12. Its A Date
CHAPTER 12
It's A Date
A week later, Isla still smiled every time she saw the front door. And the shower and the bed. Even the kitchen table. Poor Hopper had retreated to the bedroom that night.
Levi stayed over every night, and they spent part of their days together, then they went their separate ways to work on their own things.
Hops were popping up in her pots, and she was experimenting with various natural fertilizers and nutrients. She was also splicing and experimenting with ways to make new varieties. She’d placed a few pots outside of the greenhouse to use as control samples to compare her results, looking for ways to improve the crop’s resiliency to Vermont’s weather.
Levi’s group wanted six beer variations, so he was growing six varieties of hops this year as a trial. They would see which were the most successful after harvest. She hoped her experiments would help them choose and give them more options if some of their crops didn’t do well with the weather.
Levi’s friends were helping him build trellises for the bines. Not a word that got used often. The bines, the flexible stems of hops, and a few other climbing plants would grow to over twenty feet and they needed the trellises to climb.
Isla had no intention of stopping her work to improve the world’s food supply. Once she had more greenhouses, she’d get some wheat and other grain plants to work with, but it was fun to start with a new plant and learn its personality and traits.
Doing it all with Levi made it even better.
Today, she needed to head to town to pick up some groceries, and she knew she didn’t have to let anyone know. She was an adult and could come and go as she pleased. But after she patted Hopper goodbye and locked up the cottage, she pulled out her phone to text Levi. He would worry if he saw her leave. No sense in not being thoughtful.
Plus, it gave her an excuse to text him. Heading to Phail Phoods to stock up .
It only took a few moments for him to reply. Want company? I need to grab a few things, too.
Was he being sincere or overprotective? There hadn’t been any more incidents like the one with the ladder, so she felt perfectly safe being alone and doing her own thing. She knew Levi and whoever was at the farmhouse at the time watched over her, but they weren’t invasive about it.
Deciding she wanted his company either way, she sent a message telling him she’d pick him up, but there was no rush if he needed to finish something.
She walked out to where she’d moved her car. If it was too close to the cottage, Hopper thought it was a great place to pee. The driveway was long, but she’d only had to go halfway down to find where Hopper ignored it and used a bush instead.
One of the quirks of being a pet owner and one she could easily live with. Kimi hadn’t found anyone looking for Hopper, and Isla was ignoring the fact that he might have a family out there looking for him. If she had to give him to someone else, her heart would break. Despite his desire to pee on her car, she loved him fiercely and would cry like a baby if someone wanted him back.
Isla placed her cloth bags and a crate she’d found in the barn in the trunk of her little car. She hoped Levi would fit.
The drive to the farmhouse took less than a minute, but Levi came out of the door with his own set of cloth bags when she drove up. Everyone in this town was conscious of their effects on the environment. Tansy’s solar panels for both farms should arrive in the next few days making them even more environmentally friendly.
Levi folded into the passenger seat and leaned over to kiss her. “Does this count as a date? We still have to fit that in.”
Isla laughed. They were busy with their lands, and a private dinner date hadn’t happened yet. “If we sneak in a kiss while checking out the veggies, I don’t see why not.”
Vermont was beautiful in the spring. Green was everywhere and with the hills and mountains, there was never a straight, boring section to drive for long. Even the short drive into Phail was an adventure in beauty.
When they crested the first hill, the land spread out before them. Farmlands, forests, and glimpses of water through the trees. She hadn’t grown up in this climate, but it felt like home. “It’s so pretty here. I can’t wait to see what it’s like when the leaves change in the fall.”
“Very pretty.”
The smile in his voice had her glancing to the side to find him looking at her, not the view. She laughed as she felt her cheeks flush. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Just honest.”
Which made her laugh again as her heart warmed. She’d fallen so far into love with this man it filled her up. But it was so early in the relationship she wasn’t ready to share. Instead, she would cherish the feelings to herself for a bit. The right time would come along.
The car picked up speed, heading down the curvy hill, so Isla pushed on the brake. The car didn’t slow.
Her heart rate picked up, and she pushed harder on the brakes. Nothing. “The brakes aren’t working.” Her voice was shaky.
Beside her, Levi reacted immediately. “Use your emergency brake.”
Where was it? How did it work? She knew this. Breathe.
Isla used her left foot to push down on the emergency brake. It went straight to the floor, but nothing happened. She couldn’t stop the whimper.
“Turn into the curve, Isla. Just steer nice and easy. You’ve got this.”
Did she? It didn’t feel like she did.
She turned the steering wheel to the right. Or tried to. “It’s not working properly either.”
Levi swore and leaned over to help her turn the wheel. The ditch loomed ahead and she wanted to turn her head and hide.
Instead, she kept yanking on the wheel while Levi did the same. They made it around the curve on two wheels.
For a moment, she thought they would roll onto the side of the car where Levi sat. She’d never felt a better thump than the one telling her the wheels had landed back on the ground.
“Left turn coming up, Isla. Pull on the wheel.” Levi’s voice was calm. How was he calm?
Isla put all her weight into pulling the wheel. This way was more difficult. Was it because she was right-handed or had something else gone wrong with the car?
With Levi’s strength, they moved the wheel enough to start the curve. The wheels hit the gravel on the side, and then they were on two wheels again.
The car continued to speed around the corners and wobble from side to side. Each time, they had less control and more momentum.
Levi calmly talked about how the ditches and the hillsides were too deep to use them to slow them down. They would just keep heading down the hill and find a flat spot to help them slow. And there was a hill going up less than a mile away. That would stop them.
Around the next curve, a car appeared, and everything changed.
She and Levi yanked the wheel hard to avoid the car.
Then they were tumbling through the air and down.
L evi fought to regain consciousness. He couldn’t have been out long, as the memories were right where he’d left them.
They were hanging upside down in Isla’s car because he’d let his guard down. He’d bet his new crop that someone had drained the brake and power steering fluids.
He opened his eyes to confirm his senses were correct, and they were. Beside him, Isla was still unconscious. She looked tiny and vulnerable, hanging from the seat belt.
Levi squashed his emotions and focused on the task. Check her for injuries. Move her if possible.
He quickly released himself from the seatbelt and maneuvered to check on her. She was breathing, and he didn’t see any blood. “Isla. It’s Levi. Can you hear me?”
Nothing.
He didn’t smell gas. Her hybrid car was only a few years old, so the tech keeping it from exploding was probably good. Still, he had to get her out.
The air bags had done their job and were now depleted. The car was tilted with the front of it down and the trunk in the air. They wouldn’t be able to get out the front window. He might be able to get her out the side window, but he wouldn’t fit and would have to go out the back.
The sound of sirens reached him, and he hoped that was Marcus and the town firefighter riding in to help.
Levi ran his hands over Isla and kept talking to her.
“Levi?”
“I’m here, Isla. The car flipped, and you’re hanging by the seatbelt. I’m going to get you out. Where does it hurt?”
Her eyes opened, and she turned to find him. “Are you hurt? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. You?”
She blew out a slow breath. “I think I’m good. You’re sure you’re okay?”
“I am. It sounds like help is on the way, but I’m going to get you out of that seatbelt.” He showed her where to put her hands and feet and clicked the belt free. She sagged down and into his arms.
The space was tight, but he kept her from banging anything else, and she moved easily as she turned upside right. She put her hand to her head and leaned into him. “Sorry. Head rush. Give me a second. Wait, do we have a second? Is the car going to explode? Let’s get out.”
He kissed her forehead and allowed himself two seconds to just hold her. “I don’t smell gas, but let’s get out, anyway.”
“Levi? Isla?” Marcus’ voice.
“Looks like the cavalry has arrived. I’m going to holler.” She nodded, and he called out. “We’re inside. No obvious injuries, but some help would be appreciated. Treat it as a crime scene, Arrow. Someone tampered with Isla’s car. Brake fluid and power steering fluid. Potentially brake lines as well.”
Marcus swore. “Got it. Hold up, everyone. They’re okay, but this is officially a crime scene. I want pictures, gloves, and limited people. Mitch, I need you here. Send Graham down as soon as he arrives. Bella, start snapping pictures of everything down here. Troy, take care of that up on the road. When one of the former FBI agents shows, have him talk to the witnesses.”
“You think someone did this on purpose?” Isla’s voice shook.
“I do, but we’re not worrying about that until we get you out of here.”
She rested her head on his shoulder. “I was worried that you might not fit in my car earlier. Now I’m worried about how you’ll get out.”
He managed a chuckle for her. “The back window should be big enough. If not, I’m sure Mitch has some equipment on his firetruck to help. We’ll be out soon.”
Isla lifted her head to kiss his jawline. “Thank you. I’m so glad you were with me. I wouldn’t have been able to steer clear by myself. What if I’d hit that car? What if there were kids inside?”
He held her tightly. “You’d have managed. You did great. You didn’t panic, and you did everything right.”
“Do you think they’re okay?”
“I do. They had to be the ones to call Marcus and Mitch. We’ll find out once we’re outside. Are you sure you’re okay?”
She nodded. “I’m going to have a few bruises, but nothing feels worse than that. You?”
“Me too.”
They sat for a few minutes in silence while the people outside worked out the logistics of getting them out. He kept half an ear on them while keeping most of his attention on Isla.
“Do you really think someone tried to kill us?” Her whispered question didn’t surprise him. He’d been waiting for her to ask.
The thought scared him to his soul. “This wasn’t an accident.”
She shuddered, and he held her more tightly.
“I think it’s time to dig into where Asshole Ed has been hanging out. And maybe check in on your father and your slimy cousin, too.”
“My father wouldn’t do this. I’m not important enough. Never have been. He barely noticed me when I lived in the same house. I haven’t seen him in about twelve years, but he’s not a violent man. Arrogant and self-absorbed, sure, but not violent.”
Levi didn’t say anything to that, just held her.
She continued. “I’ve been thinking it’s time to reconnect with him. See if he wants to repair our relationship so that we’re at least on speaking terms. This can’t be him.”
Her voice shook, and his heart broke for her. “I’m sorry, Isla. I’m sure you’re right. We should start with Ed the Asshole.”
She huffed out a laugh. “Okay.”
Marcus squatted down by the window and passed them a blanket. “Cover yourselves with this. We’re going to smash the back window, and I don’t want you covered with any more glass. Will you be okay to crawl out, or should we cut open the car?”
Isla sighed. “My Elantra is toast, isn’t she?”
Marcus nodded. “Afraid so, but she did her job in protecting you both. She died an honorable death.”
When her small laugh actually held humor, Levi was thankful for his buddy. “We’ll be able to crawl out. Thanks.”
Levi spread the blanket over the two of them and angled so his body protected her.
“Maybe we can stay in a blanket fort forever.”
He kissed her head. “Probably not, but I think I see some fun with blanket forts in our future.”
After he took care of whichever asshole was trying to hurt her.