Page 25 of Break Away
“Hey.”
“Hey, Levi.” Zoey’s gaze ran over him as Lucypushed past her and began busily sniffing his pants. “Why are youdressed like that?”
He pulled off the leather jacket, then theVelcro straps that secured the body armor so he could pull it overhis head. “Protection from road rash.”
She frowned. “You have a motorcycle?”
“Yeah. I borrowed the Suburban from a friendfor the move. I returned it today and picked up my motorcycle.”
“I made rude comments about the Suburban andit wasn’t even yours.”
“Do I look like the kind of guy who’d drive ahearse?”
There was that smile again that hit himsquare in the solar plexus. “Motorcycles are dangerous. I’m puttingthat out there.”
“Hence the helmet and body armor.” He dumpedboth onto the loveseat with the jacket and peeled off black leathergloves. “But they’re also fuel efficient and easy to maneuverthrough Bay Area traffic. Not good for winter in the Sierras, but Ihave a couple of months before that becomes an issue to figure outwhat I’m going to drive.” Lucy gave up sniffing his jeans andwandered out onto the porch.
“So you drove all the way to Oakland and backtoday? Did you just get back?”
He nodded. “Everything okay here? Nounexpected visitors?”
Watchfulness returned to her eyes. “Nope.Only me and Lucy, best buds hanging out.” She hesitated, thenseemed to come to a decision. “Do you want to come in? I made chilifor dinner if you’d like some.” She gave him a sideways glance.“It’s made from scratch, not from a can, so it may not be whatyou’re used to.”
He held her gaze, not answering, and shefinally asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Hell if I know. You were mad at me, and nowyou’re not. At least I don’t think you are. I haven’t evenapologized, and I was ready to do that.”
She cocked her head. “Apologize for what?Wanting to keep me safe?”
He narrowed his eyes. “There’s got to be atrap here somewhere. I have a mom. I have two sisters. This isn’thow they operate. When we argue, even if I’m right, I’m made tosuffer before I’m forgiven.”
“You weren’t right, but I don’t hold a grudgebecause you thought, however misguided, that you were doing theright thing. Have you eaten? Do you want that chili?”
“No, I haven’t eaten, and yeah, chili soundsperfect.”
“Then you can come in and tell me how yourdrive was. The cornbread is almost ready to come out of theoven.”
Levi followed her into the house. Lucytrudged behind him and gave a groan as she did her bear-rug sprawlin front of the fireplace. “I feel you, Lucy,” he muttered. Zoey’scouch with its brightly patterned slipcover looked inviting, makinghim think he could be like the dog and stretch out.
Zoey confused him, no doubt, but he coulddeal with being confused. A woman who was hitting all the sexymarks for him had invited him to dinner. He had chili and cornbreadin his near future, and he couldn’t think of anywhere he’d ratherbe.
An hour later, Levi carried bowls to thesink. For not having meat, the chili had been amazing, and hecouldn’t remember the last time he’d eaten homemade cornbread. Whenshe reached around him to run water over the dishes, he held up ahand. “If you put the leftovers away, I’ll wash the dishes.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“You fed me a fantastic meal. I’m doing thecleanup.” He began filling the plastic basin with hot water. “Andnext time I see Brad, I’m talking to him about installing adishwasher in here.”
“No, you’re not. I don’t mind washing dishes,and I don’t want to give up the cabinet space. You don’t have tomanage things for me, Levi. If I wanted a dishwasher, I’d ask Bradmyself.”
“Right,” he grunted. She had a point. She wascapable and could deal with her own affairs. He had to check theimpulse to assume he always had to take care of people.
He scrubbed dishes, then rinsed, and placedthem on the drainer. He guessed the task wasn’t so bad,particularly since an interesting woman was sitting at the tablesipping from a mug of tea, golden brown eyes watching him as heworked.
“Didn’t you tell Brad you were coming backtomorrow?”
He paused, suds on his hands, then resumedwashing. She did use an inordinate number of pots and pans for whatwas basically two food items. “I did. I changed my mind and decidedto make the trip in one day.”
“And how was that?”
