Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 95712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Our food came, and it was beyond delicious. Rhett also gave his tacos a thumbs-up and declared El Rey’s were better than those at Flores. I found myself laughing a lot throughout dinner, thanks to the stories Rhett and Levi shared.
“Isn’t this cozy?”
I looked up to see Logan standing beside our table.
Setting my fork down, I grabbed a napkin and wiped the corners of my mouth before speaking. “Logan, it’s good to see you.”
She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. Moving her attention from me, she smiled wider at Levi. “Is this your son, Jett?”
“Rhett is his name. And yes, he is.”
Logan’s face turned red. “Right. Rhett.”
She reached across the table and held out her hand. “Hello, little guy. I’m Logan Miller, and I work for your father—well, technically, your grandfather too.”
Rhett held out his little hand. “Hi, Logan. Do you work with the animals too?”
She smiled. “I do. I love animals.”
“Me too, and I’m going to be a vet someday like my daddy and grandpa.”
“I bet you’ll make the best vet someday.”
I was pleasantly surprised that Logan was being so sweet to Rhett. Then again, I was pretty sure it was mostly to impress his father.
She looked at Levi. “Fancy seeing you here, and with,” her hand flicked toward me, “Emeline.”
The way she said my name in disgust wasn’t lost on me or Levi. Even Rhett frowned.
“Emeline joined me and Rhett for dinner.”
“It’s a dinner date,” Rhett added. “Daddy and Emeline are dating!”
I looked at Levi, who simply grinned.
Logan attempted to smile at Rhett. “Oh, I’m sure it’s just a thank-you dinner, since your daddy helped out at the camp all week.” She glanced between me and Levi. “I mean…right?”
Before I had a chance to respond, Levi did. “No, Logan. This is a date, and we decided to bring Rhett along.”
Okay, I wasn’t expecting that.
“A date? Like, as in…a date date?” Logan asked, clearly flustered.
“Is there any other kind of date?” he asked.
I glanced down at my hands and tried not to laugh.
“Logan, are you bothering Levi and Emeline?” asked Janet, coming to stand next to her granddaughter.
Great. This would no doubt be in The Daily Dirt. “No, not at all,” I replied.
Logan forced another smile. “Enjoy your dinner.”
“Thank you,” Levi and I replied at the same time.
Janet added, “Yes, it was delicious, and so nice to have a new place to eat in town. Well, you enjoy your dinner.”
Once Janet and Logan walked away, Levi and I exchanged a look.
“Are we getting dessert?” Rhett asked.
“Do you want dessert here or we could go somewhere else?”
Rhett looked at me. “I wish we could have your famous sundaes!”
“What’s this about a famous sundae?” Levi asked.
I laughed. “I go to each cabin with all the goodies to make sundaes. It’s a fun tradition my mother started.”
“If it’s a sundae you want, we could make them at home, with Grammy and Grandad.”
“Could Emeline come with us?”
I quickly replied, “Oh, no. Not this time.”
Levi smiled at me, and my stomach dipped and swayed. “Are you sure you don’t want to come over and make sundaes?”
My head was swimming. Was Levi trying to show everyone in town that we were a couple?
Leaning forward, I asked, “What happened to slow?”
He winked. “That went out the door last night. Now that,” his eyes went to Rhett, then back to me, “that happened, I don’t want to waste another minute, Em. I want to spend as much time with you as I can.”
“Me too!” Rhett declared.
A wild fluttering started in my chest, and a part of me wanted to pinch myself.
Is this really happening?
Rhett put his hands together and gave me his best pleading face. “Pleeeease, Ms. Emeline.”
Laughing, I replied, “Well, how could anyone say no to that face?”
Levi
I pulled up and parked my truck behind my father’s. I sat there for a minute, taking in a few deep breaths.
“What’s wrong, Daddy?”
Glancing in the rearview mirror, I smiled at my son. “Your dad is about to take a big step, buddy.”
“I can help you.”
My heart nearly exploded. “Oh yeah? That would be great.”
He smiled and unbuckled his seat belt, crawling into the front of the truck. “What do you need help with?”
“Well, something big is happening in our world, Rhett.”
His eyes grew wide. “What?”
“Ms. Emeline.”
Rhett stared at me for a few seconds, then asked, “Huh?”
I laughed. “You like Ms. Emeline, right?”
He nodded. “So much. She’s really pwetty.”
“She is. She’s beautiful both inside and out.”
Emeline pulled up and parked behind me.
“Come on, bud, let’s go make some sundaes.”
Emeline walked toward us with a smile that seemed a little forced.
“My parents aren’t here.” A look of relief washed over her face, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “Were you nervous?”
“I was,” she replied.
Rhett took her hand in his. “Come on, Ms. Emeline!” He practically dragged her into the house and to the kitchen.