as captivating as her figure.
Heels and matching pearl earrings and necklace made her the epitome of sophistication. I had no idea my sweet little girl next door had packed anything this classy, but she was constantly surprising me.
As we were seated, her eyes grew wide. “How did you manage to get us in here?”
Shrugging, I said, “I know some people.”
“You never cease to amaze me, Levi.”
I chuckled, remembering my own thoughts moments before. “The feeling is mutual, Anna.”
She opened the menu, and her eyes widened further.
“What?” I asked her.
“The prices… Wow.” She lowered her voice and closed the menu.
“Yeah, well, you deserve the best. This is a celebration. Don’t even look at the price tag. I knew what I was looking at when I booked the reservation.”
Before Anna could argue with me, our waiter approached and introduced himself as Henry.
“A bottle of your finest champagne,” I ordered.
Anna shook her head and covered her mouth.
“No champagne? But what kind of celebration is it without champagne?”
“Just sparkling water for me, please,” Anna said. “I’m still not feeling 100 percent. I don’t want to push it.”
“Oh, yes, right,” I said, remembering her throwing up earlier. “Sorry, make that a bottle of sparkling water.”
“You can still drink even if I don’t,” Anna said.
“Nah, I’ll have what you’re having. We’re celebrating you, after all.”
Henry walked off to get us our drinks as I perused the menu. Anna hadn’t said much all evening, and I had a feeling why. I knew I needed to nip it in the bud so we could enjoy our evening. I needed to clear the air.
Clearing my throat, I said, “Anna, I’m sorry about what happened last night. I shouldn't have said what I did… I knew what we were doing, that this was only a casual thing. And yet I let myself fall for you. That’s on me.”
Anna turned her eyes to me. “Levi, you don’t have to apologize. I couldn’t say it last night, but, well, I’m falling for you too.”
My heart did a somersault. “Really?” I felt my lips pulling back into a grin.
