Yeah, right. Since when was whatever kept a car from starting something minor? In her experience—never.
Her earlier good mood from the morning was long gone, and right about now, she didn’t have the energy to summon it back. In the encroaching darkness, she kept her eyes focused on the permanent twin tracks in the dirt. Tracks most likely kept worn by Levi’s truck tires, but now covered by fallen leaves.
She glanced up toward his place, but paused when she noticed lights shining from her cabin’s windows. On her way down the rough driveway, she made out the dark silhouette of a truck parked outside the small side porch.
He’s still working?
Despite all the admonishments her brain had issued through the afternoon hours, her heart rate picked up at the thought of seeing him again. Suddenly, her steps felt ten times lighter.
Once through the door, she hummed with relief when the warm air inside hit her face. Her stomach rumbled as she inhaled the memory-inducing aroma of the dinner simmering in her slow cooker. Nothing better than Grandma’s meatloaf on a cold night.
She slung her bag over the back of the couch, purse on the counter, then strode toward the banging noises coming from the bathroom and called, “Hello.”
Levi’s dark head jerked around with her halt in the doorway. He stood in the tub, arms over his head as he worked some sort of wrench on a pipe sticking out of the wall.
For a brief moment, he looked like a cornered animal, his expression reminding her of that morning in the back of the coffee shop.
She blinked—or he did—and it was gone.
“Hi,” he replied.
Telling herself she’d imagined the flash of panic in his eyes, Mallory leaned a shoulder against the doorframe as he returned his attention to the wall.
“You’re here later than I expected,” she commented.
“Sorry. Late start.”
“It’s okay.” She looked around at the tools and plumbing parts strewn across the floor, toilet seat and sink counter. “You need any help?”
He shook his head and made a negative sound while twisting the wrench. The effort he put into the movement bunched his biceps, and his shoulder muscles strained against the fabric of his tan T-shirt. Untucked, the hem of his shirt threatened to rise above the low-riding waistband of his jeans.
“Trust me,” his voice cut the silence a moment later. “There is nothing remotely interesting about this that you would want to stand there and watch.”
She begged to differ.
Still, heat rose in her cheeks at having been caught staring—and about ready to drool. Then she realized his gaze was still focused on the wrench, so she ignored the embarrassment and teased, “Maybe I’ve always secretly wanted to be a plumber.”
This time, the way he shook his head at the wall made her wonder if he was fighting a smile. Come on, look at me. She wanted to see it finally break free.
“How long before you’re done with this?” she asked.
“An hour or so.”
“Oh.”
“Anna was late, so I just started a half-hour ago.” He lowered his left arm and twisted toward her. “Do you want me to come back a different day?”
“No. I…no, it’s fine.”
“You’re sure?”
She nodded. “Definitely. I’m just going to go get some of my own work done.”
He turned back to the pipes; she turned to leave.
Just as quick, she swung back. “Did you eat yet? Do you like meatloaf?”
“No.” He cast a glance over his shoulder. “To the first question. Yes, to the second. But you don’t—”
“Give me ten minutes to get everything on the table.”
She spun back around before he could finish his protest and went to the kitchen to mash the potatoes and open a can of green beans. Yeah, she was well aware she was going against everything she’d decided earlier, but it was so much easier to resist the lure of him when he wasn’t standing in front of her, tempting her senses in every way imaginable.
Was it really so bad to get him to sit down so she could learn a bit more about him? One meal and a little conversation didn’t mean she had to marry the guy and live in Pulaski for ever after. Friendship was just as viable an option.
Footsteps on the wood floor warned her a moment before his deep voice asked, “Can I help?”
One glance at his handsome, stubble-covered jaw and she knew she was deluding herself with the friendship excuse. She turned back to bang the excess potatoes from the hand masher while willing her heart rate to settle down.
“You can set the table. Plates are to the right of the stove. Silverware is in the drawer left of the sink.”
He moved over to the cupboard. “Smells really good.”
“Thanks.”
Mallory carried the food to the table as he finished setting the dishes out, then poured them each a glass of milk. They sat kitty-corner from each other, and she laid her napkin on her lap before gesturing to the steaming food. “Help yourself.”
He reached for the knife and fork to cut the meatloaf, then held up the slice to serve her first. Another one of those little things she’d noticed about him—he was a gentleman to the core. Like how he’d come out to help instead of waiting for her to call him when everything was ready. And how he’d helped her with her boxes the other night without being asked, and handed her the seatbelt the day he gave her a ride.
Insignificant gestures to some, but she recognized and appreciated the little things. After her previous relationship, they were big things to her.
He was a very quiet man, and had a tendency to leave abruptly, but she was beginning to suspect it was more of a coping mechanism than rudeness.
She speared a couple green beans on her fork and watched from the corner of her eye as he took his first bite.
“Oh, wow,” he murmured. “Tastes even better than it smells.”
Inordinately pleased at the compliment, she swallowed her food and admitted, “It’s my grandmother’s recipe. She was an amazing cook.”
“Was?”
“She passed away a while ago.” She couldn’t help a wistful smile. “I still miss her.”
He nodded, ate another bite, then said quietly, “Grandparents are special. We lost my grandpa on my dad’s side a couple years back.”
“Were you close?”
“Yeah, though I didn’t see him much those last few years.”
“Were you stationed somewhere, or deployed?”
As if a switch had been flipped, tension crackled in the air. He stared at his plate, his entire body rigid. This time there was no mistaking the cornered animal look on his face.
When he didn’t answer the question, she swallowed past the lump of dismay in her throat and reached for her milk. “Sorry…maybe I shouldn’t have assumed you’d been in the military.”
From the corner of her eye, she saw his shoulders move as his chest expanded with a deep breath and release.
“I was.”
And clearly didn’t want to talk about it. After taking a drink, she set her glass back down, thankful the tremor in her body did not transfer to her hand. “Do you have other grandparents still alive?”
She saw the movement of his eyes in her peripheral vision and felt his gaze. Her deliberate retreat eased the stress, and he took a drink before returning his attention to his plate.
“My mom’s parents live in Arizona, and my dad’s mom lives with my parents in Milwaukee.”
“That where you grew up?”
He nodded.
“Any brothers and sisters besides Anna?”
“No.”
“Are you younger, or older?”
“Older.”
Holding a forkful of mashed potatoes just above her plate, she cast him a glance. “Which puts you at…?”
“The receiving end of twenty questions, apparently.”
He deadpanned the statement, but when he met her gaze, her breath hitched as she waited for the unexpected
spark of humor in his mossy-colored eyes to curve his lips. No such luck.
She smiled, but didn’t apologize.
“Anna’s twenty-six,” he finally answered. “I’m twenty-nine.”
About what she’d guessed at their first meeting. A dozen more questions rushed forward. They whirled in her head as she ate her forkful of mashed potatoes.
How long had he worked at the lodge?
How many years had he been in the military? What branch?
Why was he so serious all the time?
What happened to put that panic in his eyes earlier?
The last one made her heart skip a beat, but before she could come up with a neutral question to override the ones begging to be voiced, he asked, “What about you?”
“How old am I? Twenty-seven.”
“Did you grow up in Pulaski?”
“Yep. It’s just me and Shane here now, though. My mom died of lung cancer the year I graduated high school. My dad got remarried shortly after and moved to North Dakota.”
He grimaced. “Sorry. Sounds like a lot to deal with all at once.”
“Yes and no. Losing my mom, yeah, that was hard—though she’s definitely better off now. And I’m happy for my dad—he found a great woman in Cynthia. Someone who appreciates him for who he is, no matter what.” His accessing gaze made her rush on. “It would be nice if they lived closer, but they were both ready for a change, and his company provided the perfect opportunity for them make a fresh start.”
He nodded as if he completely understood the allure of fresh starts. “At least your brother’s still here.”
She gave a short laugh. “Yeah, but Shane’s a lifer. I, on the other hand, can’t seem to get away.”
A frown creased his forehead as his gaze met hers. “You want to leave?”
She shrugged with one shoulder and his eyebrows rose.
“What?” she asked.
His turn to shrug as he swallowed a bite. “I’m surprised, that’s all. You certainly don’t come across as unhappy.”
“I’m not.”
She thought about it for a second and realized the denial was absolutely true. She enjoyed working at the coffee shop now, and loved the challenge of organizing the festival, not to mention she liked her co-workers so far. She had good friends here in town, and while her dad had moved away, it was still great to at least see Shane as much as she did.
So, why was she so hell bent on getting out of town?
“It killed all my hopes and dreams, and gave me nothing in return,” her mother’s resentful voice echoed from the dark depths of her mind.
The moment her chest began to tighten at that last bit, she tossed her crumpled napkin onto her empty plate and stood to carry the dirty dishes to the sink. Then she turned and leaned back against the counter, watching as Levi washed down the rest of his food with a long swallow of milk.
Feeling the need to justify her earlier words, she said, “I’m not unhappy, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want more in my life.”
“More what?”
She frowned when a reply didn’t immediately come to mind. He’d flipped the inquisition back on her, leaving her to do most of the talking. But she didn’t want to question her reasons for wanting to leave.
“I don’t know exactly, but more than what this small town has to offer, that’s for sure. You’ve been around the world in the military, right? I’m sure you know what I mean.”
“Yeah.” His chair scraped across the floor boards as he rose and gathered his own dishes. “But then again, sometimes when you jump that fence, the grass that looked greener on the other side is all burnt to hell.”
Chapter 8
The words were low and rough, full of raw emotion that seemed to surprise even him. Before Mallory could respond, headlights flashed through the living room windows as a vehicle parked outside next to Levi’s truck.
Relief flashed across his features before he glanced out the window. “Looks like your brother. I’m going to get back to work. Thanks for dinner.”
He avoided her gaze when she passed him on her way to get the door. She paused to watch his retreating back for a moment, then turned to answer Shane’s knock. Her brother was still dressed in his uniform.
“Hey, what’s up?”
He drew back in confusion, then cast a look toward the driveway. “You are here.”
“Clearly. Save the heat—get in here.”
“Where’s your car?” he asked as she shut the door behind him.
She gave a wry smile and was about to explain when he sucked in a deep breath.
“Oh, man, is that Grandma’s meatloaf?”
“Yeah. You want some?”
“Well, duh.” He grinned, but it faded as his gaze shifted from the vacant table, to the empty living room, and then darted toward the bedrooms. Leaning close, he whispered, “Wait, I’m not interrupting something, am I?”
She would’ve loved to take advantage of Levi’s unexpected conversation opening—but in all honesty, she still probably wouldn’t have gotten very far. The shutters had slammed closed pretty quick after he’d realized what he’d said.
“Levi’s installing the shower in my bathroom,” she advised as she went to go grab a clean plate and fork. “As for my car, it’s up by the lodge. Wouldn’t start again after work.”
He made a face as she returned to hand him the dishes, then he sat down to fill the plate to near overflowing. “Maybe you’re better off getting a new one. You’re saving money on rent here, right?”
“Yes, but a new car is not in the cards right now.”
“I hate to break it to ya, sis, but your grand exit won’t get you nowhere without a vehicle that runs.”
“Well, duh,” she parroted with a roll of her eyes before getting him a glass of milk.
Shane laughed, took a bite, then sat back with a moan of ecstasy. “God, this is as good as I remember.” He eyed the remainder of the loaf on the serving platter. “What are you doing with the leftovers?”
“Having it for dinner tomorrow, so back off.”
This time her brother’s laugh was muffled by a mouthful of food. Just to be safe, she carried the platter and mashed potatoes to the kitchen to put everything away. Then she felt bad, and as the sounds of Levi working in the bathroom reached her, she divided the food into two plastic containers. One for her brother, one for Levi. She could always make another next week.
“So, what brings you out here tonight?” she asked over her shoulder.
“I thought you’d want to know your former bosses were arrested late this afternoon.”
She whirled to face him. “Seriously? Both Ron and Claire?”
He nodded as he chewed.
“Wow.”
“They’ll be arraigned tomorrow to set bail. Not sure if they’ll enter a plea then or at a separate hearing in a couple days.”
She secured the lids on the containers and put one in the fridge, then carried the other over to set next to Shane’s plate. As she took a seat kitty corner, he gave a subdued grin. “Thanks.”
“Yeah. You’re lucky I love you.” Her answering smirk faded as she braced her elbow on the table and rested her chin on her hand. “It’s bad if they were actually arrested, isn’t it?”
“It’s not looking good,” he agreed. “The Chief and the DA made sure they had enough for a strong case on this one.”
“I know the investigation’s been going on for a month, but I still find it hard to believe. I swear, I had no clue something like that was going on.”
Shane reached over and pulled her arm down so he could cover her hand with his. “Mal, I believe you, remember? Good news is, once the trial is over, you’ll be free to go wherever you want without being worried about it looking suspicious.”
She pulled away and sat back with a sigh. “If I can ever afford it.”
“I told you, I’d lend you the money. So would Dad if you asked.”
“I know, and thank you, but I’m going to see
what I can save again this winter. If I don’t have to get a new car, I should be good by spring.”
The urge to look toward the clinking noises coming from down the hall was hard to resist. But she’d refused the offer of money weeks before meeting Levi, so it wasn’t like she was making her decision based on the past couple weeks.
“In the meantime, any chance you can help me with my car tomorrow?” she asked as she rose and grabbed her bag from the couch.
“Sorry, but I’m scheduled to ride along on a prisoner transport to Madison. I won’t be back until Thursday.”
“That’s fine. I’ll figure something out.”
He watched her set up her laptop at the table. “I could call Reid, if you want. He’d probably come out and take a look at it. Or Keller—he’s working at a shop in Green Bay these days.”
“That’s okay, I’ll check with Mark first. If I can at least get it running, I can take it back to the garage. I shouldn’t have issues only a week after they fixed it.”
“Good point. Remind them who your brother is,” he joked as he stood to take his dishes to the kitchen sink.
“You sound like the mafia or something.”
He laughed, then headed toward the bathroom. As he disappeared inside, she forced her butt to remain in the chair even as she heard Levi’s voice respond to her brother’s offer of help. When he didn’t come out again right away, she couldn’t help but head to the kitchen for a glass of water.
Standing near the island counter that jutted out between the kitchen and the dining table, she listened to the two men talk. Nothing but technical stuff about the plumbing. Levi had been right—nothing exciting about that unless she was watching him.
Deciding her time was better spent getting her own work done, she returned to the table and opened the spreadsheet she’d been working on at the lodge.
A half-hour later, Shane said his goodbyes and went home with his coveted leftovers. After closing the door behind him, she sat back down and stared at the document she’d read three times in the past ten minutes.
Autumn Bliss Page 6