Raine turned slowly and stared back toward the cabin where the crying had finally stopped. “So, Rosa was aware I’d be heading up to Truckee?”
“Yes. Mind you, I don’t believe she had anything to do with Cooper’s death. Also, she talks to Bobby B fairly often at the gym. She might have mentioned it to him. Not that I see Bobby as a homicidal maniac. That’s not what I’m saying.”
“I hear you.” Holding the phone to her ear with her shoulder, Raine wiggled her index finger inside the top of her cast to scratch. “I have a really hard time imagining any of our old friends would run me down. Especially since I don’t know anything relevant about Cooper’s death.” She let out a breath. “I’d call everyone in the group to tell them exactly that, but Detective Gilbert argued that someone with a guilty conscience might see it as another threat rather than an honest expression of ignorance.”
“The whole situation is messed up. Everything just keeps getting more horrible, if that’s even possible. I guess I shouldn’t have said anything to anyone.”
“Yeah, it’s a nightmare, but don’t beat yourself up for mentioning our business plans. As the detective pointed out, anyone could have casually asked one of my old neighbors in San Francisco where I’d gone. They all knew I was moving to the Tahoe area. So did my old boss. And since everyone in our group knows Levi and I have been seeing each other, it wouldn’t be hard to deduce I’d stay at his family’s lodge.”
“I guess that’s true. Thanks for making me feel better about opening my big mouth.”
“You’re certainly not to blame.” Raine headed toward the cabin. “But, back to High Sierra Celebrations. Levi’s sister-in-law has been nice enough to help me make a few contacts.” At another cry from the house, she winced. “Ursula’s actually having a baby right now, literally as we speak, so she really went above and beyond.”
Camille laughed. “I’ll say.”
“Going forward, I’ll be in touch on a regular basis with progress reports.”
“Sounds good. Take care, Raine.”
“You, too. Bye, Camille.” Raine pocketed her phone as she approached the open front door. Pausing, she studied the scene inside.
Dex sat at the table, eating a cookie. His cheeks were damp with tears, and he sniffed hard every now and then. Woody lay on the floor near his chair. When the dog noticed Raine, he thumped his tail twice and whined softly. Standing across the room at one of the windows overlooking the forest, Levi gripped the frame so tightly, his knuckles gleamed white.
“How’s everything going in here?”
When she stepped inside, Levi turned, and his eyes flashed with irritation. “You were on the phone for quite a while.”
“I was talking to Camille. About business and the guy who hit my Jeep.”
“Oh.”
Approaching Dex, she stroked a hand over his hair before bending to pet Woody. “Would you like a sandwich for lunch to go with that cookie? Maybe PB&J?”
“No.” His lower lip quivered. “Peanut butter is yucky.”
Levi’s brows drew together. “You love peanut butter.”
“No, I don’t.”
Before the situation could escalate again, Raine raised her voice. “How about SpaghettiOs? You like those, don’t you?”
When Dex nodded, she walked over to the cupboard and opened it. “Hmm, we don’t have any here, but maybe at the house—”
“I’ll go get a can.” Levi bolted through the door without a backward glance.
As Woody leaped to his feet and followed, a grin curled her lips. The man was truly in over his head.
But her smile faded as she poured Dex a glass of milk. Levi’s ineptitude when it came to managing his nephew was actually pretty pathetic . . . all things considered. She’d always assumed she’d have a family one day, but picturing Levi beside her in such a cozy, traditional picture was probably a mistake. Giving her head a firm shake to dismiss the image, she pulled a bowl of grapes from the fridge and set them on the table in front of Dex.
Anyway, it was too soon to worry about what a future with Levi might look like. Even if she was falling harder for him with each passing day, they’d only been involved for a few short weeks. If she’d learned one thing from her last, failed relationship, it was not to go all in too quickly. She hoped she was smart enough to avoid the same mistake twice.
“When are mommy and daddy coming home with the baby?” Dex popped a grape in his mouth and chewed, then wiped his running nose on the back of his hand.
Thankfully, the boy’s mood seemed to be improving. Raine handed him a napkin from the basket on the table. “Blow. They’ll be home tomorrow. Are you excited to see your little sister?”
“I guess. Uncle Levi said babies don’t do anything but eat and poop and sleep.”
Raine choked on the grape she’d just put in her mouth. “I guess that’s true. Give her a little time, and she’ll be a lot more fun.”
“Are you staying with us tonight?”
“I can if you’d like. Your uncle will be spending the night with you and Woody.”
“I want you to come.” He shyly met her gaze before looking away. “You’re nice. And pretty.”
“Thank you, Dex. In that case, we’ll plan a sleepover for the three of us at the lodge.”
He ate another grape. “My daddy said you’re smart and movated. He said Uncle Levi better get his shit together or you’ll walk. What does that mean?”
“It means you shouldn’t repeat what your dad says. Especially the bad words.” Levi entered the cabin and flourished the can of pasta. “SpaghettiOs, as promised.”
“Mommy told me not to say shit, but I forgot.” He clamped a hand over his mouth and giggled. “Oops.”
“You’re a funny guy, Dex.” Levi pulled a can opener from a drawer. “I’ll heat up your gourmet lunch.”
“And I’ll make us a couple of sandwiches. Any word on the baby yet?”
“Dalton called while I was at the lodge. According to my brother, Ursula is at eight centimeters and using worse language than Dex just did with each contraction. He said it shouldn’t be much longer.”
“That’s great.”
Levi glanced over at her as he dumped the pasta into a pan. “Will you?”
“Huh?” She turned away from the refrigerator with a package of ham, another of cheddar, and a bag of lettuce. “Will I what?”
“Walk if I don’t get my—” He eyed his nephew before continuing, “—get my poop in order? I wasn’t aware I had a problem, but what do I know? Dalton isn’t shy when it comes to speaking his mind.”
“I wasn’t planning on going anywhere.” She set the sandwich fixings on the counter.
“Good to hear.” He slid an arm around her waist. “Oh, one of our guests told me the shower head is dripping in their room. Do you mind watching Dex after lunch while I fix it?”
“Of course not. I have to be in Truckee by two to meet the rental agent, but—”
“It won’t take long.”
She pulled a loaf of bread from the cupboard. “You fix plumbing problems?”
“Also, electrical issues and make carpentry repairs. I’m handy that way.” He shrugged. “Not completely worthless around here.”
Obviously Dex’s comment had touched a nerve.
She squeezed his hand. “You’re good at a lot of things.”
His eyes heated. “Maybe later I can demonstrate my skill at—”
Raine pressed two fingers against his lips and grinned. “Tomorrow, after your family returns home.”
“It’s a date.”
* * * *
Raine sat on an upended crate at the built-in desk in the utilitarian office with an unimpressive view of the industrial complex. But it was her office. As was the currently empty showroom at the front of the building and the storage space in back, waiting to be filled with tables and chairs, canvas tents, a dance floor, and maybe even a gazebo. The tiny apartment on the second floor was also all hers. Not ideal living quarter
s, considering the proximity to the railroad tracks, but she had a splendid view of the Truckee River over the tops of the other buildings.
And it would certainly be convenient not having to commute to work during the storms that regularly dumped a ton of snow over the area each winter. Anyway, she couldn’t stay with Levi forever.
Right?
Just thinking about their nights together in his loft sent a dart of heat straight to her middle and made the overhead living quarters a whole lot less appealing. She’d gotten used to waking up beside him each morning, bumping into him in his tiny kitchen, laughing at his jokes, and having someone to come home to.
Stretching to ease the ache in her back and wondering if she should put a rush on the desk chair she’d ordered, Raine shut the lid to her laptop. Absently scratching beneath the edge of her cast, she stared out the window into the shadows between the widely spaced light poles. A frown creased her brow.
Her future with Levi was still a nebulous concept, one they hadn’t discussed. Even the thought of that conversation sent a quiver of unease straight to the rational part of her brain. Right now, she preferred to ignore their differences when it came to big-picture goals like marriage and children and focus on the here and now. Simply enjoy their day-to-day compatibility.
She was pretty sure Levi felt the same way. If neither of them brought up sensitive topics, they could pretend like they didn’t exist.
When her cell rang, Raine pulled it from her pocket, glanced at the screen, and smiled before swiping to connect. “Hey.”
“Hey? That’s all you’ve got for me? Hey?”
Her brows shot up as Levi practically growled the words.
“What’s wrong? Were you expecting me to meet you at the door wearing heels, an apron, and nothing else, with dinner ready on the table when you got home from your run?”
“Jesus. Don’t distract me. Where are you?”
“In my office. I spent the afternoon placing orders for furniture and equipment. Then I searched online for an enclosed trailer I can pull with my Jeep, now that it’s back from the repair shop. By the way, I found one down in Reno I plan to look at tomorrow.”
“Do tell.”
She scowled at his sarcasm. “After that, I worked on the website for High Sierra Celebrations. I only shut my computer a couple of minutes ago because my mind was turning to mush.”
“No kidding. It’s dark outside. You said you’d be home a couple of hours ago.”
Her defenses rose. “Sorry. I got caught up in what I was doing.”
“And forgot some asshole who wants to do God knows what to you is still on the loose? Not very smart, Raine.”
He had a point. Beyond the lit parking area between the warehouses, she couldn’t see more than a couple of yards. Maybe staying so late, long after the other nearby businesses had closed, hadn’t been such a bright idea.
“The door is locked. I’ll run to my Jeep and head straight home. There aren’t any cars around, so no one is lurking in the shadows.”
“Maybe you should stay inside with the doors bolted, and I’ll come get you.”
“Thanks for caring, but I refuse to be afraid to walk to my own damn car. I still have pepper spray in my purse, something every smart woman in the city carries at all times. I’ll dig it out and have it at the ready when I leave the building.”
“And if someone follows your car like last time?”
“I’ll drive straight to the sheriff’s office. I won’t risk being caught on an empty road again.”
He let out a long breath. “Call me if you have any issues. Right after you dial 9-1-1.”
“You’ll be the first—I mean second—to know if I feel the least bit threatened.”
“Don’t humor me, Raine. Your safety is serious business.”
“I know it is.” Her tone softened. “I really am sorry I stayed so late. I wish the cops would find that jerk.”
“Well, they haven’t. And according to Detective Gilbert, they don’t have any leads as to who sent him. Maybe nothing has happened in the last few days, but I can’t risk assuming you’re out of danger.”
“I agree. Nothing has changed.” Raine slid her laptop into its case and rose to her feet. “I’m leaving now. I’ll see you soon.”
“Okay. I’ll heat up that leftover Italian soup you made and have dinner waiting.”
“Sounds good. Bye, Levi.” She disconnected and pushed her phone into her purse before pulling out the pepper spray. Feeling a little ridiculous, she headed through the showroom, set the alarm, and locked the door behind her.
The only sound in the night was the occasional swoosh of a car passing by on River Road. Her Jeep was a mere twenty yards away in the parking lot, and she’d covered half the distance when a clang sounded from the side of the building.
The hair on the back of her neck prickled as a loud thump followed. Before she could move, a dark, bulky shape waddled out of the shadows into the light. The big black bear stopped between Raine and her SUV and stared in her direction.
Heart pounding, she raised her arm and waved the pepper spray over her head. “Get out of here! Go!”
The beast turned and lumbered away, heading toward the river.
A huge sigh of relief escaped. “Unbelievable.”
“You okay, lady?”
Spinning, she held the spray in front of her as a man approached.
He stopped abruptly. “Hey, I didn’t mean to scare you. I was out for a run when I saw the bear disappear into the alley. I followed to make sure it wasn’t doing any damage.”
His running shorts and sweat-stained T-shirt backed up his story. After a moment, she lowered the can.
“Sorry. After nearly coming nose to nose with that big brute, I’m a little on edge.”
He took a couple of steps closer. “I can imagine.”
Unease slid down her spine as she backed toward her Jeep. This guy wasn’t the man who’d followed her before. He was much shorter and had a wiry build. Still, her pulse beat a rapid tattoo.
“Thanks for checking, but I’m fine. Enjoy your run.” Turning, she hurried the last few yards to her SUV, hit the remote, and yanked open the door. After clicking the locks, she turned on the engine and sat for a moment, letting the shaking in her limbs subside.
The jogger raised his hand in a wave before running off down the street.
“Totally harmless.” She put her Jeep in gear. “Pull it together, Raine.”
The drive back to Levi’s cabin was uneventful. By the time she parked next to his truck, she could almost smile over her evening adventure. Almost.
When the door swung inward and Levi appeared in the opening, her heart skipped several beats. Shirtless and wearing a pair of low-riding jeans, the sight of all those lean muscles warmed her straight down to her toes. Which was exactly what she needed at the moment.
Gathering her belongings, she got out and shut the car door. “I’m home.”
“So, I see. No surprises tonight?”
A giggle erupted, amusement edged with a touch of hysteria. “Just a big-ass bear and a guy out for a run. I’m not sure which scared me more.”
After she stepped inside and set down her computer case and purse, he took hold of her shoulders and studied her intently. “What happened? You’re a bundle of nerves.”
“Nothing happened.” She leaned against him, and he tugged her closer. “The bear ran when I yelled at it, and the guy was just an innocent jogger. They both surprised me, is all.”
He rested his chin on top of her head and tightened his hold. “I’m so over this. I’m sick and tired of doing nothing, of simply waiting for something else to happen.”
“Maybe it won’t. Maybe whoever thought I was a threat finally realized I’m not.”
“Like I said on the phone—I’m not willing to bet your life on that.”
She pressed her nose against his chest, still damp from a shower, and breathed in his fresh scent. After a long day, she didn’t want to talk a
bout possible danger. Didn’t want to speculate over which of their old friends might be a killer.
“I can’t think about this anymore tonight. I just want to eat dinner and crash on the couch. Maybe watch a movie. Something light and funny.”
“I’d love that, but Dalton promised our guests a party under the stars beside the lake. I’m playing my guitar.” He glanced at the clock over the stove. “We have just enough time to wolf down the soup I heated up before I need to head over. If you aren’t too tired, you can come hang out with me.”
A real smile spread as she looked up at him. “Are you planning to sing?”
“Probably. If the ladies want me to.” He hesitated for a moment. “All our rooms are currently booked with a bachelorette party. My job is to provide the evening entertainment.”
Her brows shot up. “Do I even want to know how your night might have ended if I wasn’t around?”
“But you are here.” He bent to kiss her, his lips lingering against hers, firm and persuasive. “That’s all I care about.”
Her fingers shook slightly as she stroked his cheek. “Good. Because tonight, this is exactly where I want to be. Right here with you.”
Chapter Fourteen
Levi sat at the long mahogany bar with two of his buddies, nursing a beer and his irritation with Raine. She’d cancelled on what was supposed to be their first real date—dinner out and a movie—when she’d received a call about hosting an event. A fiftieth wedding anniversary party to take place at the end of the month. The woman had insisted on meeting with Raine this evening after firing her previous planner for unspecified reasons, and Raine hadn’t wanted to say no to a potential client. Even if the woman sounded like a nightmare customer, she was thrilled to get her new business up and running.
“What’s bugging you? No offense, but you’re about as fun as an STD tonight.”
Levi’s lips curved in a reluctant smile as he glanced over at Flash. “Sorry. I guess I’m a little preoccupied.”
“I would have thought you’d be happier than a pig in mud since you’re currently getting some on a regular basis.” Patton signaled the bartender for another round. “Or did your new woman already dump you?”
Midnight Reckoning (Leave No Trace Book 1) Page 15
