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“Levi. What are you doing here?”
His work boots scuff on the walnut floor planks I worked so hard to get at a decent price. “Coffee.” His light brown eyes take on a golden shade as the sunlight pours from the window beside him. Jesus, this man is truly the epitome of a walking wet dream. I nearly laugh out loud at my own thoughts.
“I see you’re in a better mood today.”
“Yep,” I say, and grab two neon pink “Sweet” mugs before heading to the coffee machine. “I slept at my sister’s last night.”
“Nicer bed?”
“No.” I let out a little laugh. Is he flirting with me? “More like no one to wake me up at the butt crack of dawn with their power tools.” Ugh, did I just say butt crack?
“Well you missed it then, because I didn’t touch my tool until well after seven. Then, I went to town until about nine.” He opens his mouth to continue, then furrows his brow. “That came out wrong.”
I wink at the gorgeous man before me before setting down a steaming cup of coffee in front of him. “Sure did.” Although now I can’t get the delicious image of him with his long, pulsing length in his hands out of my head. Hell, I don’t even want to—dirty, dirty me.
“Oh,” Levi says, staring at the cup in front of him. “I think I have to take this to go.”
I tear my eyes away from his white t-shirt stretched across his broad chest and realize my mistake. “Oh, I’m sorry. I was about to make a cup for myself and just ended up…” I pull the cup back toward me. “I’ll put this in a carry-out.”
“Wait.” Levi reaches across the counter and rests his hand on mine. A million daggers of heat rush between my legs, and I realize that if he moves his hand I just may die from the lack of his touch. Geez, now who’s the dramatic one?
“It’s not a problem.” I manage to say.
“I—”
“Yeah.”
“If you’ll join me, I’d like to have coffee with you.”
My heart nearly beats out of my chest. “I guess I could do that.” When I turn to fill my own mug, I mouth the words “Oh my God!” to no one in particular. By the time I turn back to Levi, so casually gorgeous it makes me wanna die, I’m composed and pretending like this isn’t the most exciting moment of my time in Brighton Ridge so far.
My big sis must have keen intuition because she waltzes out from the back room with a tray of freshly iced cupcakes right as we make our way to the table in the back. She shoots me an inquisitive look and I dart one back at her that screams, “Tell you later.”
I shuffle into my chair across from Levi and my excitement turns to nerves. I know this isn’t a real date, but dammit it feels like one. I brush a stray hair that’s come loose from my top knot away from my face, and silently thank myself for putting on makeup today.
“So—”
“How long have you been—”
We both speak at the same time, and follow it up with an awkward laugh. Maybe I’m not the only one who’s a little nervous. Though I can hardly imagine why. Levi is ripped, looking like he stepped straight out of an old school Chippendale’s catalogue—my mom had one when I was little that she got as a gag gift—and I’m an average, if not larger sized woman who works at the family bakery. We’ve got nothing in common.
“It’s been a minute since I’ve had coffee with a woman. Let alone one as beautiful as you.” Levi’s words send a rush of heat to my cheeks. “So, Winona Sweet, tell me everything about you.”
4
Levi
I feel like a fool,but Winona has my tongue tied and my stomach knotted. The way the morning sunlight hits her high cheekbones, highlighting her face and giving her the appearance of an honest to God angel, has me wiggling in my seat. I should be at work. I’m behind on orders and there’s not a lot of time to catch up, but I refuse to miss an opportunity to stare at the woman of my dreams over coffee.
“There’s not much to tell.” Winona shakes her head as she stirs creamer into her coffee. “I moved here with my sisters to open the bakery and here we are.”
“I know that, but what makes you tick. WhoisWinona Sweet?”
“Oh God, you sound like a gameshow host—”
“Other than someone who will bite your head off if she doesn’t get her sleep.”
Her face goes serious, but a hint of playfulness remains on her baby pink lips. “That’s true, and I will come back over there and kick your ass if I hear those power tools so early again.”
