Chapter 10
Levi
“Levi Branson as I live and breathe!” A woman with very big, and very blond hair stopped at our table, interrupting time with my family. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”
I didn’t recognize her, which was strange in a town as small as Carson Creek, but still I smiled. “For what, exactly?”
Her light brown eyes sparkled. “So you can ask me out, of course.” The woman was unashamed of her bold flirtations, which normally would have appealed to me in a temporary kind of way.
But now my thoughts were full of another blond, one with big blue, all-seeing eyes. I blinked in the face of her expectant expression. “I’m sorry, do I know you?”
“Not yet. I’m Paige, and I’m hoping a dinner can change all that.”
Okay, then. I looked to my daughter Michelle and her barely contained laugh and back at Paige. “I’m sorry, now isn’t a good time.”
Paige’s shoulders fell, but she recovered quickly. “Until we meet again, Levi.” With a flirty finger wave, she sauntered off.
Finally, Michelle’s laughter exploded and Mickey joined in even though he had no idea what was so funny. “Oh my god, she was so brazen!”
“What’s brazen, Mama?” Mickey didn’t want to be left out of even one moment of good times.
Michelle straightened and after another few moments she was able to get herself under control enough to answer Mickey’s question.
“It means she is bold, has courage and no shame.”
Blond brows wrinkle in confusion. “What’s shame?”
“I’ll explain when you’re older,” she told her son and turned her attention to me, face twisted in curiosity. “That’s the third woman to stop at our table and ask you out. You accepted none of their obvious invitations. Why?”
I shrugged at her question, because I wasn’t ready to get into it now, if ever. “I’m just not interested. Is that so hard to believe?” My gaze left Michelle’s and searched the pizza joint for something, anything else to focus on other than my daughter’s studious gaze.
“Not hard to believe, but I’m curious…oh my god. You’ve already found someone.” Her eyes were wide with a teasing mix of amusement and surprise. “Who is she? Is she from your travels? What’s her name?”
I sighed, knowing the only way out of this interrogation was to give her a few details. “There is a woman, but it’s new and she’s not from my travels, she’s a local.” Lacey was more than a local, she was the epitome of Carson Creek living.
Michelle’s expression shifted as the amusement faded and something like pride flashed in her eyes. “So you’re not leaving for a while?”
I ignored the sting caused by her doubt, reminding myself that I’d earned that doubt the hard way. “Nope, not leaving. I’m here as long as you need me Michelle, I promise.”
Her shoulders dropped in relief. “I’m sorry, Dad. It’s just, I’m having a hard time believing it.”
“It’s all right. You have every right to doubt me, but I’m determined to make sure you never have a reason to doubt me again. Besides, Mickey’s my best bud, what would I do without him?”
Mickey giggled. “I’m not going anywhere, Grandpa. I’m too little.”
Michelle and I shared a laugh at his innocent words. “Neither am I kiddo.” He giggled again and shook his head when I ruffled his hair.
“Hey Stevie!” Mickey spotted the girl first as she headed our way, bouncing with energy in her cheerleading uniform. “What’re you doing here?”
She smiled at Mickey and gave him a wink. “Same as you. Pesto and cheese stuffed crust pizza.”
Mickey gasped and looked to Michelle with wide, pleading eyes. “Mama?”
Stevie flashed an amused grin before turning to me. “Mr. Branson, I have to tell you again that the sushi was incredible. Really amazing. Anytime you want to teach me how to do it, I’m prepared to offer double babysitting duties.”
“Okay,” Mickey piped up and slid from the booth to wrap his arms around Stevie’s waist. “When?”
Stevie looked down at Mickey with an affectionate smile. “Soon I’m guessing, which is good, because I found a book I used to love when I was your age and I think you’ll love it too.”
Satisfied with Stevie’s answer, Mickey climbed back into the booth and went back to coloring on the table mat.
Stevie grinned at Michelle. “You must be his Mama?”
Michelle laughed at the girl’s boldness, and nodded. “Am I famous?”
“Kid famous for sure. He talks about you all the time. What kind of doctor are you studying to be?”
“Probably general surgery, but I’m still in the figuring it out stage of medical school.”
Stevie nodded thoughtfully. “How hard is it, really?”
“Very hard, especially if you’re not studying medicine for the right reasons, but when you get where I am now, you know most of what you need to do the job.”
“Super cool.” Stevie flashed a smile, a look of awe in her eyes. “You must be crazy smart.”