Page 67 of No Bed Of Roses

“Did anyone shoot?”

Joe rolled his eyes. “Of course not. Your slimy cousin is currently being held in Marcus’ cruiser with a rotating crew of guards. With the other jerk being in the cell, Marcus doesn’t have enough space, and he wants to question Hicks before he puts them in the same room. We need a better setup for Marcus.”

“He wouldn’t need it if I hadn’t come to town.”

Levi squeezed her and kissed her hair. Joe and Lia both chuckled. Lia sat down beside her. “We’re going to have a get-together, and share stories one day. You’re definitely not the first one to have trouble follow you here. Marcus has been talking about upgrading for a while. This will give him more support for his funding requests.”

They chatted easily for a few minutes, and then Lia pointed them at the truck. “Home. Rest. Relax.”

Levi lifted her into the truck and clicked on her seat belt. Then he kissed her with enough soul that hers filled.

They were quiet on the drive home as he eased over potholes and around corners.

The lights were on in the house. Troy and Piper came onto the porch with Oreo and Hopper when they pulled up in front of the cottage.

Levi helped her down from the truck, and then both Piper and Troy hugged her gently. Hopper leaned into her and licked her hand until she petted him. “Hey, boy. I’m so glad to see you.” And she loved that their friends knew they’d feel better with their dog at home with them.

Piper pointed at the cottage. “I’ve put a lasagna in the oven on low. I’m not sure who made it, but I think it was someone from Midnight Lake. No one is going to bother you tonight, but let us know if you need anything. We’re so glad you’re going to be okay.”

Walking into the cottage was like coming home. Her man. Her dog. A warm meal making the place smell like heaven. Once Levi locked the door and set the alarm, she turned into him and wrapped her arms around him. “I love you.”

He exhaled a shaky breath. “I love you too. I think I’ll be seeing that scene in my head for years to come. I thought I’d lost you, Isla.”

His voice shook, and his arms tightened, but still held her gently. They stood for a long minute, wrapped in each other’s arms. Then he bent and lifted her. “There’s no one but us. Let me help.”

She leaned into his chest. “Thank you.”

He lifted her into his arms and headed to the bedroom. “Bed or bath? You want to ease out some of those aches?”

She nodded, and he set her on her feet, then started up the bath with another of her bath bombs.

“You’ll join me?”

He grinned. “Absolutely, but no funny stuff. You need to heal.”

She laughed. “If I have you with me, I don’t need anything else.”

Levi had learned patience early on, watching seeds grow and strengthen. He’d out-waited Mother Nature’s temper tantrums and learned to reseed and rebuild. In his military days, he’d honed that patience.

But watching Isla hurt and not being able to do much about it made him want to beat the shit out of Glen Hicks and Ed Pringle again and again and again.

She moved slowly and gingerly, and bruises once again covered her. But she didn’t complain, and her eyes proved she was relieved it was over.

Their friends had instructed them to take a few days off after the crash. Ginny and Carl had dropped off food. Addison and Nina had appeared to take Hopper out to play. And Levi’s buddies took care of the fields.

The two idiots might be in custody, but Levi wasn’t able to leave Isla alone. Not yet. Panic continued to streak through him whenever he dropped his guard.

“Let’s take a walk.”

He turned from where he’d been staring out the kitchen window to find Isla wearing the baggy overalls he shouldn’t find sexy as hell.

She smiled and crossed to him, then wrapped her arms around him. “I need some fresh air, and if you don’t burn off some of that anger swirling inside, you’re going to pop.”

He sighed and returned the hug. “You weren’t supposed to see the anger.”

Her laughter filled him up. “Right. That’s not how it works, Levi. I see all sides of you.”

And that should be scary as hell, but it wasn’t.

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