Page 32 of Golden Days

His question confuses me and I stammer out a response. “I—I’m not sure. What do you mean?”

“I requested you as my caddie today,” he says, scowling. His gaze lands above my shoulder.

I turn and see Ben standing there, rifling through some papers.

“Excuse me,” Ezra and Levi say at the same time. Ben jumps, startled, and comes closer.

“Ah, my apologies. Is there something I can help with?” he asks, eyes throwing daggers my way.

Douche.

“Is there a reason my caddie is tied up at the register?” Levi asks, voice gravelly and eyes narrowed on Ben.

My own eyes widen and I inhale a sharp breath. Am I finally going to see Ben being put in his place by someone in a higher power? This is riveting. I need some popcorn.

Those Etsy witches do good work.

I glance at Ezra, who’s trying and failing to hold back a grin.

“Well, we assigned you Xander—our best caddie, I assure you,” Ben says, his hands balling into fists at his side.

I want so badly to roll my eyes at the way he calls Xander the best caddie. His nephew is adequate, and that’s on a good day. Not today, when the grass is soft and wet. Xander’s socks will get dirty and he’ll come crying to his uncle about it.

“I’ve seen Xander out there. I’d hardly say he’s the best,” Levi says.

I stare wide-eyed at Levi, fighting a smile. Finally, someone who sees things for exactly how they are.

“Besides,” Levi continues, “I specifically requested Hazel. She needs the hours for her certification, does she not?”

I hold my breath and bite my lip as I wait for Ben to reply.

He clears his throat uncomfortably and says, “Right. I assure you I’m doing my best to meet everyone’s schedule requests. We just happen to be short-staffed today.”

“Okay. Here’s a solution,” Levi says, resting his elbows on the high counter. “Get Xander to cover the register here while Hazel caddies for me. You wouldn’t want me to file a complaint with Donald, now, would you?”

I can’t help the grin that takes over my face at the mention of the club’s president. Check and mate, Ben. My boss huffs and mumbles his agreement, calling Xander over to take my spot. Levi gives me a subtle nod and Ezra winks at me as I walk by the two of them to get the gear I need.

Rosie is waiting outside for us since she’s the second caddie for our group. I give her a look that says, I have something to tell you. She squeals and gives me a hug but quickly jumps back when the guys approach us. We are professionals, after all. Although I don’t miss the not-so-subtle way that Ezra checks Rosie out from head to toe, or the way he brushes her arm as he hands her his bag of clubs.

I battle with the feeling of giddiness at spending the day with two pros and my best friend, and the imbalance I feel at Levi’s presence so close to me as he fills up his side of the golf cart. His sunglasses are dangling from the collar of his blue polo and he fiddles with his glove, tightening it in its place. His long, calloused fingers deftly move over the Velcro as he adjusts it to his liking, and my whole body flushes. Again.

I hit a small rock on the path, jostling the cart. I quickly look away from his hands and keep both my hands on the wheel.

Ugh, why does he have to be so attractive?

Once we get to the first hole and Ezra tees up, I turn to Levi. His green eyes are intent on me, studying my face. I swallow, and the skin around his eyes wrinkles as they narrow on mine.

I can’t seem to hold his gaze, so I plaster on a bright smile and whisper, “Ready to crush this?”

When I go to move, Levi stops me with a gentle hand on my bicep. I freeze and look down at the contact, feeling goosebumps from the small touch.

His lips part as his thumb caresses my skin, passing over my bicep once, twice. After what feels like an eternity caught in this intense moment, he says, “Are you okay?”

I blink a few times, my brain taking a moment to process his question. Am I okay?

Well, let’s see, I broke up with my boyfriend and have been sleeping on a shitty couch. I have a major crush on one of the best golfers in the world who happens to have a lot of power and influence at my place of work, including bossing my supervisor around. And oh yeah, did I mention that this same man wants me to play with him at the most prestigious pro-am in the country? Which I can’t do because I haven’t played in ages because I’m too busy working, and because despite said work, I’m broke. That about sums it up.

“Never better,” I squeak out.