Test Drive - Samantha Chase Page 0,3

know her without the pressure of it turning into something more. And again, she was never alone–seriously, her friends were always with her–no matter how many times he casually dropped hints that she should come in any other night. Alone.

And he’d dropped a lot of them.

He thought he saw a hint of interest on Willow’s part, but it had been so long since he’d gone out on a date he might have been imagining it.

The real problem was that McGee’s was his life. Two years ago, he had officially taken over the pub and ever since, he’d been consumed with making it a success.

Okay, the pub had been his grandfather’s on his mother’s side, and Levi had been working here since he was sixteen.

Well, formally working there. He’d been going there for years and hanging out with his grandfather and learning all about the business.

When his grandfather passed away two years ago, Levi had been shocked to find out he had willed the pub to him. There was a stipulation that if he didn’t want the responsibility of taking on the business that he could sell it and split the profits with his sisters. But it had been a no-brainer. McGee’s had always been a part of his life, and he loved it, and everyone in the family knew it. His sisters had been adamant that he take it on–even if it meant less of an inheritance for them.

Not that it was the only thing their grandfather willed to them. They also received some money and some sentimental items he knew they would love. But ever since the papers were signed and the pub officially became his, Levi had spent all his time making sure he was doing everything to make his grandfather proud and for the pub to be even more successful than it had ever been.

It was, but that didn’t mean he should slack off and get too comfortable. There were always improvements he could make, new things he wanted to try, and even though he had a great staff–with the exception of the accident-prone Dex–he never felt right about taking any time off for himself.

But if he ever got up the nerve to point-blank ask Willow–or anyone–out, he’d take the night off.

Probably one of the slower nights, but…still. He’d do it.

Maybe tonight he should test the waters. Maybe he could flirt a little bit and see how she responded, or maybe he should just ask her outright and see what she said. Or…maybe he was just crazy and shouldn’t rock the boat. He would hate losing her as a friend because…well…he genuinely liked her.

Raking a hand through his closely cropped hair, he let out a long breath as he started to think about some possible ways to broach the subject.

And his mind went completely blank.

“How is that possible?” he muttered. “I’ve dated dozens of women over the years. How the hell can I have no idea how to do this?” It was a bit mind-boggling how nervous he was and how badly he wanted her to say yes.

But seriously, what was he going to do if she said no?

How would he face her? Would she even want to talk to him afterward or would she even come back to McGee’s ever again? Would her friends all glare at him or mock him?

“Great, that’s just perfect. Psych yourself out with every worst-case scenario. Awesome.”

And yet…that’s exactly what happened. It seemed his brain was in rejection mode and all Levi could envision was getting his face slapped, Willow running from the pub, her friends kicking him in the nuts, and everyone in the pub looking at him with a mixture of pity and disgust.

“Okay, so maybe tonight isn’t the night…”

There was a knock on his office door and his assistant Anthony came in. “Hey, I just wanted to let you know your girlfriend just came in,” he said with a knowing smirk.

Closing his eyes, he grimaced. Had he been that obvious all this time?

Opening his eyes, he forced a smile. “Thanks. I’ll be out in a minute.”

“Want me to tell her that?”

“What? No!” he cried. “I mean, not unless she asks for me. Which, let’s be real, she won’t. She doesn’t, right? She never asks for me when she gets here with her friends. Are her friends with her? Is she alone?” With a snort of derision, he went on, “Of course her friends are with her. Why would she come here by herself?” Slapping himself in the head,