
“No worries about me. I won’t be entertaining friends or dates.” It sounded pitiful even to her ears. After her last failed date, the idea of dating didn’t appeal. Everyone she met in the hospice field already had friends to occupy them. Currently Mary and Charmer were the extent of her social life.
“Same here,” Levi added. “If I should run into some old friends, then we could meet in a restaurant, or someplace else.”
Oliver looked at his cup, then up at Melody with a smile. Taking a hint, she stood to get the coffee pot.
“Nevertheless, we should have guidelines. No other person will be permitted to move into the house during the year.” He wrote swiftly and murmured his thanks as she filled his cup.
“This doesn’t mean you can’t have guests, but you need to contain them to the private areas as not to discomfit the other inhabitant. You cannot allow a person to stay two nights in a row, which would imply a form of co-inhabitation.”
Still not a problem on her part, the few men friends she’d had didn’t stay the entire night. Truthfully, it wasn’t love and could barely be called a relationship. “Not happening.”
Levi’s fingers were on a cookie, but stilled with her words. “Are you telling me what I can do? Maybe I might meet a woman who might take pity on me?”
“Seriously, you’re starting that crap again? With that attitude, you’ll meet up with someone who will treat you like a charity case. Plenty women would value you without two strong legs. I was talking about myself Mr. I-Jump-to-Conclusions. There won’t be any overnight dates in my case.” Her skin paled at her impulsive words. It would be wonderful if they moved on to something else, like paying the utilities.
Chewing on a cookie, he appeared to consider her words. “You’re not one of those prudes who doesn’t believe in sex before marriage and all that?”
Her esophagus squeezed shut with his casual comment, which made it hard to breathe for a few seconds. She closed her eyes and mentally counted. A trick she had taught herself to ease her nerves. Counting always worked for her. Counting her steps or the ceiling tiles in the gynecologist’s office, just as long as she had something to count. Her pinkie grazed the burner pad as he replaced the carafe. “Ouch.” The man not only had her stumbling around the place, but burning herself with all his raw masculinity.
“Ouch, what kind of answer is that?” Levi leaned back in his chair and locked his hands behind his head. The man looked as if he were enjoying her embarrassment.
Exhaling deeply, she decided to put things on the table. There was no reason to have this silly cat and mouse game going on. “Ouch is what you say when you burn yourself.”
“It’s not what I’d say.” The man smirked at her.
“Yes, I know. Let’s make it plain. You don’t have to worry about me dragging home men to keep in my bedroom. I’m well aware that I’m not attractive to men.”
The clatter of the chair legs hitting the floor confirmed her suspicion he’d been leaning back on two legs. ‘What the hell are you talking about? Most men would give their eyeteeth for a woman like you. You’re tall, curvy, and have the most gorgeous hair. It’s obvious you give back as much as you get. What’s not to like?”