Long Way Home by Helenkay Dimon

as good news.”
    “I’m asking because I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Callen didn’t care who listened in or if his sentences made sense. It was as if he had slipped down a hole. The conversation bounced around him, making him feel as if he were speaking a different language.
    He’d lived in this town for months, put up with the nosy stares from people wondering about the outsider and growls from people who remembered Charlie and how he once ripped the quiet area apart. Still, somehow Grace knew more about the people and what was happening here than he did.
    “I can’t believe you didn’t notice,” she said.
    “I almost hate to say this again, but . . . what?”
    She smiled. “To be fair, I kind of set you up for that one.”
    Whatever that meant. “Agreed.”
    “The way they look at each other.” Grace leaned in until her cheek almost brushed against his. “Walker and Mallory.”
    Callen’s head shot back, not because of the closeness but because the idea of that match stunned him. Scared him a little, too. Mallory with Walker? Yeah, there was no telling what damage that twosome could do to his peace of mind if they joined forces. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
    “And now I’m going inside to figure out why Walker is in town.”
    “As if you didn’t know.” The words came out before Callen could stop them. Almost like second nature. She said something, and he automatically doubted her.
    “I’m guessing Walker is here for you, but since I thought he was back home I’m going to actually ask him.” Her smile changed until it bordered on a wise-ass smirk. “See, I don’t just assume things about people. I
talk
to them.”
    Point to Grace. He had no idea what the unofficial score was by now, but he knew she was way ahead.
    “I’ll come with you,” he said, because he intended to follow her no matter what.
    “That’s fine, so long as you don’t punch Walker in front of everyone.”
    “No way am I agreeing to that.” Though the idea of taking him into the alley and making him stop skulking around did have its merits.
    She rolled her eyes and went to the door. Since he sensed she’d been holding that back and likely had more men-are-so-stupid expressions in her repertoire, he stayed quiet. He opened the door for her and ushered her inside, all without touching her, which was a triumph, because in that outfit, looking all bundled up with a rosy pink tint to her cheeks, he really wanted to touch her.
    They walked up to Walker’s booth and stopped. Both of them just stood there. Walker was slow to lift his head, but when he did, he didn’t disappoint.
    He looked at Callen, and all emotion wiped clear of his face. “What is he doing here?”
    No way was Callen letting this guy get the upper hand. “I just asked her the same thing about you.”
    “I’d like to talk with her alone.”
    “And I wanted a girlfriend who wasn’t lying to me. Looks like neither of us wins.”
    Callen heard a small gasp form a nearby table. He couldn’t pinpoint which one or figure out which comment earned the reaction, because he refused to be the first to break eye contact with a man he knew carried a weapon and wouldn’t hesitate to use it.
    “Okay, that’s enough.” Grace took Callen’s arm and shoved him toward the side of the booth across from Walker. “Sit, before we get kicked out of here.”
    “Let him go on. I hear Chief Darber is just looking for the right charge to bring Callen here in.”
    Grace slid in beside Callen. “Now, let’s set some ground rules—”
    “Did you know Grace was in town?” Focused on Walker’s comment and not interested in playing fair, Callen ran right over her. A jerk move, but he needed to set the tone here.
    “No.”
    Grace waved a hand in front of Callen’s face. “I’m sitting right here.”
    He grabbed it and lowered it to the table. He didn’t really have an explanation for why he didn’t let go or why his fingers linked with hers. But