Conceited Concierge: A Hero Club Novel by Renea Porter (little readers txt) 📕

A few minutes later, Levi came back in. “Sorry about that.”

“Dinner is ready. Want to grab my husband for me?” Aubrey asked Levi.

“Sure thing.”

“You guys want wine?” I asked when they entered the room.

Everyone responded that they did so I poured us each a glass and passed them around as we sat down at the table.

“This looks great, Aubrey,” Levi told her as he sat across from me.

“It’s my favorite meal she makes,” Chance added.

Taking a bite, I revealed that, “I need this recipe.”

“Give me your phone and I’ll type it in for you.” I passed my phone to her. “You might have to cut some measurements down unless you like a lot of leftovers.”

She passed the phone back to me. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Aubrey looked between me and Levi, and asked, “How do you guys like working at the same place?”

I spoke first. “I like it. Levi brings me a coffee practically every morning.”

Aubrey held her hand over her heart. “That is really sweet.”

Levi chimed in. “I get to see her gorgeous face every day. I have no complaints. You should see her work. She does amazing.”

“Oh stop,” I told him. Why couldn’t I take a compliment?

Levi leaned in. “She’s being modest, but I have seen the changes she has made on the inside of the hotel and it’s like a whole new place.”

“I can’t wait to see it then,” Aubrey said.

“Yeah, maybe we can take a drive over and check it out,” Chance said, his deep Australian accent revealing itself.

“It would be cool for you to come by and see it.”

After dinner, I helped Aubrey clean up even though she insisted I relax with my second glass of wine.

We were talking about the shelter she worked at. Then she got really personal. “Do you want kids?”

“I’d like to but I feel like I might be too old now.”

“No. I see women having babies in their forties.”

“We could always adopt,” Levi blurted as he entered the room.

Aubrey laughed. My cheeks probably turned red.

“Oh my god.” I looked to Aubrey. “Nothing is private with this guy around.”

She shrugged. I shook my head.

“I came in here to see if you wanted to take a walk on the beach before we leave.”

I looked to Aubrey. I didn’t want to be rude.

“Let’s say goodbye now and we’ll head home after we walk.”

“I feel like we just got here.” However, we’d been there for three hours, and Aubrey and Chance probably wanted to take advantage of their alone time. Who could blame them?

“Go, you two,” Aubrey came over and hugged me and then Levi. I hugged Chance, and he shook Levi’s hand then offered a half hug. “Can you believe these two are related?” Aubrey asked.

“Actually, I can.”

We laughed

Levi took hold of my hand as Aubrey and Chance waved us off.

Bending down, I took my sandals off, Levi followed suit then took my hand again. It felt nice as my toes dug in the sand and the waves crashed in. Darkness surrounded us and the only light came from the bright moon.

I finally spoke breaking the silence. “I had a nice time tonight.”

“Me, too. It was nice catching up with them. I definitely should be hanging out with Chance more cause he’s family.”

“Yes. Family is important. And those two are real couple goals.”

“Couple goals, huh?”

“Yeah. They are perfect for each other. And he pursued her pretty hard when she was dating another guy when Chance got out of jail way back when.”

“Must run in the Bateman family then,” I teased.

“I can’t help myself around you, Cupcake.”

We walked hand in hand. I was giving Levi hope that he and I had a chance. How much of a chance did we have? What if I decided to leave once my job was completed? Those thoughts plagued my mind constantly. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt Levi. I didn’t want to be responsible for breaking his heart if it didn’t work out. And I sure as hell didn’t want mine broken a second time.

“What are you thinking in that pretty head of yours?”

“You don’t want to know.”

“I do. Tell me.”

We were already at the end of the beach and we turned to head back in the direction we came.

“I don’t want to hurt you. And I don’t want to get hurt myself. Another heart break would probably break me.”

“I told you I wouldn’t do that.”

“But I can’t guarantee I won’t. Because I don’t know what the future holds for me. The last thing I want to do is hurt you in the process.”

“You’re afraid because you have no control over this. You keep fighting what is between us. I can wait, Cupcake. I got all the time.”

“You’re crazy.”

“And you love it.”

Levi never let go of my hand. “Why me, Levi? You could have a woman your own age, she could have your babies and you can grow old together.”

“Why not you, Rylee? You can give me as much as any other woman could. Yes, we could run into obstacles, but I don’t care. I want to be with you. I want to show you and give you what you deserve. I wish you would let me.”

“Give me a little time, okay?”

“Like I said, I have all the time in the world. I’d wait forever for you, Cupcake. I’m in it for keeps.”

“Now you’re trying to make me blush, Conceited.”

“I like when your cheeks turn red. Too bad it’s too dark for me to see.”

Back to my car, Levi pulled me into him, wrapping his arms around my waist. I wrapped my arms around his neck and rested my head