Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
LEVI
“You like men, and I’m a man. I know it’s not as simple as that, but I’m sure if we put our heads together, we can figure out what the issue is. Because while we might not have known each other long, I don’t think you’re the problem.”
Andy spoke like he firmly believed his statement. Austin and Jim nodded in agreement, but I still had a hard time believing it.
“I’m not too sure about that,” I muttered.
It was hard to think that the issue didn’t lie with me when I was the one being broken up with in every single relationship. And the fact they all used the same excuse too?
It said something when every single man I’d been with stated that I wasn’t the kind of person they wanted to settle down with.
“Come on. You just need someone to gas you up. And that’s where I’ll come in. I’ll be your wingman and dating advisor,” Andy stated. He took a sip of his beer, looking all self-assured, like this was a foolproof plan. I had my doubts.
“I think that’s a great idea! Coming from a big city like New York, I’m sure Andy can give better dating advice than we can,” Jim commented.
Jim and Austin had been best friends for years before they eventually got together, so I knew their situation wasn’t applicable to me.
I wasn’t looking to date my best friend, Felix, who’d moved to a different small town last year. I didn’t think Felix’s new boyfriend would appreciate that. From what Felix told me, Bruce was the possessive type and wouldn’t let anyone get in between the two of them.
Thinking about how all my friends were matching up, finding the loves of their lives, I smiled. I was ecstatic they found their happiness with people who loved them as they deserved to be loved. And then there was me…
“Okay, fine. I obviously need all the help I can get. How do we start?” I said. It wasn’t like I had anything to lose. Worse case, I’d get rejected again, and it wasn’t like I was short of those.
Andy studied me, his gaze hot as he looked me over. I wasn’t unused to being checked out. I knew I was easy on the eyes, and maybe that was a reason why the sting of rejection hurt even more when I’d always been told I was stereotypically attractive.
I didn’t want to only be a pretty face that warmed someone’s bed for the night. I was looking for the person who saw me, really saw me. Like the way Jim and Austin were for each other.
They didn’t have to hide themselves or pretend to be someone they weren’t. They accepted each other as they were. Full stop.
I wasn’t lying when I said they were fucking lucky to have each other.
“Well? What’s the verdict?” I asked after a minute under Andy’s scrutiny without him saying a word. Jim and Austin were watching us too.
Andy leaned back into the seat, all nonchalant and easy. How he made sitting look cool was beyond me.
“It’s definitely not your looks that’s deterring the men. You’re easy on the eyes, for sure,” he commented.
And now I was feeling all shy. I wasn’t expecting a compliment from him. “Thanks, you’re not too bad yourself,” I replied, and Andy gave me a knowing smirk. It wasn’t as smug as I’d expected after hearing my compliment, but more like he knew he was handsome and owned it.
That confidence, though. It was sexy as hell.
“So maybe it’s your approach that’s the issue? I’ll have to see you in action for myself,” he said and gestured toward the bar.
“Wait. You mean now ?” I croaked.
Tonight was supposed to be time for me to unwind and hang out with my friends, not to have my first lesson on dating.
“No time like the present,” Andy replied coolly. Austin and Jim voiced their agreement.
“I…”
“Unless you don’t see anyone who catches your eye?” Andy added.
I looked around the room. It wasn’t as busy as a weekend night, but I preferred nights like these. It felt more intimate and less intimidating than a fast-paced night filled with horny people trying to get laid.
The only issue with it being a random Wednesday night was that besides the regulars, there weren’t many new faces, much less that fit my ideal type.
Andy must have seen the conflict in my expression, because he suddenly suggested, “How about this? I’ll go to the bar, and you pretend to pick me up? ”
That had me flinging my head toward him with wide eyes.
“What? Am I not attractive enough to be hit on by you?” Andy said with a smirk.
“No…I mean, yes. Why do I feel like this is a trick question?” I groaned and banged my head on the table.
Gentle laughter sounded from beside me. I turned on my cheek to see Andy watching me with amusement. “I’m glad you find this situation funny,” I muttered.
He stretched out his hand and swept my hair out of my face. His hands were large and calloused, but his touch was surprisingly gentle as he rubbed my tousled hair.
“Maybe it’ll be less pressure on you to try to pick up someone you know won’t be trying to get into your pants,” he said.
I hummed in reply. I closed my eyes, enjoying the way he was playing with my hair. He could lull me to sleep with those fingers.
“I think we’re gonna head out,” Jim suddenly said.
I straightened in my seat to see Austin and Jim scooting out of their side of the booth. I followed and stood too.
“Already? It’s still early,” I protested. Jim usually had early mornings at the farm, but even still, they were leaving earlier than usual.
“Austin has an airport pickup scheduled for the wee hours in the morning, and I don’t want him falling asleep on the wheel,” Jim said gravely. He helped Austin with his jacket, then turned back to face me. “But I like Andy’s plan. It’ll be good practice for you.”
“Agreed. Let us know how it goes,” Austin added. He glanced between me and Andy. Something passed through his eyes, but it was too quick for me to see. “We’ll see you next week?”
“Yeah, definitely. Drive safe tomorrow,” I said and gave them both hugs. They clapped hands with Andy, inviting him to our next weekly get together before leaving.
Austin and I had gotten close before he and Jim were a thing. After they coupled up last year, the three of us became closer and started our weekly meetups.
“So,” Andy started. He stood beside me, his hand slipped in his pocket, stance relaxed. “Is it time to play strangers?”
“We’re really doing this, huh?”
“Yes, I think so.” He frowned. “Unless you really don’t want to.”
“No, you’re right. This will be good practice,” I replied.
He flashed me a white smile. “All right then. I’ll see you at the bar, stranger,” he threw over his shoulder, then left me standing there.
I watched his departing back through the sea of people. He walked with purpose, eyes on his destination, and completely unfazed by the interested glances his way.
He found a stool near the edge of the bar and waved down the bartender.
Jude was the bartender on staff tonight, and even at this distance, I could see the flirty laughs and pretty smiles he shot at Andy. I couldn’t blame him. Andy had a way of commanding the room without even trying.
Maybe his effortless confidence was normal in New York, but here? It left him with more than one or two admirers as they watched him interact with Jude.
And now I was supposed to go up to him and flirt with him?
Even the most confident person would be a little unnerved in this situation. I swore I could feel all eyes on me as I followed the path Andy took. My heart pounded against my chest, loud even under the brimming noise of the pub.
I didn’t stop until I slid onto the free stool beside Andy. “I’ll have whatever he’s having,” I called out to Jude, gesturing toward Andy’s way. Then, I twisted my body toward him and rested my head on my hand.
Andy watched me, an amused smile lighting up his face. “I hope you enjoy water,” he said.
“What?”
“Water. That’s what I ordered,” he repeated just as Jude came by to drop off two glasses of, as he’d said, iced water.
My head nearly slipped off my hand. That was how uncool I currently felt. To hide the shame of the unsuccessful use of a pickup line, I grasped my cold glass and took a long gulp. The cold water slid down refreshingly, helping mask the burn of embarrassment.
“So, what brings you to town?” I turned my focus back on Andy, scooting closer to him, and finger mindlessly drawing tiny circles onto the hardwood bar.
Andy watched me with a tiny smirk. He took a drink out of his glass too, then licked the splatter of water that stained his top lip.
“Work,” he finally replied.
“What do you do?”
“I’m a chef over at Fated Encounters B&B.”
“That’s a good place to work. I know the owners,” I said. I couldn’t help but puff up with pride at the mention of our family’s B&B. I’d always been proud of the place. It was a family legacy, one that I was excited to take over one day.
“Oh, yeah?” Andy twisted his body toward me as well. He was playing along with my questions and answer game, but he clearly found this funny.
I cleared my throat, giving him a gentle reminder to stay in character. This was his idea, after all!
“Yeah. Have you explored the mountains behind the B&B? There are some fantastic trails that lead to the most breathtaking vistas. Maybe I can take you sometime.”
Andy frowned. “Do you always invite strangers to the middle of nowhere where they can do who knows what?”
I raised a brow, but that only made Andy cross his arms. “What? It’s not safe, you know? Stranger danger is a thing,” he said in a huff. “And speaking of, we need to talk about how you got so drunk all by yourself the night we met. What would have happened if I wasn’t there?”
His reaction had me barking out a laugh. “First, we’re not mentioning that night, remember? And I think living in the city has made you too cynical. Nobody around these parts is going to do all these scary, unimaginable things you’re mentioning.”
Andy looked at me skeptically. “It only takes one bad seed…”
“Even if they do want to try something, I can handle myself,” I said and raised my arm to flex my muscles. I wasn’t bulky in the way of a bodybuilder, but that didn’t mean I was weak either.
Andy eyed me. His dark gaze moving up and down my body had the beers in my stomach heating me up. He poked my arm. “Okay, Mr. Big Strong Man.”
I rolled my eyes and smacked his hand away. “You’re out of character. You’re supposed to be the hot stranger I’m picking up, remember?”
“If you think inviting a man into the middle of the woods is picking them up and not the prologue to a horror movie, then I think we have very different definitions of what flirting is.”
“Well, if you’re such an expert on flirting, then why don’t you show me how it’s done?” I gritted out.
Then suddenly he was all in my space. His hand landed on my arm, all hot and firm. His thumb rubbed tiny strokes against my forearm that did something to the chemistry of my brain .
“Instead of the outdoors, I’d much rather you show me someplace more intimate . Maybe with a nice dinner and wine first?”
Hot breath hit my ear, making it hard to distinguish between what was part of the act and what was real. My voice lost its way and seemed to have no plans of returning, so all I could do was nod.