“A total professional who can’t stop himself from staring at your ass when you’re working … and occasionally patting it.”
“He has never patted my ass at work.”
“Do you think people don’t know what you’re doing when you go into his office and draw the curtains?”
“That happened like once.”
“That happens once a day. Also, that supply closet around the corner? The one all your party stuff is in? Yeah, four different people have seen you guys going in there. When you don’t come out for thirty minutes—and I admire his attention to detail even in the middle of a workday—nobody is fooled.”
My cheeks burned under his steady gaze. “Um…”
“Did you really think that you were fooling the staff?” Amusement lit his features. “Come on. You remember when Jack and Helen were having their thing and everybody was watching the pantry in the kitchen, don’t you? It’s been like that … just with you and Jax.”
I was mortified. I’d really thought we’d been fooling people. Honestly, it shouldn’t have come as such a surprise that everybody was monitoring us. It was impossible to forget when Jack and Helen had been romping it up amongst the dry goods.
“We won’t do it again,” I said on a sigh.
“Oh, you have to do it again. I have midnight in the pool for tonight.”
“What pool?”
“Everybody is taking bets on when you and Jax are going to sneak away from the party for a bit of bonding time.”
Yup. I was definitely mortified. “Geez.” I slapped my hand to my forehead. “This is unbelievable.”
“Why?” There was no subterfuge in the question. Levi’s expression was guileless. “Everybody wants you to be happy, Daisy.”
“Do you think I’m happy?” It was an honest question.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you happier. Why do you think I haven’t been giving you a hard time about ignoring your best friend?”
“I haven’t been ignoring you.” It was a lie. I recognized that right away. “I didn’t mean to ignore you,” I corrected automatically. “It’s just I like spending time with him.”
“It’s normal to be consumed at the beginning of a relationship.” He arranged the cocktail napkins how he liked them, so they were essentially like a pinwheel. “I get it.”
I hesitated—was now the time?—then I pushed forward. If not now, when? “How are things with Corey?” I hoped I sounded casual and not like a busybody best friend.
He smirked. “They’re good. You shouldn’t feel guilty about giving me the old heave-ho as a friend. I’ve been caught up in my own stuff.”
“I have not given you the heave-ho as a friend, and I don’t like you insinuating that.”
“Sorry.” He didn’t look sorry. In fact, he looked amused. “I’m just saying … we’ve both been busy.”
“You’re still my best friend,” I insisted.
“I know.”
“You’re always going to be my best friend. Nothing will ever change that.”
“Right back at you.”
I was quiet a beat, debating. “Tell me I’m not an idiot for giving Jax my heart. I’m so afraid he’s going to bow down to pressure from his family, and even though he’ll be the one hurtin the long haul, I’m going to be the one left with a broken heart right away. Tell me that’s not going to happen.”
“It’s not going to happen.” His delivery of what I wanted to hear was seamless.
“Do you really believe that, or are you just saying it?”
“What if I am just saying it?” There was a challenge in the way Levi looked at me.