When her phone dinged, Raine pulled it from her pocket and glanced at the text. “We’re having lunch in Berkeley. I should probably go.”
Levi dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “You can pick me up later.”
“I feel bad ditching you.” Raine bit her lip. “But I don’t want to tell Rosa I wasn’t honest about you coming with me since that would involve admitting we set her up.”
“Best to keep our arrangement today quiet so word doesn’t leak to the other two.” The detective studied her carefully. “If you’re positive Ms. Gonzales isn’t a threat—”
“I am.”
“Then, Levi and I will go get something to eat and discuss your upcoming Yosemite trip.”
Raine nodded and squeezed Levi’s hand before stepping away. “I’ll call you after lunch.”
He followed her and opened the truck door. “Forget about all this and enjoy your meal. You might say you’re fine, but right now, you’re strung tighter than my guitar strings.”
“I don’t like lying to my friends. Or doubting their integrity. This situation sucks.”
“I know it does.” Once she swung up onto the seat, he shut the door and bent through the open window to kiss her. “Have a drink or two with your lunch and relax. I’ll drive home.”
She smiled. “I just might.”
Nearly two hours later, Raine pulled into a parking spot next to Detective Gilbert’s car at the Berkeley Marina. Levi got out, bent to say something that made the cop laugh out loud, then met her on the sidewalk as she walked around the front of his truck.
“How was your lunch?”
“Fun. Camille and I talked business a little, and Rosa told us about the new guy she’s dating. We had a good time.”
“I’m glad. Hop in, and we’ll head home. With any luck, traffic won’t be too horrible since we’re beating rush hour.”
Raine waved as the detective backed up and drove away. She got in on the passenger side, and minutes later, Levi merged onto the freeway heading east.
“You and Detective Gilbert seem to have bonded. What did you talk about while I was drinking wine and eating excellent pad Thai with Camille and Rosa?”
“You mean Jerome?” He grinned. “The detective and I were on a first name basis over sandwiches. I’ve forgiven him for dangling you in front of our friends like bait since you managed the encounters like a true champion. He also agreed that sending you out on a hike alone with either Matt or Ava in Yosemite isn’t an option. Anyway, most of the trails near the valley are so crowded, there’d be little opportunity to shove you off a cliff without a dozen witnesses.”
“Which is why Cooper was killed in the middle of the night.”
Levi nodded. “Whoever did it had the advantage of darkness. Detective Gilbert thinks the best plan is to simply go along with whatever Matt and Ava suggest. One of them must have something in mind. Our advantage is that we’ll be vigilant, not caught unaware of the danger the way Cooper was.”
“The ultimate betrayal.” She leaned back in her seat as he maneuvered through the light traffic and picked up speed. “Taken out by someone he trusted.”
“It must have been one hell of an argument. Either that or Cooper did some backstabbing of his own. I have a feeling he wasn’t completely innocent in whatever went down that night.”
“Knowing Cooper, probably not.” Raine let out a sigh. “Still, he didn’t deserve to die.”
“Nope. And if his killer is willing to sacrifice you to save his—or her—own hide, I have zero sympathy. All I know is I’m not letting you out of my sight while we’re in Yosemite.”
They rode in silence for a couple of miles as the tension of the day drained out of Raine. Finally, she turned to face him. “Thank you for having my back. I know I can count on you, and it means a lot.”
“Always.” He glanced over. “We have a week before our trip. What’s on your agenda?”
“Two events to hold. Plus, I hope to line up some new clients.”
“So, business as usual.” There was a bit of an edge to his voice.
A frown furrowed her brow, but she didn’t comment. “I hope so. What about you?”
“The lodge is fully booked. I imagine I’ll be pretty well occupied with guests. And I need to up my training mileage if I want to be competitive by the end of the summer.”
“I guess we both have a lot going on.” She reached over to touch his arm. “We’ll make time to spend together.”
He kept his gaze steady on the road. “I hope so.”
Chapter Nineteen
Sweat stung his eyes as Levi ran through the woods. Muscles aching and lungs burning, he forced a little more speed from his beleaguered body as he approached the crest of the hill. Finally reaching the summit, he paused to sip water from his hydration pack and check out the view as his heart rate slowed.
Evergreens stretched for miles toward distant mountain peaks, and birds chirped in the fading afternoon. Feeling on top of the world, he inhaled deep breaths of cool air, fragrant with the scent of pine, and wondered how anyone could stand living in a city. Vistas like the one before him, along with the time to appreciate them, was all he wanted from life.
That and Raine. He definitely wanted Raine. But he was beginning to fear she had far different priorities. The fact that she wanted to talk again tonight dampened the euphoria of his run.
Letting out a long breath, he took off down the trail. He’d promised to be home when she returned from her event, but if he didn’t get moving, he’d still be miles from the lodge. Probably not the ideal way to start whatever conversation she had in mind.
An hour later, he was on the home stretch as twilight settled over the forest. Tired in a good way, he slowed to a walk to shake out his muscles. Lights from the lodge glowed through the trees. Rounding the back of the building, he stopped to stare at the RV, custom painted with the Sierra Wilderness Retreat logo, parked near the lake.
An older version of himself stepped out of the motorhome and waved. His father was a little heavier than he remembered, his blond hair had long since turned gray, and wire-rimmed glassed perched halfway down his nose. But the resemblance to both his sons was still striking.
Levi crossed the distance between them and gave his dad a back-slapping hug. “I thought you put off your trip because you were sick.”
“I started feeling a whole lot better, so we hit the road a few days ago.” He stepped back a couple of feet. “I’m happy to see you, but you’re covered in sweat.”
“Sorry.” Levi grinned. “Where’s Mom?”
“In the lodge. I came out to find my glasses but was distracted by a pretty little gal who introduced herself as your friend. I got the feeling she’s more than that.”
“Raine.” He glanced around. “Where’d she go?”
“Back to your cabin. I invited her over for dinner.”
“Great. I should probably go shower, then.”
“No probably about it. You smell like a dirty gym sock.” His dad crossed his arms over his chest and studied him. “After five minutes of conversation with this new girl, I already like her better than the last one.”
“I’m happy to hear that because I’m hoping she’ll stick around.” Levi turned to go. “I’ll clean up, and we’ll be over shortly.”
“Better hurry. I think dinner is almost ready.”
He nodded and ran the last few yards. Raine’s Jeep was parked next to his truck, and the lights were on inside the cabin. When he opened the door, Woody greeted him with a woof and tail wags that slapped his legs.
“Hey, boy. What are you doing here?” He scratched the dog’s ears. “Raine?”
She stepped out of the bathroom wearing only a towel. “Your furry friend followed me inside, so I let him stay. How was your run?”
His gaze strayed down the length of her bare legs before rising. “Good. Do you know how incredibly hot you look right now?”
Amusement glimmered in her eyes. “No way, bud. You’re s
weaty and gross, and your family is holding dinner for us.”
“That sucks.” He stepped closer and bent to kiss her, stopping before he got too carried away.
“You didn’t tell me your parents were coming today.”
“I didn’t know.” He stroked her cheek with his thumb. “My dad likes you. Probably not as much as I do, though.”
She laughed softly. “It’s still a big, fat no. Go shower while I get dressed.”
“Fine.” He paused. “Hey, how did your party go?”
“It came off without a hitch. My client was really happy.”
“That’s terrific. Congratulations.”
“Thanks. I’m pretty pleased.”
Lingering for a long, torturous look as she scrambled up the ladder in the flapping towel, he finally entered the bathroom. He’d take a shower. A cold one.
When he emerged from the bathroom ten minutes later, showered and shaved and wearing clean boxers, Raine sat on the couch next to Woody with her computer open on her lap. She wore a pair of white shorts and a bright blue top. A splint, the same shade as her shirt, was secured around her wrist with Velcro straps.
“What happened to your cast? I was so busy staring at your legs earlier, I didn’t even notice it was gone.”
She glanced up, gave him an appreciative look, and shut the lid on her laptop. “I told you I had a doctor’s appointment this morning. She took an X-ray and said I’m a fast healer.” A smile lit up her eyes. “I was deliriously happy when she cut the damn thing off. I have to wear the splint instead of the cast for a couple of weeks, but it’s far more comfortable.”
“I bet. Congratulations again.”
“I’ve had a really good day.” She pointed toward the ladder. “While I’m not immune to the charm of your current attire, go get dressed. Ursula just texted me that dinner is ready.”
“I suppose we can celebrate later.”
He threw on jeans and a T-shirt, and a few minutes later they left the cabin with Woody leading the way. “Are you okay having dinner with my family tonight? I know you said you wanted to talk.”
“I do, but it can wait.”
He reached down to grip her hand in his. “Is something wrong?”
“Not necessarily. Look, we don’t have time for a real discussion right now.”
He climbed the porch steps at her side and held open the front door. “I guess we don’t. As long as that asshole didn’t follow you again—”
“I haven’t seen any sign of him, so you don’t need to worry about that.”
Crossing the main room of the lodge to the living quarters in the rear of the building, Levi didn’t feel much relief. Something was obviously on her mind, but he let the subject drop when his mother hurried toward them.
Dressed in a flowing skirt and gauzy top, his mom billowed rather than walked. Lilac invaded his senses as she enfolded him in a tight hug.
“It’s so good to see you, but you look thin.”
“I’m ripped, not skinny.” He laughed at his own joke and hugged her back. “How are you, Mom?”
“Excellent.” She released him and smiled at Raine. “You must be Levi’s new friend that Cal mentioned.”
“Actually, she’s an old friend.” Levi slid an arm around Raine’s waist to draw her forward. “Mom, I’d like you to meet Raine Endicott. We went to college together and reconnected in June on the Yosemite trip I told you about. Raine, this is my mother, Susannah Hill.”
“Call me Zan. Everyone does.” His mother took Raine’s hand and patted it. “It’s lovely to meet you.”
“I’m happy to meet you, too. You must be thrilled with the new addition to your family.”
“Kira is an absolute joy.” When Dex ran over to lean against his grandmother’s side, she ruffled his hair. “And this guy is the best big brother ever.”
“Come eat. Dinner’s ready.” Ursula waved them toward the dining room.
“Sorry we held up your meal.” Raine walked over to join his sister-in-law. “Can I do anything to help?”
Physically, the two women couldn’t be more different. While Raine was petite and fair, Ursula was tall and tanned, with deep brown eyes and dark hair caught up in a messy topknot. But when it came to personality, their similarities were striking. Strong-willed and tenacious, both women knew what they wanted and worked hard to achieve it.
“Actually, you can hold Kira while I get the food on the table. “She thrust her baby into Raine’s arms.”
“Gladly. She’s darling.” Raine covered his niece’s neck with kisses. “There’s nothing quite like the sweet smell of baby.”
“You wouldn’t have said that a half hour ago.” Dalton followed his wife toward the kitchen. “Never before have I changed a diaper quite that rank.”
“This cute little thing?” Raine laughed. “I don’t believe you.”
“Your friend is good with kids.” Keeping her voice down, his mom narrowed her eyes in speculation. “Dex told me he likes her because she plays with him.”
“Raine is terrific.”
“Are the two of you serious? You aren’t getting any younger, you know. It’s time you thought seriously about starting a family.”
He rolled his eyes. “You just got a new granddaughter. Don’t start nagging me to reproduce.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
Levi couldn’t seem to take his gaze off Raine as she rocked Kira in her arms. “Yeah, I’m serious about her, but she has a new business occupying most of her time and energy. And I’ve been training pretty hard, not to mention keeping up with things around here. Just finding opportunities to hang out together can be difficult.”
“Life is full of challenges.”
“You’ve got that right.” He took his mom’s arm and guided her toward the dining room. “We’d better go sit down. Ursula is giving us the look.”
Dinner was filled with a lot of talk and laughter, along with the excellent pasta dish Ursula had prepared. Levi was discussing repairs to the dock with Dalton when his dad’s words caught his attention.
“Ursula said something about a man running you down in the woods a few weeks ago, Raine. Is that why you have a splint on your arm?”
She turned to meet Levi’s gaze before answering. “Not exactly. I fractured my wrist while I was still living in San Francisco.”
Setting down his wine glass, Levi covered her hand where it rested on the table. “We’ve had a bit of trouble since our Yosemite trip. There was an . . . incident.”
His dad frowned. “What sort of incident?”
“Not one we want to talk about at the dinner table.” Dalton nodded toward his son, who was stacking croutons from his salad in a tower on his plate. “Don’t play with your food, Dex.”
“But it’s fun.”
“Too bad. Eat your salad. It’s good for you.”
The boy made a face but popped the top crouton from the stack into his mouth and crunched loudly. “The squares are the only part I like.”
“You can explain the incident later.” Levi’s mom smiled at Raine. “Tell me about yourself. What sort of work do you do?”
“I’m an event planner. Have been for years, but when I moved up here, I started my own business.”
“Putting on parties sounds like a delightful way to earn a living. You must be very well-organized.”
“I do my best.”
Ursula grinned. “Raine is so organized she even has Levi scheduling his time more productively. And that’s not something I ever thought would happen.”
Levi tightened his hold on Raine’s hand. “Hey, I may not have a calendar outlining every minute of my day, but I know where I need to be and when.”
“You go with the flow like me, Son.” His dad twirled pasta around his fork. “Your mom had her work cut out for her, keeping me in line.”
“I still do, but it sounds like Raine is more than capable.” She glanced from Raine to Levi and back. “Even if you had a husband and kids, I’m sur
e you’d manage splendidly.”
“Mom . . .” Levi’s voice held a warning.
She gave him a wide-eyed look. “What? I’m just saying—”
“Uncle Levi doesn’t want kids. He says he has me, and that’s good enough.”
Everyone at the table turned to stare at Dex.
“I guess he has Kira now, too, but she doesn’t do anything but sleep and cry.” Dex crunched another crouton. “Right, Uncle Levi?”
“Uh . . .”
Raine pulled her hand out of his grasp. “Interesting.”
His stomach clenched. “I don’t think that’s exactly what I said.”
Dex nodded vigorously. “Yes, it is. Daddy says I’m a damn parrot, but I’m not supposed to say damn.”
Levi’s father snorted with laughter, which turned into a coughing fit. Ursula patted him on the back until the commotion woke Kira, asleep in her playpen. Her shrill cry drowned out any further conversation.
Levi eyed Raine’s unyielding lips as her fingers clenched around the stem of her wine glass. The knot in his stomach tightened.
After a moment, she glanced his way. “We really do need to talk, but maybe not the discussion I’d planned to have earlier.”
Since he wasn’t sure what to say, he kept his mouth shut and nodded. It was another hour before they left the lodge to walk back to his cabin. Neither said much as they strolled side-by-side through the dark night. Once inside, he shut the door and leaned against it.
“Your parents are great.” Raine dropped onto the couch and studied him. “Complete opposites, but they obviously make their relationship work.”
“Nothing ruffles my dad. Mom, on the other hand, gets worked up over everything. I would never have told her about Cooper’s death and that asshole who’s been following you. For a minute there, I feared she was going to have a stroke. But she kept pushing for more details.”
“After the initial shock, I think she handled it pretty well. Are you going to come sit down?”
He pushed away from the door and joined her on the couch, leaving a couple of feet of space between them. “I get the feeling you’re angry with me.”
“Not angry, but I do think we need to discuss where our relationship is headed. We haven’t been together all that long, but what we’ve shared has been pretty intense. My feelings for you aren’t casual. My heart is fully engaged, and honestly, I’m worried.”
Midnight Reckoning (Leave No Trace Book 1) Page 21
