More Than a Touch: A Snowberry Creek Novel

by Alexis Morgan

  Callie looked guilty. “Actually, I did. But while I waited for you to show some sign of life over here, I lost control and ate it. Next time I’ll know to buy two.”

  “Better make it three, since you already owe me one. The second one is the penalty you pay for eating mine in the first place. The third one is for insurance to make sure mine arrives here intact.”

  Callie laughed and started to clear the table. “It’s a deal. I’ve got to go in a minute. I promised my mother I’d help her out in the yard this morning.”

  Before she was out the door, he called after her, “Callie, it’s a nice thing you’re doing for Spence’s cousin. Let’s just hope he’s smart enough to realize it.”

  But Leif wouldn’t be putting any money on the chance that he would.

  Chapter 11

  The rest of the weekend sped by in a blur. Leif spent most of it sitting on his ass or doing his stretches. On Sunday evening, he’d taken Mooch for another walk at the park, but they hadn’t run into Zoe again.

  He’d been tempted to call her to see if she’d like to go somewhere for dinner, but he wasn’t sure how she would react to that. There were times he was convinced her interest in him went beyond her concern over his recovery, but not always. Not wanting to push things, he’d also resisted the urge to kiss her again the other night when she’d dropped him off at Spence’s place.

  Had she taken that for a lack of interest on his part? He wasn’t scheduled to see her at the clinic today, but maybe he’d run into her anyway. If so, he might take a shot at setting up something with her later in the week. Feeling better than he had in a while, he locked Mooch in the house and headed into town for his physical therapy appointment.

  As soon as he walked in, Isaac closed the chart he’d been reading and headed straight for Leif. “How did your appointment with Zoe go on Friday?”

  The question came off as more curious than accusatory, but the concern on the other man’s face made it clear something was up. “Fine, I guess. She went over the numbers with me and talked about the importance of keeping up with my treatment.”

  Not that he gave a rat’s ass about the measurements. He didn’t need a bunch of facts and figures to tell him that his leg was a long way from normal.

  “Why? What’s going on?”

  His answer didn’t seem to satisfy Isaac. “Because she wants to see you again today. Zoe said it wouldn’t take long and to let Brandi know when you were done in here. She didn’t say what it was about, and I wanted to make sure there wasn’t a problem of some kind.”

  It was a puzzle to Leif, too, even if he and Zoe hadn’t parted on the best terms after his appointment on Friday. They’d certainly gotten along fine on their impromptu walk that evening.

  “There’s no problem that I’m aware of, so maybe it’s some paperwork snafu. You know how easy it is to get all tangled up in red tape.”

  Isaac looked relieved. “So true. I spend half my time dealing with all that crap. Either way, keep me in the loop.”

  “Will do.”

  Rather than worry about what might have gone wrong in the interim, Leif plunged into his exercise program, keeping up a running conversation with Mitch about the upcoming baseball play-offs as they did their reps.

  The hour passed quickly. Isaac made a few more notes on Leif’s chart before letting him leave.

  Leif picked up his pack and headed out the door that led into the main clinic. When he didn’t immediately see either Brandi or Zoe, he stopped at the front desk.

  “I’m Leif Brevik. Zoe left a message with Isaac that she wanted to see me for a minute.”

  The receptionist smiled and reached for the phone. “Have a seat, and I’ll let her know you’re here. It may be a few minutes if Zoe is with a patient.”

  “That’s okay.”

  It’s not like he had anywhere he had to be. He settled into a chair and picked up one of the year-old magazines from the pile on a nearby table. He skimmed an article on the war, probably not the smartest thing he could have done. It didn’t matter that it was months out of date. For the boots on the ground, the war was pretty much the same now as it had been then. And wasn’t that just a damn shame?

  “Mr. Brevik, Zoe can see you now.”

  He closed the magazine and tossed it aside. Pasting a smile on his face, he followed the receptionist down the hall past the same office where he’d met with Zoe the first time. They kept going until they reached a door he hadn’t noticed before.

  “She’s waiting for you at the picnic table in back.”

  He thanked the receptionist and stepped outside to look around. Okay, this was getting stranger and stranger. Granted, it was a nice day, and it was a relief to breathe air that was fresh and free of the medicinal smell of the clinic. But why would Zoe prefer to speak to him out here?

  There was only one way to find out. He walked around the corner of the building. His leg was tired from his therapy, which meant his limp was more pronounced. It wasn’t as if Zoe hadn’t seen him hobble before, but that didn’t mean he liked it.

  He finally spotted her sitting on the top of an old wooden picnic table with her back to him. Her dark hair was pulled back and braided. Damn, he’d love to set it free, especially if he could then see it spread out on his pillow. Yeah, like that was going to happen—but a man could dream.

  She waited to face him until he was just a few feet away. Her expression definitely wasn’t a happy one, making him wonder what the hell had happened since they’d parted company on Friday night. All the pieces fell together. If this had been about his leg or his physical therapy, they wouldn’t be meeting out here next to the parking lot.

  “What’s up, Zoe? What do you have to say that couldn’t have been said inside instead of out here?”

  “I wanted to talk to you about Friday night. You know, about us.”

  “I didn’t even realize there was an ‘us,’ Zoe. What’s happened to make a simple walk in the park a problem for you?”

  He perched on the tabletop right next to her. She scooted a few inches farther away, clearly not liking that he was crowding her.

  “We were seen together.”

  “Yeah, I heard that Bridey saw us leaving the park Friday night. I didn’t think it was any big deal.”

  Although it was obvious it was a big deal for her. “She saw us, too?”

  “Yeah, she mentioned it to Callie earlier this morning. Who else saw us?”

  Zoe swallowed hard. “Brandi. I swore her to secrecy, but that’s not fair to her. She’s not the one with something to hide.”

  Okay, that was a bit over the top. “What are you talking about? We’re both adults. We went for a walk and had pie. Neither of those are crimes as far as I know.”

  “No, they’re not, but I’m definitely bending the rules here. Ours has to be a professional relationship, not personal. I can’t afford to have it get out that I’m hanging out with a patient.”

  He was trying to remain calm, but it was getting harder with each passing second. “I’m guessing from your reaction that could be a bad thing.”

  “Yeah, it could be, Leif. Even though I’m a nurse practitioner, I’m still bound by the same rules that set the boundaries between a patient and a doctor.”

  “And those rules say two adults can’t share a piece of pie or a walk along the river?”

  He didn’t bother to wait for her response. “So you’re saying that as long as you’re overseeing my care, none of that can happen again.”

  Leif hadn’t phrased it as a question, but she answered him anyway, her blue eyes looking so sad. “I’m sorry, but yes. I don’t like it either. Leif, I didn’t make the rules, but I do have to live by them. It’s for your own protection.”

  Just that quickly his temper snapped. He could protect himself. He’d been doing it for years. “That’s bullshit, Zoe, and you know it. I can take care of myself, but that’s not what’s in play here. No, you’re protecting your own ass. Fine, I get that, but don’t tell m
e that it’s better for me in the long run.”

  Not when the evenings he’d shared with her had been the biggest dose of normal that he’d had in a long time. For those few precious hours he’d been able to put the war and all its pain behind him.

  “But, Leif—”

  He cut her off. “You’ve made your point, Ms. Phillips. I’ll be going now.”

  His leg cramped up as soon as he put his weight on it, causing him to stumble a bit. Zoe was off the table and grabbing his arm in an instant. He tried without success to break free of her grasp.

  She held on with the tenacity of a terrier. “Damn it, Leif, don’t be an idiot! Let me help you.”

  He froze long enough to regain his balance. “You can let go now.”

  When her hands fell away, he missed their warmth against his skin, not that he would admit it to her now. “Thank you for your concern, Ms. Phillips, but I can make it to my truck on my own.”

  Stubborn woman that she was, Zoe shadowed his footsteps. Finally, he’d had enough of her hovering. His anger faded, and all he could feel was tired.

  “Go back inside, Zoe. You wouldn’t want anyone to see you walking me to my truck. I’m pretty sure that goes beyond your customary service to your patients. God knows we wouldn’t want people to talk.”

  Okay, that was a cheap shot. He stopped walking. “Look, I get what you’re saying—no more late-night walks, no more pie. I’ll see you around—or not.”

  She let him walk away this time. And yet he really wished she hadn’t.

  • • •

  Mitch made it to his car by sheer willpower alone. If he didn’t know better, he might have suspected that Isaac had added on that extra round of reps just to see how much Mitch could take without pleading for mercy. His gut told him that his old friend had set out to challenge, not torture, him.

  Besides, he knew from his past rounds of postsurgery rehab that it was up to him to pound the mat when it got to be too much for him. It was his body, making it his call when to back off a bit.

  He’d pay for his stubborn pride later, but that didn’t stop him from being pleased about how much more he’d been able to do today. As he unlocked his car, he caught sight of Leif coming around the end of the building. Where had he been all this time? He’d left the therapy room half an hour ago. Whatever Leif had been doing had left him huffing and puffing like he’d been running a marathon.

  Under other circumstances, Mitch would’ve met the man halfway in case Leif needed some extra support, but right now he wasn’t in any shape to help anyone. He leaned against the front fender and watched to make sure Leif made it to his truck safely.

  When the other man noticed Mitch was staring at him, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. “What the hell are you looking at?”

  Mitch considered a few answers but went with his first thought. “I’m looking at a man who looks as bad as I feel. You know, like he could use a beer.” He let himself smile. “Or maybe even a six-pack. God knows, after what Isaac put me through this morning, I’m all about heading to the closest bar.”

  Leif hobbled closer, his face flushed from the exertion it cost him to get that far. “My buddy told me there’s one around here with some decent pool tables. He said the building wasn’t much to look at, more like a bunker than anything, and the only sign on it just says BEER.”

  Mitch laughed. “Yeah, I know the place. It sits right at the edge of the city limits. It used to be called Parton’s Bar, but I heard someone else took it over recently. Want to follow me there?”

  Leif looked back toward the clinic with the oddest expression on his face. Whatever was on his mind at the moment couldn’t be good. “Oh, yeah. Lead the way. I’ll even buy the first round.” He headed for his truck. “Get me there fast enough, and I might even spring for the first two. On the way, though, I have to stop and pick up a friend.”

  Suddenly Mitch had a new surge of energy. “Sounds like a plan.”

  • • •

  Thirty minutes later Mitch was halfway through his first beer. He took another sip and looked around the room while he waited for his turn at the pool table. It wasn’t the kind of place he was used to hanging out in anymore, but today the dingy interior and twangy music certainly suited his mood. Leif’s, too, considering he was already on his second longneck and had a third lined up next to it as backup.

  “Move, Mooch.”

  Leif stepped around the dog to line up his next shot. He’d insisted on stopping to pick up Mooch on the way to the bar. Something about soldiers never abandoning a buddy when on a mission. The bartender had protested when the three of them had walked into the place, but Leif flashed his dog tags and then Mooch’s.

  A pair of bikers over in the corner had immediately sided with Leif once they heard the dog’s name. It seems Leif’s buddy Nick had told them all about the dog’s heroics back in Afghanistan. At first the bartender thought it was a line of bull that Leif and the other two were using to convince him to let the dog stay.

  But when Leif had shown the man the scar on the dog’s shoulder, he’d backed off and even cooked a burger for the mutt. Amazing. Mitch hadn’t wanted to doubt Leif’s story, but he didn’t believe it himself until he surreptitiously ran his fingers along the dog’s shoulder himself. Damned if there weren’t a long scar buried under all that white fur.

  He didn’t know a damn thing about bullet wounds, but he was willing to give Leif and the dog the benefit of the doubt.

  “It’s your shot, Mitch.”

  He took another sip of his beer and set it aside while he walked around the table eyeing his options. “You could have left me something to hit.”

  Leif leaned against the wall with a big smirk on his face. “And here I thought a hotshot quarterback like you would be able to hit anything he aimed at.”

  Mitch shot Leif a dark look. “That would be true if I were throwing a football. Pool takes a whole different skill set. I used to be pretty good at it, but I honestly can’t remember the last time I played.”

  It felt like forever. He’d been too caught up in life in the fast lane to leave much time for hanging out in the kind of place that boasted well-worn pool tables and a postage stamp–sized dance floor. He could just hear what his teammates would say about this place.

  Make that his former teammates.

  He shut the door on that line of thought. Instead, he concentrated on the sweet glide of the cue stick through his fingers. Time to start calling the shots, and not just in this game of pool.

  “Green in the corner pocket.”

  He gave the cue ball a solid tap, which sent it rolling in a straight line toward the far end of the table. When the white ball hit its intended target with a soft thunk, the green one went tumbling in the corner pocket.

  Mitch smiled and moved on to the next shot. As he studied the table, he realized that for the first time since his knee had been ripped apart, he was enjoying himself.

  When the next ball tipped into the side pocket, he reached for his drink, held it out to clink bottles with Leif. “Here’s to BEER, my friend, and to shooting pool. The next round is on me.”

  “I’ll drink to that,” Leif said, grinning widely. “Bartender, two more and a bottled water for my furry friend here.”

  He reached down to pat his buddy Mooch on the head. The dog wagged his tail and licked Leif’s hand before settling back down in the corner he’d staked out as his own.

  While they waited for their drinks to arrive, Mitch ran the rest of the table.

  “Rack ’em up again, Corporal. I’m on a roll.”

  • • •

  Leif made a quick trip to the men’s room. When he stepped back out into the bar, he frowned and sniffed the air. Something smelled good enough to have his stomach rumbling. Had he eaten anything since breakfast other than stale peanuts? Not that he could remember. Rather than heading straight back to the pool table where Mitch was practicing some trick shots, he stopped by the bar.

  “Can we get six burger
s, two plain and the rest with the works? A couple of orders of fries and onion rings, too.”

  He pulled out his wallet and handed over a couple of twenties. “Keep the change on that and give us a yell when it’s ready.”

  When he strolled back over to the pool table, he whistled for Mooch. The dog had been remarkably patient and seemingly content to doze in the corner while Leif and Mitch played pool and tried out a few trick shots.

  “Come on, boy. You’re due for a trip outside.”

  The dog sprang up, tail wagging a mile a minute. Before they left, Leif figured he should let Mitch know where he’d be. He waited until the quarterback made his shot.

  “Mooch and I are going to take a lap around the parking lot. I ordered some food for the three of us. It’s all paid for, so keep an eye on the bartender. He’s going to give us the high sign when it’s ready.”

  “Will do.”

  Leif headed for the door and let Mooch out. He immediately reached down to catch him by the collar to keep him from charging out in front of an enormous pickup pulling into the lot in a spray of gravel and dirt. Assholes.

  “This way, dog. We need to stick to the woods so you don’t end up as some idiot’s hood ornament.”

  Mooch dutifully followed the line of sorry-looking shrubs along the side of the building to the tree line. He took care of business and then wandered around for a few minutes, nose to the ground and tail in constant motion.

  After he’d done a thorough job of inspecting the area, Leif called him to heel. “Come on, buddy. I suspect lunch is ready.”

  Then he really looked around. When had it gotten dark? “Make that dinner. Damn, no wonder my stomach is growling. Let’s get back inside before Mitch eats all the fries.”

  Mooch ranged out ahead of Leif as if taking point. When he was within a few feet of the door, he slowed down. His tail quit moving and his head came up. The dog glanced back at Leif and growled softly. What the hell had set off that reaction?

  As a precaution, Leif changed his grip on his cane so that he was holding it about halfway down its length. As much as he hated the damn thing, at least it could prove useful as a weapon. He opened the door, glad for once that the interior was almost as dim as the light out in the parking lot so that his eyes needed no time to adjust.