Page 39 of For the Birds

“You already know,” I said in a deadpan voice.

“What?” But the guilty look in his eyes told me that I was onto something.

“You already know about mypast.”

He didn’t answer for a few seconds. “Just as I told you on our first date, this town likes to talk. I’ve heard bits and pieces, but I have no idea what’s true ornot.”

“And you didn’task?”

“If someone told you that I like to run around naked with Mr. O’Brien’s cattle, would you ask me if it wastrue?”

I could see his point. I offered him a tiny grin. “Neely Kate probably would.”

He laughed. “And that’s why I’m dating you and not Neely Kate. That woman scares me.” But the grin on his face suggested he was joking. Mostly. “Rose, I keep telling you, your history is yours to share . . . or not. You may kick me to the curb before you want to tell me any of it, although I truly hope not.” He stepped closer. “But let me make something perfectly clear—your past means nothing to me other than how you feel about it. I don’t need to know anything about it to know I like you. I’m enjoying getting to know the woman in front ofme.”

His words meant more than he probably realized. “Thankyou.”

“Now let’s go ride a Ferris wheel.”

We’d used all our tickets, so Levi bought more. He refused to consider letting me buy the next strip, even though I’d put some cash and my phone into my skirt pocket. The line to the Ferris wheel had gotten longer since everyone was wanting to ride close to sunset. Several of Levi’s clients saw him and said hello, and Levi always introduced me as his friend Rose. One little girl who looked to be five or six years old gave me a shy smile and said to Levi, “She’s pretty.”

Levi squatted down in front of her. “I think sotoo.”

“Is she your girlfriend?”

He glanced up at me and grinned, then turned back to her. “Not yet. I’m trying to convince her I’m a niceguy.”

She looked up at me with big eyes. “Dr. Levi really is nice. My puppy, Pebbles, was sick, and he made her all better again.”

I couldn’t help being charmed by her. “Dr. Levi is a good vet, isn’the?”

She nodded. “So will you be his girlfriend?”

The little girl’s mother put a hand on her head. “Aubrey, you can’t ask her that.” She gave me an apologetic look. “I’m so sorry.”

I laughed and glanced at Levi. “It’s okay.” I looked down at Aubrey. “Dr. Levi seems like a really great guy. I’ll think aboutit.”

Levi stood as the mother hurried the little girloff.

“You’re playin’ dirty,” Isaid.

He laughed. “Just gathering character witnesses.”

I laughedtoo.

“So are you really thinking about it?” he asked.

“Levi . . .”

“Sorry. I know I promised to take it slow.” He paused and looked at me in earnest. “It’s just that I’ve never liked someone so much and been so unsure about where I stood.”

I cocked my eyebrows. “So you’re tryin’ to lock itin.”

He cringed. “When you put it like that, it sounds terrible.”

“Can’t we just keep taking it one date at a time? I’m having fun, but all this pressure . . .”

“Of course, Rose. I’m sorry. I’ll backoff.”

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