More Than a Touch (Snowberry Creek #2) (14 page)

Zoe took a seat at the table and began piling condiments on her bun. “That might be true, Corporal, but a burger sure beats the frozen dinner I was going to eat tonight. As a matter of fact, I’m pretty sure the name on tonight’s entrée was Combat Boot with Alfredo Sauce.”

He grimaced at the image that created. “Okay, then feel free to be dazzled by my cooking.”

•   •   •

Their conversation over dinner stayed light and easy. Zoe still didn’t seem comfortable with spending time with him outside of the office, even though she was the one who’d sought him out. There wasn’t much he could do except to steer clear of topics that might send her running for the door.

“I’ve got ice cream for dessert if you’d like some. It’s chocolate, if that makes a difference.”

She finished drying the last of the dishes. “Chocolate always makes a difference. That’s what makes it impossible to resist.”

Zoe ran her hands down her hips as if unhappy with her curves. Leif respectfully disagreed to himself, but then, he liked a woman with a little meat on her bones. She had a great ass, the perfect size to grip in both hands while he went down . . .
Whoa, don’t go there, soldier. It’s not happening. Maybe not ever, and wouldn’t that be a damn shame?

Meanwhile, Zoe was still speaking. “I really shouldn’t, but I’d love some. Just a little, though. One scoop will be plenty.”

Still lost in his imagination, it took him a minute to make sense of what she was saying. One scoop of what?

Oh yeah, right. Ice cream. That’s what they’d been talking about. A nice safe topic. “Why don’t we eat it out on the front porch so Mooch can patrol? If he doesn’t make his rounds on a regular basis, those sneaky little squirrel bastards come creeping right back into his territory.”

Zoe hung up the dish towel. “Well, we can’t have that, can we? Come on, Mooch, let’s go make sure we haven’t been invaded.”

The dog yipped and charged for the front door as if he’d understood her call to arms. Later, Leif would slip the mutt another burger for providing such a great buffer between the two humans. Sometimes it was hard not to be jealous of the dog’s easy transition to life in the States.

That didn’t mean Leif didn’t have his own special arsenal of weapons. As he gathered up the ingredients, he murmured, “Yeah, the fur ball might have all the charm, but I’ve got the chocolate and all the toppings.”

Leif served up two heaping bowlfuls, added a sprinkling of walnuts and a sliced banana, and topped it all off with a generous squirt of chocolate sauce. He stuck a spoon in each bowl and carried them out to the front porch. Zoe’s eyes widened in surprised horror when he held out her bowl.

“What happened to just a little?”

He gave her a smug smile. “It’s not my fault you didn’t specify the size of the scoop.”

She wasn’t buying it. “Well, I didn’t think you’d use a shovel.”

Leif took the rocker next to hers. “You don’t have to eat all of it. It’s your choice.”

He paused to take a bite of his own ice cream. “But I’m pretty sure there are laws in this country against wasting chocolate in any form. I’d hate to have to report you to Gage Logan, since I wouldn’t be able to bail you out. I already used the get-out-of-jail-free card he gave me. He told me it was a one-time deal.”

Zoe stared at her bowl before picking up the spoon. “Fine, Leif. But if I can’t get into my pants in the morning, don’t think I won’t be right back out here.”

Leif came awful close to spewing out the bite he’d just taken at the thought of Zoe showing up on his front porch half-dressed. To avoid the risk of revealing the direction his thoughts had taken, Leif kept his eyes firmly on the woods across the yard.

Maybe she figured it out on her own, though. “Okay, that sounded a whole lot different in my head. Let’s just say that I’ll need to walk off a lot of calories if I eat this whole thing, or even half.”

Hmm. Perhaps she’d presented him with an opportunity to extend their time together this evening. “I had planned to take Mooch for another walk to the park along the creek tonight. You’d be welcome to join us.”

Zoe pursed her lips as if she were about to refuse. He should’ve guessed she wouldn’t risk being seen in public with him again. It was amazing how much that pissed him off. “Never mind, Zoe. Forget I said anything.”

Her hand bridged the distance between them to rest on his forearm. “I was only thinking about the time, Leif. I have to work tomorrow, so I can’t be out real late.”

He relaxed slightly. “Sorry. I don’t mean to be so testy.”

She set her half-eaten ice cream aside. “Tell you what. I’ll go if you don’t mind me driving us back to the park instead of walking from here. That way I don’t have to come all the way back here for my car.”

“It’s a deal. Let me lock up and grab Mooch’s leash.”

He took their bowls back into the house. What had started off as another in a long line of boring evenings had definitely taken a turn for the better. And if he hoped that they might just end up somewhere a lot more private than the trail along the creek, well, he’d keep that thought strictly to himself.

Ch
apter 14

T
his was a stupid idea, not to mention dangerous and flat-out crazy. Yet Zoe couldn’t seem to help herself. Just like that heaping bowl of chocolaty goodness that Leif had given her, the man himself was a temptation she couldn’t seem to resist. Sure, she could pretend this stroll along the creek was just two friends enjoying the night air. No different than if she’d met Brandi for a brisk walk to get some exercise.

Only Brandi wouldn’t have ended up slinging her arm around Zoe’s shoulders as they walked. And Brandi also wouldn’t have been wearing a soft flannel shirt that had Zoe wanting to snuggle in close.

“You’re thinking way too hard.”

He held her close enough that she felt the rumble of his deep voice as he spoke. As much as she hated to spoil the moment, she felt compelled to point out that they were once again treading too close to that line she’d drawn between them. Heck, they weren’t merely treading too close. They were jumping up and down on it.

“We’re playing with fire, Leif. This has got to be the last time we do this.”

She half expected him to jerk his arm free of her shoulders and go stomping off with Mooch in tow, leaving her alone in the gathering darkness. Instead, he kept walking forward, still keeping her tucked in close to his side. Not that he was calm. Oh, no, there was a definite new strain of tension thrumming between the two of them. She braced herself for the imminent explosion.

As they passed a gap in the trees, Leif veered off the path, dragging Zoe along with him. When they’d gone about ten feet, he came to an abrupt halt.

There was still enough light for her to see his face clearly. What she saw there sent her pulse into overdrive. The man’s temper was definitely running hot, and he had her in his sights.

“Leif, what are you doing?”

He trailed his fingertips down her cheek to follow her jawline until his hand wrapped around the back of her neck. Although he was still at arm’s length from her, she felt cornered and panicky.

But that heat glittering in his dark eyes sent shivers dancing across her skin. Her voice cracked when she repeated the question he’d yet to answer. “What are you doing?”

His answering smile was predatory. “I’m going to show you what it really means to play with fire, Zoe.”

He eased closer, still giving her room to escape, not that she could find the strength to move. When she didn’t give in to panic, he narrowed the gap between them even more.

“You see, fire has nothing to do with rules and regulations.”

She swallowed hard. “It doesn’t?”

“No, actually, it doesn’t. It has everything to do with a man and a woman who crave each other’s touch. They can’t imagine waiting another minute to explore . . . the possibilities.”

Oh, God, each word he spoke licked at her senses with hot little flames and warmed her in places that had been cold for far too long. The cool chill of the evening air wasn’t the reason her nipples pebbled up and her breasts ached to be touched, kissed, massaged, or all of the above.

No, that was all because of Leif. In that moment her entire body craved his touch. The intensity of that desire had her turning away from him, no longer able to face—or deny—the truth of what he was telling her.

Something hit the ground, making her jump. She realized he’d dropped his cane to free up both hands as he moved up behind her. Leif didn’t hesitate as he slid his arms around her waist, tugging her back against the hard planes of his big body. The thick ridge straining beneath the zipper of his jeans made it clear that she wasn’t the only one profoundly affected by this encounter.

He pressed a series of nibbling kisses along the side of her neck. Her knees nearly buckled when his hands settled on her waist, only to slowly ease upward. They stopped short of where she wanted them to be. Needed them to be.

And Leif knew it, too.

“What do you want, Zoe?” He whispered the word right next to her ear, his warm breath sending yet another burst of heat pulsing up and down her spine.

Stupid man; stupid question. She wanted him. Right here. Right now. That much should be obvious. Rather than point that out to him with words, she took action and tugged his hands up until they settled over her breasts. He smiled against her skin as he gave them a gentle squeeze.

Zoe reached her arms up and back to encircle his neck, which served the dual purpose of pressing her back more solidly against his chest while thrusting her breasts more firmly against the palms of his hands. Leif rubbed them gently, only gradually increasing the pressure enough to satisfy her hunger for more.

When Leif released his hold on her, she protested until she realized he wasn’t stealing his warmth and abandoning her to the chill of the night air. Instead, he gently turned her around to face him, then once again wrapped her in his arms. His mouth claimed hers with an all-out assault on her senses. The heady flavor of his kiss had chocolate ice cream beat all to heck.

She was about to share that little tidbit with him when the situation spun completely out of control. Someone or something started crashing through the underbrush, headed straight for them. Before she could make sense of what was happening, Leif exploded into action.

“Fuck, no!” His whisper was harsh as he issued orders. “Hit the dirt!”

His eyes were wild as he stood ready to defend them both against the perceived attack. When she didn’t immediately comply with his demand, Leif shoved her toward the nearest trees, sending her stumbling backward.

“Damn it, woman, take cover and stay down.”

She bounced off the trunk of a nearby Douglas fir with a bone-jarring jolt. At least it kept her from hitting the ground. She came right back at Leif, even though he was now holding his cane like a club.

His head was pivoting back and forth as if he was trying desperately to make sense of their surroundings. His fears fed into hers, dredging up the nightmares she’d lived with for years. It took every ounce of willpower she had to shove them back down where they belonged. One of them had to stay calm and rooted in the present. Holding up her hands as she approached, she kept her voice pitched low and soft.

“Leif, please, we’re safe. We’re in the woods by the creek, not Afghanistan.”

He shook his head in denial. “No, they’re coming. I heard them.”

That much was true. Some guy was talking to Mooch, and the two of them couldn’t be more than a few feet away from where she and Leif were standing. She listened to hear what was being said. “Hey, dog, are you out here all by yourself?”

The words carried clearly on the night air. “See, he’s just worried about Mooch. Put down the cane, Leif. We need to reclaim your pal.”

Something of what she was saying must have gotten through, because Leif looked calmer, but not by much. She inched close enough to put her hand on the cane and gently pushed it down.

“Yes, Leif, you’re right. Someone is close by, but he’s not the enemy. He’s worried about Mooch running loose. We need to go get your buddy.”

The stark fear in Leif’s expression drained away. “Son of a bitch, Zoe, I’m sorry. Wait here. I’ll go straighten things out.”

He shifted his hold on the cane to use it for support as he hobbled back toward the trail. At least his flashback hadn’t lasted long. He’d been gone for only a minute or two, but she had to wonder how often he got lost in the past. With his hold on reality so shaky, now was not the time to ask.

She started to follow him, but thought better of it as her own reality came crashing down. What had she been thinking? All that crazy talk about playing with fire and what followed afterward served as absolute proof that Leif Brevik was pure temptation. That was bad enough, but it terrified her that his flashback had almost triggered hers.

She cocked her head to see what he was saying. He sounded calm as he explained that the dog had gotten off his leash and that Leif hadn’t been able to catch him. All lies, but at least they were believable ones.

Leif’s voice still sounded a bit rough to her, but he apparently had the situation under control. “Thanks again for your help in catching my dog.”

“No problem, man.”

She bet Leif hated the small note of pity in the other voice. He also sounded young, which reduced the likelihood that he would’ve recognized Zoe if he’d actually blundered into the small clearing instead of sticking to the path.

Thank goodness the situation hadn’t spiraled completely out of control, but it had been close. She had to do something to prevent the same thing from happening again. That left her two choices: stop seeing Leif outside of the office or hand off his care to someone else.

Leif walked back into the clearing with Mooch at his side. Despite the close call, Zoe started right for him. It was a bit dicey having to maneuver around his cane on one side and the dog on the other, but she still managed to find herself back in Leif’s arms for a quick hug.

He was trembling from the aftereffects, which nearly broke her heart. She knew all too well what it was like to get blasted by the memories, the fear, all of it so damn real that you could taste the dust and grit that got into everything downrange.

She stepped back, still fighting the whisperings from her own past. “We need to go.”

“Yeah, I know.”

Leif didn’t sound happy about it, but then neither was she. Here, within this small circle of trees, she’d been able to shut out the worries and rules of the world outside. For a sweet few moments, the whole universe had consisted of only two people. The scary part was that if they hadn’t been interrupted God knows how far they would’ve gone.

Even now, Zoe hungered for more of what they’d shared, but she wanted to experience it someplace more private. Somewhere they could get skin to skin as they explored the growing attraction between them. Having to stop before they got that far was pure frustration, even if it was a smart decision.

From what had just happened, it was obvious that Leif had a lot going on in his life and in his head. Dealing with his leg was bad enough, but the nightmares were no doubt worse. He might not believe her, but he didn’t need the complication of a relationship on top of everything else he was dealing with right now.

They walked in silence back to her car. Despite all of her misgivings, she actually considered inviting Leif to come home with her. What was she thinking? When they reached her car, he took the decision out of her hands.

“Zoe, things got out of hand back there on two fronts. Not that I’m complaining about what was happening between us before . . . well, you know.”

He drew a ragged breath. “However, if we’re ever going to take that step together, I don’t want it to cause you problems in your job.”

Leif gently pushed a strand of her hair back away from her face. There was too much regret in his voice for the touch to be comforting. “There’s also the fact that I’m pretty screwed up right now. Most of the time I can hide it, but every so often it blindsides me. Until I know how things are going to play out for me with my leg and everything, I’ve got no business getting involved with a woman like you.”

Everything he was saying made sense. It also made her mad, which was just plain crazy. “What’s wrong with a woman like me?”

The nitwit actually grinned, which only made her madder. “Not a damn thing, Zoe. In fact, it’s the opposite. There’s too much right about you. That should have been obvious from the way we went from zero to sixty in five seconds back there.”

He checked their surroundings before pressing a quick kiss on her lips. “But you deserve better than a busted-up soldier with his entire future on hold. Right now I don’t have much of anything to offer to you. Until I do, we need to back away from the precipice.”

The noble idiot was right. That didn’t mean she had to like it. “Fine, Leif. If that ever changes, let me know.”

He retreated again, this time putting more than simply physical distance between them. “Believe me, Zoe, you’ll be the first person to know.”

After climbing into her car, she rolled her window down. “Maybe I’ll see you at the clinic on Friday.”

He didn’t answer but simply walked away, his limp more pronounced than before. Even with Mooch by his side, Leif looked so damn alone. Her heart ached for him. She knew just how he felt. Putting the car in gear, she drove away, watching him in the rearview mirror until he disappeared from sight.

•   •   •

Earlier, before breakfast, Leif had cut himself shaving. Then his toast popped up burned to a crisp. As he and Callie headed into city hall for Austin’s hearing, he hoped those two events weren’t some kind of omen about how things were going to turn out.

Gage was waiting for them in the lobby. “Let’s head on downstairs. The bailiff said the judge will join us in about ten minutes.”

He led them around behind the staircase to the elevator tucked in a back corner. It rattled as it descended at a snail’s pace and finally hit bottom with a heavy thunk. Leif doubted Gage made a habit of using it; he expected he had done so this time only because of Leif’s bad leg. It was thoughtful of him, but Leif hated the weakness it implied.