Hell, the way he fingered the panties and rubbed them was sexy enough. I couldn’t wait to see them on him. A sleep-over couldn’t come soon enough.
“These are so much cooler than another plant for me to try to keep alive.”
“Eh. You’ve done pretty good with the professor’s herbs and ferns.” Heading toward the college, I stopped for a red light, drumming my fingers against the wheel. “You…uh…only have a few weeks until she’s back?”
Levi shot me a look that said he knew perfectly well what I was getting at. “I have an interview Monday for the position with the housing project.”
“You applied?” I almost missed the light flipping to green. During our conversations that past week, we’d both carefully avoided talking about jobs or housing or the end of summer.
“Yeah, but not because of you.” Levi laughed, but there was an edge to his voice that made my neck prickle and my stomach tense.
“No?”
“Because of me,” he said firmly as we navigated around the college.
The campus was still pretty deserted, but another few weeks, and it would be teeming with students and activity. Summer was ending, but hopefully not us. Here’s hoping.
I shot him a cautious glance as he continued, “Because I want to see what happens if I stay put here for a while. I like working at Bold Brew, but the idea of using my degree a little more while helping people is also intriguing. And this job has a housing stipend if an applicant is willing to live on-site and handle after-hours calls.”
“That’s good. You’d be good at that.” I made sure I put a lot of enthusiasm in my voice.
I’d been entertaining a vague notion of asking him to move in if he needed a place to stay, but this plan made a lot more sense than me swooping in with the rescue, as he’d called it. I did like to rescue, but he also liked being independent, and I could respect that. And he would be perfect in that property manager capacity—soothing, helpful, and learning new things while assisting others. My big idea could wait for the right moment.
“I know a good electrician if the lights go out…”
“I do, too.” He matched my teasing tone. “My electrician even makes late-night house calls.”
“For you? Always.” My laugh was as much relief as humor. “And your mom? She’ll be okay if you stay around here?”
“As she keeps telling me nearly daily, she’ll be fine. She’s not the first forty-year-old to have a baby. I’d like to go visit soon, though. Maybe I could take you with me?”
“I’d like that.” My chest tightened.
A road trip together would be another relationship milestone, something real couples did, the whole meet the family thing. The idea made me nervous, but a good nervous. I wanted to see all the places and people Levi talked about.
“So where are we going?” Levi asked. He’d told me to pick since he still didn’t know the area as well as me. “Please tell me it’s not somewhere with a reservation. I’m saving my one tie for the interview—”
“You’re fine. You look hot.” At another red light, I deliberately swept my gaze over his green shirt that matched the flecks in his eyes. His jeans were newer and closer fitting than usual too, dressy without being job interview stuffy. “I’m leaving fancy reservations to Dad and Inez. No, we’re going to Olympia, a little Greek place that Mom loved. She always requested it for birthdays and anniversaries. I thought you might like it too.”
“I’m sure I will.” Levi paused for a moment, then shifted his tone to something more cautious. “How did their date go?”
“According to my dad’s text, ‘A fun night was had by all.’ So, I’d say well. They’re going to a movie tomorrow.” I tried to sound upbeat, but maybe failed because Levi made a speculative noise.
“And how do you feel about that?”
“Good.” I tightened my hands on the steering wheel again before forcing myself to relax. “I mean it. I do. Having you around helps, both in terms of giving me perspective and helping me move on. Dad’s not the only one who was in rut.”
“Well, if there’s one thing I’m good at it, it’s rut-busting.” Levi’s laugh was a welcome distraction from my complicated emotions.
“Brat.”
“You like it.” He used a singsong tone for the tease as he bounced in his seat.
“I love it.” I might love him too, but like with my living together idea, it was too soon for the words. Not too soon for the feeling, but it felt fragile, like one of Mom’s rose bushes right before it bloomed. Someday, though. Someday I’d tell him, and I wouldn’t wait for him to go first either.
“Oh, I like this place already,” Levi crowed as I turned into the restaurant’s parking lot.