Normally Finley didn’t mind the teasing Mark, but her head was pounding. She detoured toward the kitchen and took another swallow of her soda. She should probably eat too. “I’m taking ten,” she told Jensen, one of the other waiters.

  “Every table is full,” he said. “And there’s a thirty-minute wait.”

  Finley shrugged. She untied her apron and headed toward the back door, grabbing a sandwich from the employee counter where the chef would put messed-up orders. Once outside, she leaned against the pub wall. The parking lot was full. Maybe she didn’t need an entire ten minutes.

  As she ate, she closed her eyes, letting the cooler night air and the quiet soak into her. Her headache was in full force, and she knew that only sleep would get rid of it. Maybe working a double shift had been too much after all. Besides, she was pretty sure that Levi Cox wasn’t coming tonight. It was nearly 11:00 p.m., and there hadn’t been a Minnesota Ice game tonight. She’d looked up their schedule.

  When she’d eaten half the sandwich, she gave up and tossed the rest into the trash. She pulled the door open and went back into the kitchen.

  Jensen was in the kitchen collecting an order. “Mark’s looking for you.”

  “Great,” Finley muttered. She drank more caffeinated soda, tied her apron back on, then headed into the restaurant. She carried a water pitcher to do refills. Mark could find her. She’d been gone for only six or seven minutes.

  As she left the kitchen, her steps slowed.

  Mr. Florida.

  Levi Cox was sitting in her section. And he was alone. Jacketless, of course. He wore a plain black T-shirt that looked anything but plain on him. Finley caught a view of the corded muscles of his arms, the broad set of his shoulders, and the fact that he’d shaved. His dark-blond hair had that mussed look as if he’d run his fingers through it more than once.

  Her brain told her to keep walking, but her feet wouldn’t move. He was probably with someone, or he wouldn’t be ordering anything, right? It would be kind of weird to get a table for one in a crowded restaurant on a weekend night.

  Move, Finley commanded herself. As she refilled the waters at a table in her section, she saw from her peripheral vision that Levi was still sitting by himself. He ignored everything around him, scrolling through his phone, and didn’t seem to be looking for her. But, clearly, he’d want his jacket back.

  Maybe he was waiting for someone? One of his baseball friends, or even . . . another woman? Finley should hurry to the kitchen and fetch his jacket. Then he could go about his night. Or maybe . . . he’d asked to be seated in her section?

  Finley exhaled, water pitcher gripped in her hand, and turned to go find out if Levi Cox wanted to put in an order. On the way, she set the water pitcher on a side counter, then continued through the tables.

  “Ma’am, can we get another order of fries?” a man said.

  Finley slowed. “Certainly. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  She continued toward Levi’s table. He was still focused on his phone.

  When she stopped at his table, she said, “Missing a jacket?”

  Levi looked up.

  Finley held back a sigh. Because no picture on the internet did Levi Cox justice, not compared to him in the flesh. His dark-green eyes focused on her, making her feel warmer than she should. Levi immediately scanned her face, then the rest of her, and she knew what he was looking for.

  “Thanks for the tea bag idea,” she said, tapping her lip. “It worked pretty well.”

  The edge of his mouth lifted, but he still hadn’t said anything.

  “My neighbor had some tea bags, so lucky for me,” she continued, carrying the one-sided conversation. “And luckily she answered her door at one thirty in the morning.”

  He still wasn’t saying anything, just studying her. She’d love to know what was going on in that head of his.

  “Want me to grab your jacket now, or are you also looking to order something?” she said. “I can offer you the employee discount, since, you know, you helped me out last night. A discount for you and your . . . friend. Are you waiting for someone?”

  “Just you,” he said, setting his phone face down.

  Something warm shivered through Finley, but she ignored it.

  “And I’m alone,” he continued in that low, rustic voice of his. “I didn’t exactly have your number. I don’t even know your last name.”

  “Gray.” So he had come here to get his jacket, to see her, to . . .

  “Well, Finley Gray, I think I will order food. What do you recommend?”

  The question shouldn’t have caught her off guard, but it took her a few seconds to process. “The sliders are excellent. And the berry brie salad.”

  One of his brows rose. “Are you sure? You seem hesitant.”

  “I’m sure,” she said. “It’s been a long day. I’ve been here since eleven.”

  Levi glanced at his phone. “That’s like . . . more than twelve hours. Is that legal?”

  She shrugged. “It’s a double shift. Jess was sick. And Saturdays are crazy busy.”

  He held her gaze. “You do look tired.”

  “You’re not supposed to say that to a woman, you know,” she said. “It’s not exactly complimentary; besides, I don’t need to be told I look tired. I already know. It’s like me pointing out that you shaved.”

  His mouth quirked, then he stroked his jaw. “It was a slow day.” He leaned back in his chair. “Besides, me saying that you look tired isn’t meant to get under your skin. I’m wondering why your boss couldn’t cover your shift, especially when he’s the one who knows what happened last night more than anything.”

  “I’m fine,” Finley said.

  “You say that a lot.”

  Finley rested her hand on her hip. “That’s because it’s true.”

  He smiled.

  Finley’s heart did a somersault.

  “I’ll have both,” he said.

  “Both?”

  “The sliders and the berry brie salad,” he said in that maddeningly sexy voice of his.

  “Okay, great.” She hated that she sounded breathless. “And to drink?”

  “You choose.” He was still smiling.

  “Really?”

  “Really.”

  “Okay, then . . .” Apparently he wasn’t going to give her a break, no matter how tired she looked. “I’ll be back in a minute with your mystery drink.” Then she turned and walked away before she could smile back at him.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Levi watched Finley Gray walk away from his table, and he probably shouldn’t be staring after her. But he was fascinated. She was even prettier than he remembered, and he had a good memory. Though she did look tired, and he was seriously considering having a word with her boss. Mark?

  Levi scanned the pub for signs of the manager, but he didn’t see him. The place was packed, and the conversation and chatter and music all blended together into one throbbing sound. He’d rather be someplace quieter, with Finley. So maybe he’d ask her out . . . would that be too far-fetched?

  He didn’t even know if she had a boyfriend. He should probably find that out first.

  Levi sighed and picked up his phone. His brother hadn’t texted him back all day. Was Rhett really going to stick to what he said about not talking to him until Monday? His other texts consisted of the group chat with the Six Pack. The chat had been going off the last thirty minutes as games had finished for the night.

  Not hearing from Rhett and waiting for a good time to come back to the pub had made today long as hell. If Levi had known Finley was working all day, he would have come earlier. As it was, he figured the restaurant would slow down a bit after 11:00 p.m., but he’d been wrong. Every table was filled, with more people waiting in the lobby.

  Levi scanned the place, not feeling a bit guilty about sitting alone at a table for four. He’d come to eat, like everyone else, and to get his jacket. But in reality, he would have come anyway. To see her again. And to know if his brain had just been in a weird place last night.

  Finley came out of the kitchen, carrying a platter of fries and a bottle of beer. She stopped by a table to deliver the fries and smiled at something the customer said. Her dimples flashed. Levi probably shouldn’t be checking her out, but he was. He’d noticed her American-flag earrings and all those bracelets that had jangled when she put her hand on her hip. Her long, dark hair was pulled into a loose ponytail, and she seemed to be wearing some sort of glittery eye makeup.

  And now she was walking in his direction, her hips swaying ever so slightly and those brown eyes flashing.

  He was smiling before she reached his table.

  “What did you bring me?” he asked.

  She set down a bottle. “Something you’ll like.”

  He turned the bottle to read the label—one he wasn’t familiar with. “How can you be sure?”

  She smiled. This time at him. Which was much better.

  “Just try it, Mr. Florida.”

  So he did. Took a long swallow of the smooth, cold drink. “It’s good. Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome,” she said. “Be back soon with your meal.”

  “Wait,” Levi said before she could disappear again. “What time do you get off?”

  “I’m closing, so around one thirty.”

  “And you’re walking home again?”

  Finley rested her hand on her hip.

  He kind of liked it when she did that.

  “I’ll be fine,” she said.

  Levi held back a smile. “I know, but I had something to ask you that’s kind of personal.”

  This brought her brows up. “You can ask me here. I’m not worried about being overheard, with all the noise.”

  Levi glanced around as if he were checking to see if someone was listening. “It’s extremely personal.”

  Her lips twitched. “You’re really going to wait two hours to ask me something?”

  “Or I could text you,” he said. “You know, that would be private too.”

  Finley laughed. “Wow, you are smooth, Levi Cox. I’ve never been asked for my number quite like that.”

  He picked up his phone, waiting.

  She held out her hand, and he set his phone in it. Seconds later, she’d entered her contact information, then she gave him the phone back.

  Before she made it to the kitchen, he’d already sent the text: Do you have a boyfriend?

  She disappeared into the kitchen. And he waited. And waited.

  No reply.

  Eventually she came back out of the kitchen, took more orders, delivered food, refilled drinks. She brought him another drink without saying a word.

  When she brought him his meal, she still didn’t say anything about his text.

  Was she trying to kill him?

  Well, he could wait it out.

  Her text came when he was almost finished eating his meal.

  I don’t have a boyfriend. And I’m not married, and I’m not divorced, if those are your next questions.

  Levi grinned. He looked up from his phone and scanned the pub for her. She must be in the kitchen again. He texted: Can I walk you home after work? Or we can take the Bronco.

  No reply. Not that he was surprised. He finished his meal, and as he was pushing back his chair, Finley appeared. Holding his jacket.

  “Bad news,” she said.

  He rose to his feet and looked down at her, wondering how he’d missed her approach.

  “The boss says we’re only taking cash tonight,” she said, handing him the jacket. “Specifically in hundred-dollar bills.”

  She was trying not to break into a smile.

  Levi took the jacket, then pulled out his wallet from his back pocket. “I guess I’m in luck then.” He took out a hundred-dollar bill, then set it on the table. “Keep the change, Finley Gray.”

  Levi moved past her, then strode to the door. Once outside, he headed for the parking lot. He opened the door to the Bronco and tossed in the jacket. Then he pulled out his phone. She still hadn’t replied to his text. But he would wait.

  He spent the next hour watching YouTube videos on the Pittsburgh Knights, whom he’d be playing against tomorrow night. He rewatched plays by the second baseman and third baseman, to see how they threw and caught, searching for any weaknesses. Next, he watched videos on the catcher, David McCarthy. A.k.a. Grizz. A member of the Six Pack.

  Grizz had been the first one to befriend Levi when he’d arrived in Belltown his freshman year. Somehow Grizz had read up on Levi’s high school stats.

  “Hey, Steal,” Grizz had greeted him when Levi walked into the Belltown U team locker room.

  Even then, Grizz was wearing his signature aviator glasses. Indoors. His beard wasn’t as thick as it was now, since it was more artsy back then. Levi hadn’t ever been big on personal appearance upkeep. Got his hair cut every couple of months. Shaved or didn’t shave. That was it.

  “Steal?” Levi had questioned Grizz. “I think you’ve got the wrong person.”

  “The way I see it,” Grizz had said, “you averaged fifty stolen bases a season during your high school career. So we’re calling you Steal.”

  The guy was about an inch taller than Levi, but built more like a racehorse. “And what should I call you, David McCarthy?”

  Grizz had grinned. “Grizz.”

  “Nothing to do with baseball, huh?”

  Grizz pulled off his aviator glasses and fixed Levi with his ice-blue eyes. “Some players don’t need their baseball skills defined. Like me. It’s all about the hair.”

  Levi had laughed then. And he soon learned that whenever things were stressful, or feeling out of control, Grizz could lighten his mood.

  Now, it was one in the morning, but Levi was tempted to call Grizz. Levi wouldn’t have time in the morning, between flying out to Pittsburgh and warm-ups at the Knights’ field. If Grizz was asleep and hadn’t turned his phone off, then that was his problem.

  Grizz answered on the first ring. “You have terrible timing as usual, Steal.”

  It was an old joke between them. “You got a woman over?”

  Grizz chuckled. “You think I would have answered a call from anyone, especially someone from the Six Pack, if I did?”

  Levi smiled and leaned against the Bronco. “Good point.”

  “What’s up, Steal?” he asked. “Wanna make a bet? Loser has to streak down Main Street after the game?”

  “Ha. We’re not in college anymore,” Levi said. “We’re grown men, remember?”

  “That’s what makes it all the more fun,” Grizz answered, a smirk in his voice. “We’re old enough to know better, yet stupid stuff happens anyway.”

  “No thanks,” Levi said.

  “So why are you calling me at one in the morning?” Grizz asked.

  Levi rubbed his hand over his face, stalling.

  “A woman, huh?” Grizz said. “What’s going on? She’s got her hooks into you?”

  “I don’t know what’s going on,” Levi said. “I haven’t been in this situation before.”

  “Well, if you’re calling me for advice, I’m going to need a little more to go on than that.”

  Levi pushed away from the Bronco and walked the length of the parking lot. “I’ve never had to work like this before. She’s not like any other woman I’ve met.”

  Grizz chuckled. “You mean she’s not buying you drinks?”

  “Yeah, about that. Rabbit should have kept his mouth shut,” Levi grumbled. “I can’t believe he took a picture.”

  “Believe me, there’s a big difference between college baseball and major-league baseball when it comes to some women,” Grizz said. “We’ve all experienced it.”

  “Yeah, but I can blow that stuff off.” Levi paused by the back fence, beyond which was another building. An apartment building, by the looks of it. “She’s sort of hard to read.”

  Grizz didn’t say anything for a minute. “What’s her vibe?”

  Levi frowned. “Her what?”

  “You know, how do you feel around her, and how do you think she feels around you?”

  Levi rubbed the back of his neck. “Uh, that’s really deep.”

  Grizz laughed. “Women are deep. At least women who are worth getting to know.”

  Levi blew out a breath. “I think she’s interested. She’s sweet, you know, but tough as hell. She’s a boxer.”

  “Whoa,” Grizz said. “Hold up. A boxer? As in she’ll punch your lights out if you look at her wrong?”

  Levi smiled. “She’s a lightweight.”

  “So much better.” Grizz cleared his throat as if he were trying to hold back a laugh. “I don’t know, man. A boxer chick? All that muscle, nothing soft.”

  “She’s plenty soft,” Levi said, scratching the edge of his jaw. It felt prickly. “I mean, not that I’ve actually touched her. But she’s curvy, and yeah, she’s strong, but not like a bodybuilder or anything.” He should stop talking. Sharing these details could get him into trouble.

  “Do you have a picture?” Grizz asked.

  Levi scoffed. “Really? Why would you go there?”

  “Easy, Steal,” Grizz said. “You got me curious, that’s all. Boxer or ballet dancer, I’m wondering about the woman who finally turned Levi Cox’s stubborn head.”

  “Funny.” Levi walked toward his Bronco. He had to keep moving. This conversation was about as uncomfortable as he’d ever had.

  “Did you get her number?” Grizz asked.

  Levi smiled. “Yeah.”

  “Then call her. Text her. Whatever seems right,” Grizz said. “All I know is that if she’s worth something to you, don’t screw it up before anything can start. Which means not making assumptions, and taking things at her pace, not yours.”

  Levi nodded to himself. Made sense. “Okay. I can handle that, I think.”

  Grizz’s chuckle was soft. “Just remember that women are not like a baseball game. They’re unpredictable all the time. So all I can do is wish you luck. Sweet or not, a woman who fights for sport is going to be a handful. No pun intended.”

  “Yeah, maybe I’m in a weird place right now, and this humidity is messing with my brain,” Levi said. “The last thing I should be focused on is a relationship with a woman. I mean, Rhett’s got most of my attention, and my team is only winning about fifty percent of their games. Life can change in an instant. I might not even be playing in Minnesota next season.”

 

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