Page 19 of Break Away
Lucy scrambled out of the car, pushing pastZoey. She trotted to the Suburban, going up on her hind legs toplace her paws on the driver’s door and shove her wet nose againstthe window.
“Levi Gallagher, I don’t want you feeding herjunk food.”
“She’s out, isn’t she?” He laughed at Zoey’sexasperated look. “Okay, okay. She’s your dog, but I have to giveher one this time. I can’t lure her out of the car with the promiseof a Slim Jim and not deliver.”
“Fine, but then it’s agreed no more garbage,which includes any made by your friend Jimmy.”
“Right.” Levi got the Slim Jim, peeled backthe wrapper, and tossed a chunk to the expectant Lucy. He glancedat Zoey and, gauging his target, took a bite for himself beforedirecting his comment to the dog. “We’ve got to share, big girl.This is my dinner.”
Zoey didn’t disappoint. “A processed meatproduct is your dinner? You’ve got to be kidding. No one cansubsist on Slim Jims and potato chips.”
“I need to pick up potato chips from themini-mart. Tonight it’s either the Slim Jim or another microwavesandwich.” He paused for effect. “What are you having?”
She narrowed her eyes. “Homemade kale andquinoa burgers.”
He could feel his face fall.
“Gotcha,” she said.
“That’s plain mean. Take out the kale and thequinoa, and the homemade burgers part sounds good.”
“I’m not making you dinner for the secondnight running, Levi.”
“Technically, you didn’t make me dinner lastnight. You made the appetizers, which were excellent. The dinnerpart was pizza, and Diego made that. Too bad there’s none leftover. But,” he said, holding up a hand to forestall comment, “youdid host the dinner, so that counts for something.”
“Oh, does it?” Her tone was utterlybland.
“Yeah. Come out with me. We’ll go to the BrewPub, which has a full menu that includes vegetarian options, plus,and even more importantly, Hangman’s Best Ale on tap.”
She studied him, and he hadn’t thought it wasthat big of a deal until she was so obviously weighing herdecision, and he found he really wanted her to say yes to spendingtime with him.
“Okay, but this isn’t a date. We get separatechecks.”
“You sure you don’t want this to be a date?Could be fun.”
“Absolutely.” Her adamant assurance stung. “Icould never date a cop.”
***
Zoey crossed the parking lot beside Levi. Hewore a black, button-down shirt tucked into dark khaki pants. Helooked good. Date good. But as she’d put on a colorful skirt with ablousy top that sparkled with tiny beads, she had to admit shelooked date good, too.
But it didn’t mean this was a date.
Levi opened the door and she walked in aheadof him. Despite living in town for over a year, she’d only everbeen to the popular Hangman’s Brew Pub a few times. The sound oftuning guitars and the clank of glasses greeted them. A big-screenTV with a baseball game on mute hung over a long bar that dominatedthe far side of the room. To the right, a band was setting up on asmall stage in front of a pocket-size dance floor. Tables werescattered about on both sides and booths lined the walls.
“There’s a table.” Levi began to lead her tothe side opposite from where the band would be playing. Sherecognized two men leaning against the bar. One of them elbowed theother, and they both straightened and headed across the room tointercept them. Logan Ross, ridiculously handsome and with a fastgrin, caught Levi in a hug.
“Glad you’re back, man.” With a hand stillclapped on Levi’s shoulder, he asked, tone serious, “You good?”
“Yeah. Better,” Levi said. “Zoey, do you knowLogan Ross?”
Zoey wondered at the undercurrents betweenthe two men, and Logan’s question made her speculate if there wasmore to Levi leaving Oakland than he had revealed. She nodded toLogan. “Sure, I’ve helped Eva babysit the twins a couple of times.Nice to see you again, Logan.”
Levi turned to the other man and shook hands.Jack Morgan had to be nearly six and a half feet tall and hadshoulders that looked wide enough to stop a freight train. Whenhe’d interviewed her following the hit-and-run, he’d been steadyand compassionate.
Jack dipped his head. “Hey there, Zoey. How’sthat dog of yours?”
“Lucy seems to be getting over the puppystage and finally settling down.”
