Break Away Read online

  TRUE BLUE

  When Zoey Hardesty's high school crush moves next door, it seems the intervening years are unimportant to her heart. One look at all grown up Levi Gallagher, and she knows she's in trouble. Fighting the attraction is self-protection, learning he was a big city cop who returned home to join the Hangman's Loss PD, puts the brakes on for good. When Levi is assigned to investigate a hit and run that could've killed her, they wind up spending time together in ways that are far more than neighborly. He becomes embroiled in the case as weirder and scarier things start happening to Zoey. Levi's hard to resist, and even though being with him breaks all of her rules, she's almost ready to admit he's worth it when she learns his secret. But he's a better man than she's given him credit for, and with one last chance to make things right, Zoey reaches out for a love than will last a lifetime.

  PRAISE FOR DIANE BENEFIEL

  Solitary Man

  NATIONAL READERS’ CHOICE AWARD WINNING NOVEL

  “I am in love with this story. I devoured this book and didn’t want it to end. The chemistry between the characters and the plot kept me wanting to read late into the night. This is my first read from Diane Benefiel but definitely not my last. I can’t wait to read more from this amazing author. Thank you Diane Benefiel for getting me hooked on your books!” ~ CJ’s Book Corner

  “Ryder was exactly who Brenna needed in her life, and trust me when I say you will love him because yeah he really is that good of a guy. Solitary Man is my first book by this author and it will not be the last. I really think you all will enjoy this one as much as I did it is one I do recommend.” ~ I’m A Sweet And Sassy Book Whore

  “I really enjoyed this book and there were a few twists and turns that kept me completely involved in the story. This is the first time I have read this author and it definitely won’t be my last!” ~ Sassy Southern Book Blog

  HIGH SIERRAS SERIES

  Flash Point

  “Diane Benefiel takes us on a story filled with mystery, suspense, and action as we try to solve what is going on in the small town of Hangman’s Loss. Flash Point is a story that will have you flipping the pages and wondering who is the behind the attacks against Hangman’s newest resident and why.” ~ Sarah Reads

  “Flash Point really surprised me. It’s not what I was expecting but I really enjoyed reading it. It’s a fun easy read that captured me from the start.” ~ Coffee Chat

  Dead Giveaway

  “Diane has written yet another winner in her High Sierra series. Murder witness and 'person of interest' Gwen flees with her godson to Cameron's uncle Eli. Gwen and Eli have no use for one another but come together for Cameron's sake and to find the true murderer...and in the process find their way to one another. My evening with Gwen and Eli couldn't have been more delightful, and I look forward to the next installment of the High Sierras.” ~seniorphotog

  “I loved this second book in the High Sierras series. This is a story of two people who are attracted to each other, but reconnecting under the worst of circumstances. I discovered Ms. Benefiel’s books and have loved the careful way she draws you in to the story with characters that make you feel as if you are reading about friends. I am really looking forward to the next High Sierras book, Already Gone.” ~paytonpuppy

  Already Gone

  “This series has only gotten better and better! Seriously, there’s something that really speaks to my heart about Maddy and Logan, and Hangman’s Loss FEELS like a small California town tucked away in the Sierras. They’re such a power couple! I read this book in just a couple of days--totally sucked me in. It’s that perfect blend of fun, sizzle, and suspense! I just want to live in Maddy’s life forever but since I can’t--I can’t wait for the next book!” ~Katharine Montgomery

  “A wonderful story about second chances. The minute you start reading, you will be instantly hooked. The author weaves a tale of drama and romance that keeps you enthralled and turning the pages. Maddie is feisty and Logan is her brooding and over protective suffering hero. The sparks fly every time they see each other. Eventually they give in and realize that they are perfect for each other and have always been. This is a great story right up to the last word.” ~Simatsu

  Burnover in Rescued Anthology

  “Sweet, Sexy stories featuring furbabies and helping to save lives, it’s a win win for all.” ~Kara’s Books

  “8 stories by 8 outstanding authors. In these stories, there is a tattoo artist, two firefighters, two sheriff deputies, a famous furniture maker, a veterinarian, and a country music singer, and I loved them all. Then add in that each story has a dog or puppy that is rescued, along with a story of love and romance, it is a winning combination.” ~Susan D

  Deadly Purpose

  I loved everything about this book, and it made me want to check out the other books in the series! The immediate suspense drew me in, and the High Sierras setting was perfect, as was the mysterious stranger Meg finds in her cabin. This novel had a well-written, exciting, and descriptive narrative that kept me glued from start to finish. Without giving away spoilers, the author has crafted one exciting, romantic ride, full of twists and turns. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next. ~Sebastian Moran

  This book took me by surprise. I didn't expect to get so caught up in this book that my whole day was spent captured in its pages. It has been a long time since I couldn't put a book down but Deadly Purpose did this to me. I loved every page. ~WildfireJane

  Clear Intent

  “I’d been waiting on this one awhile!! I truly loved the story! I laughed, cried and got so frustrated I couldn’t see straight! I’m now hoping there will be more from Hangman’s Loss, I don’t want to see this series end! Thank you for a very wonderful getaway!! I highly recommend this complete series!!!! Wow! Just Wow!!” ~Linda Helms

  “I've looked forward to every book in this series and have enjoyed each one, loving the characters as it feels you walk with them through exciting, scary situations and sigh as relationships become beautiful. This was an exciting story with almost nonstop action and heart stopping dangers. All of my favorite people in Hangman's Loss are together to help Jack, Dory, Adrian and the town through crisis.” ~JLocke

  JAMESONS U.S. MARSHALS SERIES

  Hidden Betrayal

  “As someone who never pre-orders ANYTHING, I put my order in a WEEK before it came out. Know why? Because I just didn't want to wait! Not to give away any spoilers but this is my favorite book from this author yet, in no small part because Mikayla is my favorite type of heroine. Right from the get-go, she's absolutely determined to meet everything on her terms. I loved the dialogue between her and Linc--with her saying, "I didn't stay back because *I* was handling it." Yes, he's a hottie with a protective streak, but she's certainly no little woman. It really WORKS. In the end, 10/10. Can't wait to pre-order the next one too!” ~Amelia

  “An exciting, romantic read with a sexy hero and a determined heroine who is hell-bent on doing things her own way. The romance heats up as the plot thickens. Linc and Mikayla need to work together to survive, but along the way, the sparks start flying. You need to read this!” ~danube eichinger

  BREAK AWAY

  The High Sierras – Book Seven

  Diane Benefiel

  www.BOROUGHSPUBLISHINGGROUP.com

  PUBLISHER’S NOTE: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, business establishments or persons, living or dead, is coincidental. Boroughs Publishing Group does not have any control over and does not assume responsibility for author or third-party websites, blogs or critiques or their content.

  BREAK AWAY

  Copyright ©
2019 Diane Benefiel

  All rights reserved. Unless specifically noted, no part of this publication may be reproduced, scanned, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Boroughs Publishing Group. The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or by any other means without the permission of Boroughs Publishing Group is illegal and punishable by law. Participation in the piracy of copyrighted materials violates the author’s rights.

  ISBN 978-1-951055- 37-0

  E-book formatting by Maureen Cutajar

  www.gopublished.com

  To my parents, Charles and Dagmar Benefiel, who took their girls on family vacations that always included adventures in the great outdoors. They instilled in all of us an enduring love for the wildness of nature.

  CONTENTS

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  BREAK AWAY

  Chapter One

  Levi took the turn onto the dirt driveway, the morning sun sending sharp shafts of light into his eyes. He squinted and shifted in his seat to stretch his back. Exhaustion made the last ten miles feel like a hundred, and he was sure his ass had permanently molded to the seat of the Suburban. He scrubbed a hand over his face, the scruff on his chin reminding him he hadn’t shaved in over a week. The caffeine boost from the coffee he’d consumed the first three hours of his drive had worn off, and he’d refrained from getting more when he’d stopped for gas. He’d never had trouble sleeping before, but hey, another new thing in his life.

  His destination finally in sight, a cabin his mom owned about fifty yards up the dirt-packed driveway. Renting it from her had been tricky. She’d refused to charge him, and he’d refused to stay there if he didn’t pay. He’d won that skirmish only because his mom wanted him back home so damn bad she would’ve sold a kidney to make it happen.

  He bumped along the pitted driveway, counting the minutes until he could fall face first onto the bed, and, if the gods were smiling, not surface again for twenty-four hours.

  Levi noted the small home to the left, the other rental on the property, which sat under a grouping of tall pines. The structure was made of golden wood, its shutters and the deep porch painted a dark forest green. Wind chimes and some sort of coppery metal thing glinted in the light hanging from under the rafters. The cottage looked like it could belong to the queen fairy. An older model, dusty blue Prius sat parked in front.

  He jerked, stomping on the brakes more out of instinct than awareness, bringing the Suburban to a skidding stop. His first thought was bear: big, black, and in the middle of the road.

  Then the animal moved and he realized it was a big-ass dog nearly the size and shape of a bear. Black on its back, it had a white chest, and white with lighter brown markings on its face. It sat on its haunches in the middle of the driveway, not even twitching when the Suburban came within feet of flattening it. No matter how big the dog, it wasn’t going to tangle with a car without major damage. Bear dog stared through the windscreen at Levi, then opened its huge mouth and gave a deep baying bark.

  Levi pinched the bridge of his nose, sighed, and waited for it to move. The mountain of fur didn’t appear ready to give up the middle of the road. He tapped the horn and eased the SUV forward. When the beast remained unfazed, he contemplated taking the Suburban off the driveway.

  Figuring the trees were too close together for that, he parked and opened the car door to peel himself out of the seat with about as much dexterity as an octogenarian. A lungful of the pine-scented air had him stopping to take in his surroundings.

  Large aspens, fresh air, and to the west, the granite peaks of the Eastern Sierras. Home. He’d left Oakland before dawn, and now it was midday. Not a bad ride, but given the turmoil of the past couple of weeks, he felt like he’d gone extra rounds with the champ and not come out the winner.

  He glanced at the cottage, hoping to see the dog’s owner. “Hey, bear dog,” he called and held out a hand. No perked ears, no tail wag, not even an effort to sniff his fingers. Just a steady dog stare. Inspiration struck. He reached in the car to grab a bag from the center console. He ripped it open and reached inside. Black eyes followed the movement and Levi made sure the dog saw the chips before he stuffed them in his mouth.

  Purposely, he dropped one on the ground. “You want that, bud?” Bear dog stared at the chip, then at Levi, then back at the chip. It glanced toward the cottage, a long string of drool landing at its feet. Then, with what seemed like a herculean effort, it rose to all fours and lumbered to get the dropped chip. Levi moved to the side of the road, dropping chips as he went. The dog followed, slobbering profusely as it used its massive tongue to snag each chip.

  “Lucy, no.” The sharp command rang out and the dog froze, its gaze locked on the last potato chip, drool now dripping like a leaky faucet.

  “Busted. Sorry, bud.”

  A woman marched down the steps from the porch of the fairy cottage. Hmm. Compact and curvy and with a wild mass of dark curls piled on top of her head into a messy bun. Her jerky movements broadcast she was supremely pissed. Cute, but pissed.

  “Time out,” she pointed at the cottage. She and the dog had a stare-down. “Lucy, time out.”

  Levi wasn’t sure if he’d name a bear dog Lucy. He thought maybe Ursula or Olympia, but the dog named Lucy dropped her head, heaved a big breath that sounded suspiciously like a sigh, and with a last longing look at the remaining chip, walked with dragging steps to the cottage.

  “She acts like she’s going to death row.”

  “Guilt trips are her best weapon.” The woman turned flashing eyes on him. “Why would you feed my dog potato chips?”

  “I’m not sure that’s a dog.” She glared at him and he shrugged. “She was in the middle of the road. I want to get by, tried honking and edging forward and she didn’t move. Seemed like a good alternative.”

  “Do you know what potato chips do to dogs?” Her hands were on her hips in the classic you’re in deep shit, mister pose.

  “Make them happy?”

  “How about give them diarrhea? A sudden dose of fat like that and she’ll be a miserable mess.”

  The dog had climbed the steps and was regarding them with what could only be described as a woeful expression.

  “That dog wants the chips bad.”

  “Well, she can’t have them.”

  “Right.” Because they were in his hand, Levi stuffed the remaining chips in his mouth and crunched as he checked out the woman. Flowy dress in bright tie-dye colors, a loose top with a wide neck, dangly earrings, plus about half a dozen bracelets on her left wrist. Add the fresh complexion without a hint of makeup, the Prius, the dog and potato chip lecture, and he had the type: earth mother.

  The dose of fat from the chips must be doing him some good because Levi felt a spark of interest he wouldn’t have thought possible ten minutes ago. The petite, curvy earth mother might be uptight about the dog, but she was hot.

  “You got a body in there?”

  “What?”

  She pointed to his Suburban. “Big black monster. That thing looks like a hearse.”

  “Ah, no. No body.”

  He glanced at her Prius and figured she was judging. He couldn’t help feeling a little defensive. Without doubt, the Suburban was
a gas hog.

  He stretched his back, glancing up the driveway where the cabin stood, shingled siding, metal roof, and with a bed that was waiting for him. Oh, so close.

  He should’ve left the SUV in the driveway and walked around the dog and saved himself some grief. When he’d stopped for gas and called to give his brother an arrival time, Brad had asked him to check on the woman living in the cottage. Levi wasn’t sure if he’d told him why he needed to check on her, but he might as well get the chore out of the way.

  He wiped his hand on his shorts and stuck it out. “I’m—”

  “I know who you are.” She left his hand hanging. She turned and the midday sun lit her face. The side of her forehead had a healing scrape surrounded by mottled green of a fading bruise.

  “Okay.” He didn’t like the look of that bruise or the deep purple one on her elbow.

  She ran an assessing gaze over him. “Levi Gallagher of the locally prominent Gallagher family. Brother of Hangman’s Loss police chief Bradley Gallagher, and related through blood and marriage to a couple dozen people scattered around this area.”

  Locally prominent? Bullshit. But the rest was true.

  “You were also first baseman and team captain for Loss High’s varsity baseball team the year they made it to the state championships. You got a full ride to University of the Pacific to play baseball.” She ticked off his accomplishments on her fingers while he ran through his mental people files. Nothing pinged.

  “You go to Loss High?”

  She nodded, and Levi sighed.

  “You going to tell me your name?”

  “Big brother didn’t pass along that little detail when he asked you to check on me?”

  “He told me, but I don’t remember. Why is my brother having me check on you?” When she didn’t respond, he barely stopped an eye roll. “Cut me a break here.”

  For the first time, the woman seemed to really see him. He must have looked like any more verbal sparring would be the end of him. “Zoey Hardesty. I was two years behind you in high school.”