Page 39 of Vicious Sabotage

“He ex-military or something?”

“Um…” She didn’t really want to talk about Carver or answer questions as to why he was here.

“He asked to see my ID to prove I’m who I say I am.”

She forced out a stilted little laugh. “Oh, he’s just thorough. He’ll ease up in time. You know how these guys are.”

He gave her a look that said he didn’t but would take her word for it.

When he unloaded the shipment using a dolly, Carver supervised his every move. After Tom climbed back in his truck and drove off, Livia smacked Carver in the arm.

He turned his head to look at her. “What’s that for?”

“Do you have to be so intimidating? I consider Tom a friend. He keeps my business stocked. Without him, I’d just be a low-brow restaurant serving nothing but rum.”

“Can’t have that now, can we?”

She rolled her eyes and waltzed inside. The stockroom was always a mess after delivery day. Livia walked over to a big, heavy crate full of alcohol, threaded her fingers together and cracked her knuckles.

“What’s that for?” Carver stood too close.

“I’ve got a lot of heavy lifting to do. I’m preparing myself.” She jabbed the air with a couple punches and bounced on her toes.

His low chuckle and the amusement spreading over his rugged features warmed her. “Step aside, woman.”

Her jaw dropped. Before she could fill her lungs with all the attitude she could muster to blast him with, he lifted the first box as if it were filled with bottles of air.

“Just direct me to where you want them.”

Seeing that he wasn’t going to take no for an answer—and he was a lot stronger than her—she hurried ahead to the wall of shelves. “Here is fine. I’ll unpack them and stock the shelves and the bar while you carry over the boxes.”

“Sure thing.”

After she unpacked a few boxes, she realized how much more efficient it was to work with another person. The task went by much faster.

From the corner of her eye, she watched Carver. He was so strong. His thick biceps bulged as he balanced the box.

At this rate, she was never going to want to do this chore alone again.

When he set the final box on the floor next to the others, she moved to cut into it with her box cutter.

He cast out a hand, holding her back. “I’m going to open this one.”

“Why is that?”

His expression was blank and still, giving her no read whatsoever on what was going on.

“This box is heavier than the others.”

Scoffing, she bent over the box and sliced into it before he could stop her. When she pulled up the cardboard flaps, she let out a shrill scream.

Carver swept out an arm, shoving her behind him. Livia’s pulse throbbed faster as she watched him grab a broom and use the handle to remove the rattlesnake from the box. He shoved the snake out the back door.

She rushed behind to see what he was doing. He hooked the snake on the broom and whipped it toward a patch of thick trees.

When he swung to face her, she balled her clammy hands into fists. That was far too close a call for her. She hated snakes. Luckily, living in the small town, she didn’t see many. Only when she’d go hiking in the Montana mountains would she see snakes and other such wildlife, but she’d never had such a close brush with one.

Carver fixed his stare on her.

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