“Yeah?”
“So, I was thinking about the pub.”
“McGee’s?”
“Yeah.”
“What about it?”
“The lighting.”
He put her bags down next to a bed that was so high she was going to need a step stool to get in it. Her eyes went wide before the sound of Levi clearing his throat distracted her.
“Right, the lighting. I think if the pub took on a more rustic chic vibe, using the mason jar lights could really make a great impact. You do a trio of them over each table with soft light bulbs, and I think it would be amazing!”
With a low chuckle, Levi shook his head and walked out of the room. “You seem to have an obsession with the lighting at McGee’s, Willow. Why is that?”
She trailed after him and had to think about it. He had a point; she did seem to spend a ridiculous amount of time thinking about the interior of the place. That was…new, but somehow very comfortable.
“I think it’s because of Nana Ruth,” she said and then plowed into his back when he stopped in his tracks.
“Nana Ruth? Your grandmother who died when you were fifteen?”
She nodded. “Remember when I told you how she was artsy and always redecorating?”
“Yeah…”
“Maybe I take after her? Maybe I just never had a muse before.”
“The pub is your muse?”
Shrugging, she said, “I guess. I don’t know how that all works. Are there rules as to what can be a person’s muse?”
He took her by the hand and led her into the living room. This house was much different from Natalie’s. Where Natalie’s was cozy and very well lived in, this house was a little more like something out of a decorating magazine.
A boring one, but…she supposed it could be considered a classic décor.
“Why are you making that face?” he asked, and she groaned.
“Sorry. I was looking around and thinking about how different this is than your other sister’s house.”
“Yeah, Katie is a bit of a Type A personality and likes everything to be crisp and clean and…”
“White?”
He laughed. “Exactly.”
The kitchen was white, the living room furniture was white, the walls were white…it was a little blinding.
“She must go crazy when she goes to Nat’s place?”
“Believe it or not, they don’t do that very often. We do family trips and meet at either a central location or everyone goes to my parents’ place.” He shrugged. “More often than not, it’s at mom and dad’s. They’ve got the biggest house with enough bedrooms for everyone. Well, almost everyone. Since I live close by, I just go home at night and either Brandon or the girls sleep in my old room.”
“Does it bother you? Not being able to be there when everyone’s visiting?”
His bark of laughter had her jumping. “Are you kidding? I get to escape at the end of the day! I usually look forward to going home. Although…”
“Although…?”
“I work so much that the reason I’m usually leaving is that I have to get to the pub. Sometimes I feel like I’m missing out, but most of the time I’m exhausted from chasing the kids around all day.”
She frowned. “Why are you chasing them?”
“Because I’m fun Uncle Levi,” he stated like it was obvious. “They want me to run around with them or play ball or just…play. My mom tells me she loves when I show up because I’ll be guaranteed to exhaust them and they sleep better.”
“Aww…that’s kind of sweet.”
“Well…I do what I can.” He winked at her and she got a little swoony.
Slowly, she reached out and placed her hand on his knee. He didn’t seem to mind, and she figured this was a start. “So, you’re good with your nieces and nephews. Does that mean you want kids of your own someday?”
His eyes went a little wide, and she was quick to explain herself.
“You know…the questions. Well, not exactly the questions we’ve been using, but…it’s just another fact I thought a girlfriend would know. You don’t have to answer. Really. It’s okay.” She let out a huff of breath. “Some people don’t mind other people’s children but don’t want any for themselves. It’s not a big deal. I always babysat when I was younger and it was fun, but I didn’t start getting the…you know, the feeling that I wanted them until recently. I mean, I’m not getting any younger, and I guess my biological clock is starting. Maybe I’m a little young for that and maybe that’s not it at all. Hmm…maybe I should consider working for a preschool or a daycare or doing that nanny thing full time. Or…get a dog of my own. Maybe that would pacify my maternal instinct. Oh my goodness! I said pacify! Like a baby pacifier!” Her hands immediately flew up to cover her face, and she groaned. “Don’t mind me. I think I’m just tired and rambling.”
Floor? Please open up and swallow me now!
Maybe if I sit here long enough covering my face, he’ll just walk away…
Willow was really freaking adorable when she was all rambling and embarrassed.
Not that Levi was going to mention that. He had a feeling she wouldn’t appreciate the observation at all. But still, it was something about her that he was finding endearing.
It took a solid two minutes for her to peek at him through her fingers and all he could do was wave and smile.
And that broke the tension.
“In answer to your question,” he replied as if she had never yammered on about biological clocks and pacifiers and dogs, “I definitely want kids of my own someday. That’s always been part of the plan.”
“Plan? You have a plan?” she asked and then groaned. “Of course you have a plan. You just said that.” She mumbled something that sounded a lot like “Stupid Willow” and that he couldn’t stand for.
“Hey,” he began, placing his hand on her knee. “What’s going on? You seem very nervous today. Did I do something wrong?”
“Kiss me.”
“Um…wha…?” But he never got to finish because Willow had cupped his
