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

half my hair up with a clip. Slipping my sandals on, I headed downstairs. My stomach was growling and I knew the bar was up and running. Hopefully they served food.

Entering the bar, I spotted a familiar backside. It was unmistakable with his wide shoulders and those dark jeans that looked like they were made for him. He was on the phone and it sounded like a heated discussion, but I couldn’t make out the words. Once he spotted me, he ended his call.

“Is this seat taken?” I asked, approaching the stool next to him.

“Nope. I was saving it for you, Cupcake.”

“I hope everything is okay. I didn’t mean to butt in on your call.”

“No. It’s fine. Just tying up some loose ends. What are you drinking?”

“You got the coffee this morning. Let me buy you a drink,” I insisted.

“Okay.” He motioned for the bartender to make two. One for me and one for him. “How was your day?”

“It was long but the front of the hotel is completed and Sheryl and Bud were very happy. And I love making my clients happy. How was yours?”

“I got some training in and I had to watch a lot of videos as well.”

“It’ll get better once you’re on your own.”

“Yeah. But enough about work. I’m starved. Let’s get some cheeseburgers and fries.”

“Now you’re talking.”

He smirked as the bartender put in our order. A cheeseburger sounded so good even though I had one yesterday.

“Cheers.” We clinked our glasses and sipped our drink while we waited on the food.

Levi glanced at me and looked me over. “You look nice.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. So, I told you my life story. What’s yours?”

“Well, my parents are still married. I wear hearing aids if you haven’t seen already.”

He looked at my ear. “You can barely see them.”

“I’ve always had hearing problems ever since I was kid. I had a few surgeries and had tubes put in. But my hearing worsened as I got older. So, if something happens when I don’t have them in, I probably won’t hear it, like thunder or whatever. And I have to take them out if I go to the beach or do anything like that. These bitches weren’t cheap so I gotta take care of them.”

“Are they battery operated?”

“Actually, these recharge. It beeps once it hits like ten percent, but they charge pretty fast.”

“Fancy.”

Our burgers and fries came up.

“Yeah. I have a charging station by my bed, so they charge at night. Another?” I asked about his drink; my glass was empty as well.

“Sure. Thanks.”

With our new drinks, we clinked our glasses again. “Cheers.”

“I’m such a light weight. I’ll have to have water after this.”

He smirked. “Thanks for the tip.”

“Shut up.” I playfully pushed on his arm, causing him to laugh.

“Want to take a walk?” he asked after we finished our food.

“Sure.”

Why was I entertaining this idea? I didn’t want to give Levi the wrong impression. I wasn’t ready to rush into anything. But I was wondering what it would be like to jump in with both feet. Thanking the bartender, I paid for the drinks and we each paid for our own meals.

“I know I told you already, but you look really pretty.”

“Thanks. You look nice, too.”

We walked a short distance through the lobby, and Levi halted and started to look around. “This looks great, Rylee.”

“Thanks. Sheryl seemed pretty pleased with it.”

“I really like the contemporary vibe, and the red wall is really cool.”

I don’t know why I felt so embarrassed to hear him compliment my work. I didn’t know how to act, how to respond, except for saying, “Thanks.” I was used to this with my clients, but not from someone else. I did feel a sense of pride that he liked it so much.

 Walking out the front door, the muggy air hit me. It was probably really late and past my bedtime. But for some reason, I liked being in Levi’s company. I didn’t know if it was because he was playful and didn’t take himself seriously or if there truly were feelings there. He was sweet and cocky at the same time.

“Question. Who is your hall pass?” he asked as the night air surrounded us.

“Hall pass?”

“Yeah. Like if you were given permission by your significant other to have a one-night-stand with someone. Who would it be? People usually say a celebrity.”

“Odd question but I’ll entertain it. The lead singer of Sutured Souls.”

“Tucker James? Wow. A buddy of mine, Elliott Voss, manages them.”

“Really? Is he as nice as he portrays?”

“He’s super nice. You’ll never meet a nicer guy.”

“Good. If I were dating someone, I’d leave them in a heartbeat for Tucker James.”

Levi stopped in his tracks, trying to gauge if I was joking or not. “You’re serious?”

I laughed. “Why is that so hard to believe?”

“You don’t seem like the type to go for guys like that.”

“You mean the Rockstar type? That’s what makes him hotter. Plus, he has pretty eyes, a nice voice, nice hair…”

Levi held his hands up. “Okay, I get it. I’ll have to make a mental note that you never meet him when we start dating.”

“We will most certainly not be dating.”

“We will eventually.”

“Not gonna happen. You are so full of yourself. It’s almost like you believe what you’re saying.”

“I don’t say anything I don’t mean.”

“Conceited much?”

We continued walking around the property. “Who’s your hall pass?”

“Rylee Raegan.” He didn’t even hesitate to answer.

“Come on. There has to be someone else. Someone famous.”

“Fine. If I have to pick someone, I guess I would say Kate Hudson.”

“You really do like older ladies, don’t you? She’s almost forty.”

He shrugged. “What can I say? I’m an