Page 28 of Break Away
“I don’t know. I think Mason stole it.”
“Right off your foot?”
“He’s sneaky.”
“That he is. Let’s go look for it.” Logantrotted off with Keeley bouncing on his shoulders.
Watching Levi’s interaction with his familyreinforced Zoey’s understanding of the pull that had brought himback to Hangman’s Loss. She loved her mother and brother, but withonly the three of them the family dynamics were different from whatthe extended Gallagher clan shared. She wasn’t envious, thoughmaybe a little wistful.
She removed the grilling basket from theheat, opening it to place the veggie kabobs on a platter. The skinon her neck tingled and she knew Levi had come up behind her, whichfrustrated her. She couldn’t seemnotto be aware ofhim.
He peered suspiciously at the kabobs. “Aren’tthese missing something?”
“If you’re looking for hunks of meat, thenyes, they are missing something.”
“I heard some people put those little cannedsausages on a skewer and barbecue them. Bet those are tasty.”
“I’ll get right on that.” She turned off thegas to the barbecue and picked up the platter, and when she turned,nearly plowed the platter into Levi’s chest. He steadied her withhis hands on her elbows.
“You look nice.”
She’d chosen a sleeveless white summer dresswith tiny red flowers. She liked it because it showed off her tonedarms stacked with her bracelets, and it was short enough to displaysome leg, but not so much that it didn’t cover the bruise on herthigh from the accident. The elbow bruise had faded enough not tofeel vain about it.
“Thank you.” Why did it feel like littlesparks snapped on her skin where he touched her?
“Where’s Lucy? You could have broughther.”
“Ah, no. She’d have spent the afternoontrying to herd small children. She’s fine in the cottage for a fewhours.”
“Too bad, the kids would have loved her. Nexttime.” He looked down at the loaded platter. “You want me to takethis somewhere?”
“I’ve got it. Would you mind bringing in thegrilling basket?”
Levi followed her to the buffet table whereshe placed her kabobs amongst the bounty. There were burgers andhot dogs, plates with deviled eggs, bowls of potato salad, andenough sliced watermelon to feed a small army. She took the basketfrom him and went into the kitchen, retuning in seconds with alittle bowl of dipping sauce that she set next to the kabobs.
Trish turned to address the crowd. “Grab aplate folks, and enjoy, then come back for seconds. I don’t want abunch of leftovers.”
Since she was already there, Zoey took apaper plate and began loading it with a little bit of everything.Levi right behind her. “Oh look. Quinoa salad with cherrytomatoes.”
“I’ll take some of that.” He scooped someonto his plate, then laughed at her skeptical expression. “Justbecause I appreciate food of the processed variety doesn’t mean Idon’t also eat healthy food. I try to balance it out.”
“I don’t think that’s what is meant by abalanced diet.”
“Sure it is. Slim Jims and an apple make fora balanced meal.”
She gave him a sideway glare. “There’snothing I can say to that.”
Picnic tables had been set up under agrouping of aspens that blocked the late afternoon sun. With herplate full, she hesitated, not sure where to sit. Levi moved aroundher to set his overloaded plate on a table. He took hers and placedit next to his. “This good?” At her nod, he flashed his smile. “Beback in a sec.”
How, in the past week, had she spend moretime socially with Levi Gallagher than anyone else? She’d wanted toget to know him, to move beyond her high school crush, but itwasn’t working. He gave that wicked smile and her heart trippedover in her chest. She didn’t like this feeling of being offbalance whenever he was near.
True to his word, he returned in seconds withglass tumblers full to the brim with a frosty red slush. He heldone out to her. “Jack’s strawberry margarita. You want?”
“Oh, that looks delicious. Thank you.”
“Hey, where’d you get that?” Diego set hisplate down across from Zoey. He must’ve arrived straight from work,wearing the navy pants and trim shirt of the Hangman’s Loss FireDepartment.
“Jack’s got the blender going in thekitchen.” Levi told him. “You better get yours because he said hewants food and is quitting soon.”
