Ellie’s cheeks flush. “It’s cold.”
Levi nods solemnly. “Sure. It’s cold. And you decided the warmest thing in Devil’s Peak is Wyatt Cooper’s chest.”
Sadie elbows him hard. “Levi.”
He winces, then grins wider. “What? I’m supportive.”
Sadie’s eyes slide to me. “You okay?”
I hold her gaze. “We’re handling it.”
Sadie’s expression doesn’t change. “Uh-huh.”
Ellie turns toward her, voice sharp. “Don’t do that.”
Sadie’s brow lifts. “Do what?”
“That… ‘I see right through you’ thing.”
Sadie’s mouth twitches. “I can’t help it. It’s my face.”
Levi claps his hands together. “So. Protection detail. You brought the cavalry, right? I told Saxon you’d try to do this alone like an idiot.”
I ignore him and step closer to the back door, checking the latch again. “How’d you even know we were here?”
Levi gestures at the town around us. “Small-town Wi-Fi. News travels. Mrs. Hargrove texted three people and somehow it ended up in our group chat.”
Ellie groans. “Kill me.”
I glance down at her. “Not funny.”
She rolls her eyes. “It was a joke.”
“I don’t do jokes today,” I say.
Levi whistles. “Ooooh. Daddy voice.”
Sadie hits him again, this time with no warning. “Stop.”
Levi holds his hands up. “Okay, okay. I’m done.”
He’s not done.
He steps closer to the back door and sniffs the air theatrically. “Smells like chocolate and rage.”
Ellie glares. “You’re not helping.”
“I am helping,” Levi insists. “I’m here to provide emotional support and to confiscate contraband.”
Ellie blinks. “Confiscate what?”
Levi points at the shop. “Chocolate. Protection fee.”
Ellie’s eyes narrow. “Absolutely not.”
Levi puts a hand to his chest like she wounded him. “Wow. I risk my life for this town and this is how you treat me?”
Sadie leans in toward Ellie, deadpan. “He’ll cry about it for a week. Don’t let it move you.”
