Page 65 of Break Away
Brad paused on his way out the door, glancingfrom Levi to Zoey like he was afraid they’d come to blows. “Gladyou’re safe, Zoey. You two going to be okay if I step out?”
“We’re fine,” Levi growled. Again.
Zoey wasn’t so sure, but Brad must havetrusted his brother because he disappeared down the hall.
The minute he was gone, Levi went to the doorand shut it. Turning back, slowly, he stalked toward Zoey, makingher think of a blue-eyed cougar on the prowl. He stopped in frontof her, grasped her by her elbows, and hefted her onto tiptoes ashe brought his lips down on hers.
There was nothing tentative about this kiss.Anger, hunger, and possession tangled together, signifyingsomething deeper. Her lips parted and he took the kiss deeper andhotter. She felt a shudder run through his body, and an answeringtrembling in hers, then his hands loosened as his lips gentled.
She broke the kiss and settled back on herheels, reaching up to place a hand on his cheek. “It’s okay.” Shewasn’t sure who she was reassuring, herself or Levi. “I’m safe.Lucy is safe. We’re fine.”
“I’m not. You could have been killed.”
She shook her head and repeated, “I’mfine.”
A quick rapping sounded on the door before itwas pushed open. Monica popped her head through the door. “Irecovered a round.”
“Where did it hit the truck?” Levi asked.
“The rear. It passed through the fender abovethe back tire well and lodged in the bed liner on the other side.I’m going to send the slug to the lab.”
Levi nodded, then Brad entered the room, acouple sheets of paper in his hand. He nodded to Zoey. “Got a callfrom Logan. Sheriff’s deputies went up the trail where you say theshots came from and recovered shell casings. They’re thirty-thirtycenter fire.”
“Really?” Levi raised a brow.
“Why is that surprising?”
Brad turned to her. “Thirty-thirty rifleswere fairly common for deer hunting in the first half of thetwentieth century, but they’re not used that often anymore.”
“Does that make it easier or more difficultto catch the shooter?”
Brad shrugged. “That’ll depend.” He looked tohis brother. “Warrant finally came through to search Clauson’sself-storage unit. Let’s go see what we find.”
***
Zoey maneuvered her Prius into a parkingspace on Main Street, a half block down from Hangman’s Best Caféand Bakery, the closest spot she could find. Maddy’s businessoperated as a popular gathering place for the town and did a steadybreakfast and lunch business. Zoey had left Lucy at the cottage,then returned to town to pick up dog food.
She pushed open the door of the café and wasgreeted by the mouthwatering smells of cinnamon and coffee. Maddystood behind the counter, her sunny smile shifting to a look ofconcern when she saw Zoey. “Honey, are you okay?”
“I’m fine. The small-town grapevine beatssocial media, hands down, for spreading news. Are you closing?”
“Soon. We close at three, so we still havetwenty minutes. I’ll take your order, then I want to know whathappened today. What can I get for you?”
“I texted Eva and she said you still haven’tsold out of your delicious broccoli cheddar soup. I’d like a tub ofthat to take home.” Zoey perused the bins of fresh-baked bread.“I’ll also take a small round of the French to go with it.”
“You got it.”
Eva stepped through the swinging door. “Hey,there, bestie. I thought I heard your voice.” She fisted her handson her hips. “I had to hear you’d beenshotat today fromMaddy. Something you neglected to mention in your text.”
“I kinda figured better to deliver that newsface-to-face.”
“True, so you’re forgiven.”
“You both go sit at a booth.” Maddy gesturedto the dining room. “I’ll get us all tea and a pastry we can splitbetween us, on the house. I want to hear what happened too.”
Zoey was happy to comply. She was leaningback against a cushioned seat and sipping citrus chamomile teawhile Maddy used a knife to divide up a French apple tart. For thefirst time since the shooting she felt the tension ease in hershoulders.
Eva looked at her expectantly. “Spill.”
