Page 31 of Best Kept Vows (Savannah’s Best #6)

“One day, Marcy is at Whole Foods, shopping, and she meets one of her kids’ friend’s dad.

He’s a single guy. They get talking, and he tells her, gosh, you’re so beautiful .

” Lev grinned when Javier set a plate of truffle fries between us.

Lev took his time chewing one, and then took some more time wiping his hands on a napkin.

“No one’s told Marcy she’s beautiful in a long time—especially not Mark.

He’s always tired, you know, too fuckin’ worn out to notice.

” Lev’s voice shifted from playful to serious.

“Then along comes Single Dad. He notices. He pays attention. He tells Marcy she looks great in that new dress or that her haircut suits her. You think Mark’s saying that to her? Not a chance.”

“I get your point.” I gave him a carefully neutral look and tried not to grind my teeth as I wanted to. “But like you said, you don’t know shit about being married.”

“True,” he admitted and then chewed on a fry thoughtfully. “But the thing is, I can see this stuff better because I am on the other side, you know?”

“I don’t know.” I was being rude but so was this guy, making sweeping judgments about my marriage and this Marcy woman’s as well.

“I’m like the Single Dad. Not that I am a single dad, but you get the point.”

I shot him a glare brimming with frustration.

He was a long-winded asshole, but he had a point.

I didn’t remember the last time I told Lia she was beautiful.

I did remember the last time she told me I looked handsome.

It was for some work event. I was wearing a tux.

I was rushing out the door and didn’t even thank her for it.

This single son of a bitch had a point.

“So, what happened to Marcy and Mark?”

“I got no clue, man. I made that shit up.” Lev raised his hands, palms up.

“But it’s an oft-heard story in long-term relationships.

Now, I’m not married, but I did have one long-term relationship, which lasted six years.

I was too busy studying and then taking over the business from my father—now she’s married to my best friend, who is still my best friend, and has two kids, and he tells her she’s beautiful every fucking day. You feel me?”

I sent him a sideways glance that could’ve lit a fuse. “Yeah. You’re subtle as a fucking sledgehammer.”

“Audrey is a catch. ”

I stared at him. “Audrey is the name of your ex?”

Lev grinned mischievously at me. “Audrey is what I call your wife.”

Now, I gritted my teeth.

“Your wife is gorgeous and fun. She’s charming. Now, if she were single….” He gave a low whistle. “I’d be all over her.”

“She’s way older than you.”

“That’s what she said! But look at me. Do I look like I give a shit?

I gave him a dry once-over, not bothering to hide my irritation.

“She’s sad. I saw it the minute I met her. She’s sad that she’s away from her husband. She’s sad that she’s happy about living alone. She’s sad that she loves her job. Fuckin’ hell, man, she’s living her best life, and she’s moping around because she thinks she owes your sorry ass something.”

“You hardly know her,” I growled.

“True. But I know women, and that woman is….” He made a chef’s kiss gesture. “I respect marriage…other people’s marriages, that is. My father fucks around on my mother, and she’s high on whatever gets her through it.”

“Lia and my marriage are our personal business.” I knew I was a little late in handing this decree out since he’d been yapping away about my wife to me.

“I get it. But the thing is, it looks like you’re not together, and I just wanted to assure you that I’m waiting in the wings.”

“I’m not assured,” I muttered .

“Which is why I’m giving you the warning,” he said playfully. The asshole had one fucked up sense of humor.

“And we’re together , just living apart for a short while.”

“I think the technical term is separation …usually comes before—” His phone dinged, and he picked it up. “Well, time for me to leave. Javier, put it on my tab, will you? Also, Sebastian’s drink here.”

“Will do,” Javier replied.

“You don’t have to pay for my?—"

“I own half this place,” Lev explained cheerfully.

I huffed out a sharp breath. I was both amused and insulted. “I want to tell you to stay away from my wife, but I have a feeling you don’t give a shit what I say.”

Lev considered me for a moment before nodding. “True, but you should say it anyway ‘cause Lia deserves a man who fights for her.”

I didn’t miss the not-so-subtle dig.

“But then again, Lev, I’m glad she’s found a friend in you.” I picked up my glass of bourbon, which was nearly gone, and raised it. “I trust Lia implicitly. So, I don’t really care if you stay away from her or not, ‘cause I know her .”

Lev smiled.

“Oh, but you call her Audrey or any other fucking name but her name again, and you and I will have words,” I threatened with a broad smile.

“Promises, promises,” he responded cheerfully and on that note, Lev left the bar.

“One more?” Javier asked, looking at my glass .

I grinned. “You know what, since Lev is paying the tab, I’ll take the Blanton’s Single Barrel and a smash burger.”

Javier nodded with appreciation. “I like it! That sumbitch needs to be brought down a peg or two on a regular basis.”

“He your employer?”

“Fuck no!” Javier seemed repelled by the idea. “He’s my partner. I do all the work, and he takes half the money. But then he bought this place for me to run…so, it comes out in the wash.”

Lev seemed to have friends he took care of, it appeared, and I was glad that he was taking care of Lia, so much so that he’d had what most would consider an extremely awkward conversation with me.

The kid was right about several things, especially that long-term marriages can lose their fire because people are busy worrying about paying bills and who will pick up which child from their evening activities.

The enemy of any long-term relationship was complacency—and both Lia and I were guilty of it.

She had done more of the heavy lifting in our marriage than I had—what with dealing with my parents and sister, and raising our children. Now, it was my turn. I wasn’t going to let her down.