More Than a Touch (Snowberry Creek #2) by Alexis Morgan

play. You have a hell of an arm.”
    And worthless knees. Before Mitch could respond, Leif’s grin widened. “Although you did cost me fifty bucks in that play-off game last year. My buddy Spence crowed about it for a week afterward. Said he knew you’d pull it off.”
    Now there was a name from the past. “You served with Spence Lang? I haven’t seen him in years. How is he doing?”
    “Actually, not so good.” Leif’s smile bled away. “He died in Afghanistan instead of me.”
    Then he turned his back and limped away.

Chapter 7
    O kay, that had been the pain speaking. It wasn’t Mitch Calder’s fault that he’d accidentally stomped right on the detonator of Leif’s temper. Clearly Mitch hadn’t heard the news. That he’d obviously known and liked Spence only made the brutally blunt announcement worse.
    Leif coasted to a stop halfway across the busy room. Fuck, if his leg had been up for a quick sprint, he would’ve bolted out the door. On second thought, it was more than his bum leg that kept him from giving it his best shot. He needed to man up and apologize.
    It was a long, slow shuffle back to where Mitch sat in stunned silence. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
    Mitch wasn’t having any of it and cut him off. “Didn’t mean what? To be a total asshole? I’ve known Spence my whole damn life.”
    He dragged himself off the bike to get right up in Leif’s face. “Do us both a favor and don’t talk to me right now. My leg might be screwed up, but there’s nothing wrong with my fists.”
    He had several inches on Leif and at least thirty pounds in pure bulk. Fine, but Leif knew more about down-and-dirty fighting than Mitch did.
    “You want to dance? Fine, but let’s take this outside.”
    Unfortunately Isaac had a different opinion on the subject. He shoved his way in between them, turning his back to the football player. “Stop this shit right now, both of you. You’re scaring the other patients.”
    Leif didn’t bother to look around. The uneasy silence surrounding them spoke volumes. So did the quiet movement around the edges of the room as Isaac’s staff evacuated the rest of the patients. At this point, he and Mitch would be lucky if someone didn’t call the police.
    “I said stand down, damn it!”
    Isaac’s voice was little better than a growl. Leif broke off the stare-down contest he had going with Mitch but stood his ground until Mitch backed up a step. Evidently satisfied that the two of them would listen to reason, Isaac gave them some breathing room.
    “In my office. Now.”
    Mitch started to speak. “But—”
    Isaac crossed his arms over his chest and planted his feet wide. “Argue with me and the next call I make will be to the cops. If that’s how you want this to play out, fine.”
    He paused long enough to give each of them a hard look. “But know this. If that’s what happens, you’ll both be looking for another therapist.”
    Mitch frowned. “You’re the only one in town.”
    Isaac’s smile was nasty. “That’s not my problem. So what’s it going to be? My office or do I call in the cops to throw both of you jackasses out of here?”
    Leif didn’t trust what might come out of his mouth at the moment, so he let his actions speak for him. He started for Isaac’s office. When he stumbled a bit, the big man reached out to steady him, his touch gentle despite his obvious anger.
    When Leif reached the small cubicle in the corner, Mitch was right behind him. Leif took the chair in the far corner and left the closer one for the football player.
    To his surprise, Mitch gave him a rueful smile as he looked around the small room. “It’s been a while since I got sent to the principal’s office, but some things never change. I’m just hoping he doesn’t phone my folks.”
    Okay, that was cute. Leif couldn’t help but chuckle. “Yeah, I had my fair share of those calls, too.”
    Isaac had hung back long enough to talk to his staff. When he marched into