More Than a Touch: A Snowberry Creek Novel

by Alexis Morgan

  Austin held up his hands and stepped away, looking disgusted. “Fine. Next time I’ll let you fall on your ass.”

  “Oh, hell.” Leif sighed and said, “Sorry, kid. I don’t mean to be a complete jerk. It’s been one of those days.”

  Austin didn’t respond, but at least he didn’t go storming off. The two of them shoveled their mouths full of food, probably because that meant they didn’t have to talk. As a result, they made quick work of their meal.

  “Like I said, we can go get your truck out of hock now if you want.”

  “I want.”

  Austin cleared the table, dumping the dishes in the sink. “About the money I owe you. I plan to pay you back as soon as I can.”

  Right now Leif wasn’t worried about a couple of hundred bucks, but it was clearly important to Austin. Maybe that was a good sign that the kid was taking his situation seriously.

  “Not a problem. We can set up a spreadsheet on my laptop for the restitution you owe and tack on the rest.”

  The kid looked up from putting a plate into the dishwasher.

  “Here’s the thing.” The younger man flushed red and shifted from one foot to the other. “I don’t know a lot about computers, much less how to create a spreadsheet.”

  Seriously? In this day and age? What the hell kind of school had the kid gone to that hadn’t at least taught him the basics?

  He hadn’t realized he’d said that last part out loud until he saw the expression on Austin’s face. “We moved around so much that I missed a lot of class. I got sick of playing catch-up all the time, so I dropped out the day I turned sixteen.”

  Austin shoved his hands in his pants pockets and stared at the floor. “I’ve done okay without a diploma.”

  Yeah, if you considered a dead-end job flipping burgers doing okay. The kid sounded defensive, but who could blame him? Leif mentally added that to the list of reasons Vince Locke deserved to have his ass kicked.

  “When we’ve got time, we’ll sit down and set up the spreadsheet together, and I’ll show you how to update the data as you go along.”

  The knot in his thigh muscle finally gave it up and relaxed. Leif allowed himself to enjoy a few seconds without pain before trying to stand up again. He tossed Austin the keys to his truck. “Let’s get going. You drive. We can start on the program after we get back.”

  Austin snagged the keys out of the air. “Fine.”

  Despite the one-word answer, Austin looked pleased by the offer. Maybe it was a good time to bring up Leif’s plans for tonight.

  “By the way, I’m supposed to meet Mitch Calder to play a few games of pool tonight after dinner. If you want to tag along, you’d be welcome. You don’t have to decide now. Just let me know.”

  Austin’s eyes flared wide in surprise. “Mitch Calder, as in the big-time professional quarterback who grew up here in Snowberry Creek? You’re really friends with a guy like him?”

  Sometimes Leif had a hard time believing that himself. “Yeah, we share the same physical therapist.”

  “Cool. Yeah, I’ll go.”

  “Fair enough.” Leif led the way to the front door. “Come on, Mooch. You can ride along this time.”

  Outside, Austin opened the driver’s-side door and stood back to let the dog jump in first. Leif rode shotgun as Mooch settled into the narrow backseat. After Austin started the truck, Leif held out a piece of paper. “Here’s a map and the address for the tow yard.” Austin studied it briefly. “It’s not far from where I used to work.”

  Leif stretched out his legs and closed his eyes as they left the driveway behind. “Good. Wake me when we get there.”

  Chapter 17

  “One more mile, and then I’ll be able to sleep.”

  Hoping that last part was true, Zoe kept trudging on down the street. Shoving her hands in her jacket pockets, she ignored the chill of the air, in fact preferring it to the dry stuffiness of her apartment. Maybe that was all in her head, but all she knew was that she could breathe more easily once she headed out into the night.

  At the next corner, she hung a right and kept walking. Unfortunately, no matter how far or how fast she walked, the memories kept pace with her. After making it through the rest of the day at work, she had hoped the flashback was a solo performance.

  No such luck. As soon as she didn’t have the constant hubbub at work to keep her mind occupied, the stark faces from her past came flooding back. She’d always tried to concentrate on the successes, especially the patients she’d helped along their way back to normal.

  But God knows, there’d been so many others whose lives had been changed forever. They had all been so brave, each and every one of them. Too many to remember by name. That didn’t mean she’d ever been able to forget any of their faces, nor did she try. They deserved that much from her.

  Technically, the park along Strawberry Creek was closed this late at night. But she needed the soothing sound of the water far more than she needed to follow the rules right now. Cutting across the grass, she headed for the picnic table that sat between the path and the edge of the creek.

  Before she reached her goal, the sound of squealing tires had her spinning around to look back the way she’d come. Damn, had one of the deputies noticed her?

  Luck was with her. Or maybe not. It was a pickup truck, not one of the local police cars, backing up to the park entrance. From this distance it was hard to pick out much detail, but it looked all too familiar. Her suspicions were confirmed as soon as the passenger door opened and the interior light came on.

  Leif.

  It was too much to hope that he hadn’t seen her, not when he was already headed straight for her. Rather than wait for him, she deliberately turned away and continued on her original trajectory until she reached the picnic table.

  She perched on the top of it with her feet on the bench and stared out across the creek. The silver light from the moon overhead painted the water with its cool shine, causing it to sparkle as it tumbled over the rocks. The soft babble did nothing to muffle the sound of Leif’s uneven tread as he approached.

  Without bothering to look at him, she said, “We seem to always end up here, don’t we?”

  “Yeah, we do.”

  He joined her on the table, a heavy sigh the only hint about how his leg was doing. She didn’t ask, and he didn’t tell. Leif propped his cane on the seat and scooted closer. She managed to resist leaning into his warm strength.

  “Wasn’t that your truck?”

  He nodded. “I’d had a couple of beers with Mitch while we played pool, so my new roommate was behind the wheel. When I spotted you, I had him drop me off and told him I’d walk back home.”

  She was surprised that he would trust anyone with his new truck. When she said so, Leif’s smile gleamed in the darkness. “It was all part of my crafty plan to make sure Austin stuck to soft drinks tonight while the two of us played pool with Mitch. The kid has had a major run-in with the law lately, and I didn’t want him to risk any more trouble with Gage Logan. That would be last thing he needs right now.”

  How noble of him. “But, Leif, as I recall, you and Mitch have had your own issues with Gage and his men. Didn’t that involve beer and pool, too?”

  He laughed. “Yeah, well, Austin doesn’t have to know about that. Besides, the pool and beer weren’t the real problem that night. Gage was more concerned about the fight that came afterward.”

  “Oh, well, that’s different.”

  Leif leaned in closer, giving her a soft nudge with his shoulder. “Besides, Mitch and I took a solemn vow beforehand that there would be no fights or cops tonight. Cheating, on the other hand, was still on the table. We didn’t want anyone to get the idea that we’re a pair of Goody Two-shoes.”

  Zoe followed his lead and kept things light. “I can only imagine how careful you have to be not to damage the manly reputations of both the U.S. Army and the NFL. Please tell me you both remembered to curse and swagger on your way into the bar.”

  �
��Oh, hell yeah, you bet we did. I even spit a couple of times for good measure.”

  “Your mom would be so proud.”

  “Poor lady, she tried her best to civilize me. Some of it stuck, but not everything. Of course, I wouldn’t have expected her to know much about barroom etiquette.”

  Somehow his hand had become entangled with hers as they’d talked. She didn’t mind, but what had happened to that line they’d drawn? Hadn’t they agreed that neither of them was in a position to pursue any kind of relationship outside of the clinic?

  So much for their resolve.

  Leif gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “I was surprised to see you here this late at night, especially after working all day.”

  “Sometimes I need to unwind before I can sleep. Sitting here by the creek is especially soothing.”

  “It is a beautiful night, I’ll grant you that much.” He released her hand and leaned back on his elbows to stare up at the sky. “So many nights here are cloudy even when it doesn’t rain. It’s nice to have a clear view of the stars.”

  “True.”

  His voice grew rougher in the darkness, although his expression remained serene. “It’s also nice to be able to enjoy a moonlit night without worrying about who else might be out and about.”

  She shuddered. He was right about that, too. She risked sharing a little more. “I had a lot of friends in the military who truly hated night patrols.”

  “With good reason.” He sat back up. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to spoil the mood. After three deployments, worrying about snipers and IEDs pretty much becomes second nature. I guess I’ll eventually get over it.”

  That would be nice. If Leif could somehow put his past to rest, maybe there was hope for her to do the same. Just that quickly she needed to be up and moving again.

  “I’d better be heading home.”

  Leif reached for his cane. “I’ll walk with you.”

  She shouldn’t let him, but she couldn’t find it in her to miss a chance to spend more time in his company. His quiet strength made her feel safe. With Leif setting the pace, they made their way back toward Main Street. Once they were on more level ground, Leif wrapped his arm around her shoulders. She didn’t protest that either.

  It was tempting to stretch out their time together over a cup of coffee and some of Frannie’s pie, but Leif didn’t even glance at the diner as they walked past. Yet he seemed relaxed and in no hurry to get shed of her company as they reached the final stretch to her apartment.

  If only she felt as calm, but right now her pulse was picking up speed at an alarming rate. Did she have the resolve or even the desire to say good-bye to him in the parking lot? That would be the smart thing to do because each step he took closer to her front door only increased the likelihood that she would invite him inside. From there, it was only a short trip down the hall to her freshly made bed.

  Was that what she wanted? The truth? Yes, she did. The real question was why? Granted, she found Leif attractive, and had from the first moment they’d met. But why was she so willing to cross that all-important line tonight? If it was solely because she was too afraid of her own dark memories to face the night alone, that wasn’t fair to Leif.

  She assessed her companion as they walked across the parking lot. He was handsome, strong, a hero. Everything she liked and desired in a man. Was that reason enough to want to lose herself in his arms?

  “You’re thinking way too hard, Zoe. Say the word, and I’ll wait until you’re safely inside and walk back home.”

  She didn’t bother to deny her concerns. “We both know a lot of reasons why I should do exactly that. It would be the smart thing to do, Leif. Not just for me, but for both of us.”

  He turned to face her. His big hand cupped the side of her face, its heat soothing her soul. “And if I’m not feeling all that smart?”

  Neither was she. If he walked away right now, it might just shatter her. On the other hand, his touch, his kiss, and the promise of his passion might actually save her. Her decision made, she smiled up at him. “Leif Brevik, would you like to come upstairs with me?”

  “To be clear, are you offering me coffee or something else, Zoe?”

  She owed them both honesty. “I want you in my bed, Leif. Coffee afterward is optional.”

  His eyes glittered with a hot promise of passion. “Then I’d love to come upstairs with you.”

  • • •

  Under any other circumstances Leif would’ve cursed the slow pace Zoe set walking up the steps to her apartment. He normally hated giving in to the need to favor his bad ankle. At least right now, the longer they took to reach her door, and from there her bed, the more time they would have to savor the anticipation.

  She was right about the reasons they shouldn’t be doing this, but it would’ve taken a lot stronger man than he to walk away. How many nights had he stared up at the ceiling in the den at Spence’s place and imagined what it would be like to have Zoe curled up at his side, her dark hair spilling across his pillow, a satisfied smile on her pretty face?

  It took Zoe two tries to get the key in the lock, but then the door swung open. She stepped inside to turn on the lights, giving him his first glimpse of her home. The living room walls were a soft cream, but the furnishings were done in a riot of strong colors ranging from a dark green to a deep red. Comfortable and welcoming. He liked it. Liked her.

  “Aren’t you coming in?”

  He realized that he was still hovering right at the threshold. “Do you still want me to?”

  If there’d been any hesitation in her response, he would’ve found the strength to walk away. But no, she simply nodded and held out her hand. After closing the door, he turned the lock to shut out the rest of the world along with all its doubts and its stringent rules about what the two of them should and shouldn’t be doing.

  After tossing his cane aside, Leif crossed to where Zoe stood. She didn’t exactly look reluctant; “skittish” was a better way to put it. He needed to move slowly, to coax and not demand.

  He placed his hands on her shoulders and then slid them up and down her arms several times in hopes that a gentle touch would coax those first flickers of heat he saw in her eyes into flames. When Zoe responded in kind and the palms of her hands settled on his chest, he gathered her into his arms, trapping her against the length of his body. He smiled and pressed a soft kiss on the top of her head as she melted against him.

  For the moment, it was enough to hold and be held, taking comfort in the simple healing of human touch. If that was all Zoe needed from him tonight, it would be enough. Solace had its own value.

  But he craved her passion. With that in mind, he whispered, “Zoe, look at me.”

  She slowly tipped her head back enough to meet his gaze. Her blue eyes darkened as her mouth softened in invitation. Leif smiled and brushed his lips across hers. Softly. Slowly. Teasing and tasting until she grew restive in his arms.

  “Leif, kiss me.”

  He nibbled her lower lip. “I am.”

  “No, you’re not. You’re only playing. Kiss me like you mean it, Corporal.”

  The tart note in her voice had him grinning.

  She didn’t like it. “Are you laughing at me?”

  “No, ma’am, not at all. I was just thinking that was the first order an officer—even a former officer—has given me that I couldn’t wait to carry out.”

  “Let’s see a little more action and a lot less talking, soldier.”

  All right, then. Leif had his marching orders, a mission to carry out. This wasn’t a raid where speed and a quick retreat were in order. No, making love to Zoe, with Zoe, meant taking his time, scouting out the territory.

  He kissed her again, slowly savoring the give-and-take as first one and then the other took the lead. They still hadn’t made it any farther than the center of the living room. It was time to push on. After tugging her jacket off her shoulders, he let it drop to the floor and did a little scouting.

  He began by
slipping his hand under the hem of her T-shirt and then splaying his fingers across her lower back. Her skin was like living satin: soft, smooth, and so warm. Trailing his fingers downward, he eased them inside the waistband of her jeans, but was careful to leave the thin barrier of her panties between his touch and her skin. She shivered in response.

  At the same time, Zoe did a little exploring of her own. She cupped his ass and squeezed. Hot damn, he liked a woman who was willing to make a few demands of her own. He was so hard for her, he hurt. If his bad leg would’ve supported them, he would’ve ripped her jeans down and taken her right up against the nearest wall.

  He eyed her oversized sofa, which was within easy striking range, but rejected it. He wanted more room to maneuver when they finally got down to it.

  Zoe broke off kissing him long enough to tug at his shirt. He surrendered it without protest. When she tossed her own on the floor, he smiled. Oh, yeah, this was going to be good. As he moved to stand behind her, he settled his hands at her waist and enjoyed exploring the curve of her waist, her hips, and then back up, stopping just below her breasts.

  “Tease,” she complained as she attempted to tug his hands higher to where she wanted them to be.

  “Yeah, but you like it.”

  He held his position and tried out some different tactics. First, he leaned down to trace the shell of her ear with the tip of his tongue. When she cocked her head to the side with a soft sigh, he rewarded her by giving her breasts a gentle squeeze. She leaned forward into his palms, which had the added effect of pressing her backside right against his erection.

  She shot him a smug smile back over her shoulder when he groaned. Okay, time for some payback. He flicked the front fastener on her bra open and pushed it aside. Rolling her nipple between his finger and thumb with one hand, Leif reached for the snap on her jeans with the other. He made quick work of it, but took his time lowering her zipper.

  Zoe tried to spin around to face him, but he held her trapped against his chest with one arm. Then slowly, so slowly, he eased his fingertips beneath the elastic of her panties. Her breath caught in her throat as he tested her readiness for him with soft strokes.