her shoulders, and Wyatt stowed it in the trunk with the rest of their things.
“Want me to drive?”
“Sure.” She tossed him the keys and slid into the passenger side. She didn’t realize how weary she was until her weight sagged into the cushy seat. She plugged in her phone, which was so dead it didn’t even come on, then laid her head against the headrest. Oh, her bed was going to feel good tonight.
Wyatt started up the car and pulled onto the street.
“That was some trek, huh?” she said.
“You can say that again.”
“I meant what I said before. I’m happy to help you figure out where to search next or whatever. There’s a really detailed map at the library that might help narrow it down. We probably should’ve started there.”
His grip tightened on the steering wheel, the bones in the backs of his hands fanning out in stark relief. “Haven’t scared you away yet?”
“Are you kidding? You’re pretty great in an emergency, you know. I just have to remember to keep my distance when you’re sleeping.”
Predictably, he winced.
She chuckled. “Seriously, I’m going to keep making jokes until you can laugh about this.”
He grunted.
She was tempted to pull down the visor and check out the damage, but she didn’t want to make him feel even worse. “I can’t wait to take a hot shower and wash my hair.”
“Food’s number one on my priority list.”
“I wouldn’t turn down a cup of coffee either.”
“Amen.”
They rounded the lake and entered town, getting stopped at the only two stoplights in town. Grace checked her phone. There was finally enough battery power to turn it on. But by the time the phone was powered up, they were pulling into a slot in front of the inn. Home. Grace could’ve broken out into the “Hallelujah” chorus.
“I’ll get the gear.” Wyatt slid from the car.
Grace opened her door, got out, and groaned. Her muscles seemed to have seized up during the short ride.
She hobbled toward the back of the car, her phone buzzing in her hand, all the downloads coming in at once. Multiple texts and voice mails. Molly. She should probably go straight inside and—
From the corner of her eye a flash of blue caught her attention. Levi, barreling toward Wyatt.
The trunk shut with a slam, revealing Wyatt loaded down with gear.
Grace opened her mouth, a scream caught in her throat.
Levi’s fist flew.
Wyatt stumbled backward.
“Levi!” Grace jumped between them, strong-arming Levi.
Her brother pressed in hard, towering over her, glaring at Wyatt. “Get out of the way, Grace!”
“Stop it, Levi! What are you doing?”
Wyatt bristled behind her. The packs hit the ground with a thump. “Step aside,” he told her in a low growl.
Levi’s face was red, a scowl pulling his brows tight. “What did he do to you? Did he hit you?” His eyes burned into Wyatt.
“No! Stop this right now. Levi! The bridge was flooded. We had to go around. Now back off, dufus, before he lays you flat on your butt!”
“And that shiner you’re sporting? How’d you get that, huh? You run into a tree?”
“It was an accident. Step back, Levi!” She gave him a hard shove, but he hardly budged.
“And the limp? Was that an accident too?”
Grace leveled a glare at him. “I’ve slept on the ground for two nights, genius. Step. Back.”
Levi’s shoulders gave two more heaves before he lowered his gaze to Grace. Maybe he finally realized he’d made her honking mad, because he took one slow step back.
She exhaled and turned to Wyatt. His jaw was already meaty red, and his face was like stone as he glowered at Levi. Two days’ scruff had given him a dangerous look. But neither of those things worried her half as much as the feral gleam in his eyes. Or the way he was braced, one foot forward, as if poised to strike.
“You okay?” Grace put a hand on his chest. Touched his jaw. “Wyatt. Look at me.”
Long seconds later he dropped his gaze to Grace.
“You all right? Nothing broken?”
Some of the fire left his eyes.
“What on earth?” Molly came running from the house, sizing up the situation. “What’s going on? Are you all right, Grace?” Her eyes zeroed in on her sister’s face as her feet slowed. “Oh my gosh, what happened?”
“Our brother punched Wyatt in the face, that’s what happened.” Grace whirled around to her brother. “See, Levi? That’s what reasonable people do when confronted with a set of circumstances they don’t understand. They stop and ask a few questions!”