Free Liz's Luck [Appledale 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Lee Rose Page B

leave me alone. Is that clear enough for you?”
    Gary didn’t say a word but he gave Liz a nasty look as if hated her at that moment. Then he grabbed her vase of roses and angrily threw them on the floor. Liz screamed and gasped in shock. Glass shattered into tiny little pieces and flew through the air and water splattered everywhere along with the poor roses. Liz instinctively threw her hands up in front of her face in case glass hit her. Gary looked like he wanted to hit Liz, so she clenched her fist and prepared to defend herself, but at the last second Gary pounded his fists so hard on her counter that it shook and walked away without saying another word. He slammed her door so hard she was afraid the glass would shatter. She could hear his tires squealing as he raced away.
    Amy came running out of the back room crying. “That was awful, Liz. He gave me the creeps so I called Sheriff Clark.”
    It didn’t take more than a few minutes before Ryan and Logan came running into the store. Liz didn’t even have time to clean up. Her legs were still shaking and she hadn’t calmed down.
    “He’s gone,” Liz told them softly, looking sadly at the mess Gary had made of her roses.
    Amy burst into tears at the sight of the uniformed men. “He scared me, Sheriff, the way he yelled at Liz. I thought he was going to hit her. His face was all scrunched up and red.”
    Ryan awkwardly patted her back. He was no good with crying females. “You did the right thing, Amy.” He looked at Logan as if to say, “help me.”
    Logan held in his laugh as he helped his boss out. He knew Amy. He was friends with her older brother, Scott. He put his arms around the crying girl and soothed her. “You were right to call us, squirt.”
    That got her to stop crying. Amy wiped her tears and glared at Logan. “I am not a squirt anymore, Logan. I’ll be eighteen in a few weeks.”
    “So old,” he teased her and hugged her while Liz explained what had happened with Gary.
    “Let’s go in the back. You look like you’re going to faint, Liz,” Ryan said, leading her to the break room. He made some coffee and the hot liquid settled her nerves.
    “Thanks, I needed that,” Liz said. She wanted to ask why Ethan didn’t come but was too shy to ask. Ryan must have read her face because he smiled. “Gabe and Ethan are out by the park. A minor traffic accident just happened a while ago and they responded.”
    Liz nodded and looked at Amy, who leaned against Logan, sniffling into a tissue. “I’m sorry this happened, honey.”
    Amy shook her head. Her eyes were red but she was no longer crying. “It wasn’t your fault, Liz. Sorry for being so dramatic.”
    “I was scared, too. I thought he was going to hit me, too, but he threw the flowers instead. You can go home now, Amy, and thanks for calling for help. That was smart.”
    Ryan’s expression hardened. He felt sorry for the creep when Ethan got ahold of him. Ethan hated bullies, especially when they messed with women.
    Logan offered to drive Amy home.
    “I’m okay, Logan,” Amy answered, sniffing into a tissue and trying to be brave.
    “I know, sweetheart, but Scott will kick my butt if I let you walk home while you’re so upset, so don’t argue with me. Listen to your elders,” he said in mock sternness, pointing a finger at her. “Besides, don’t you want to drive in my cool police jeep?”
    Amy giggled and rolled her eyes. “Big brothers are a pain. All right, macho man, you can drive me home.”
    They left, arguing about older brothers and their protective ways.
    Ryan sat across from Liz and grabbed her hand. They were still cold. “Are you sure you are okay? I can call Doc. He is still at the clinic.
    She shook her head but before she could answer Ethan and Gabe came running in, looking concerned. Ryan let go of her hand quickly and teased Ethan. “I’ve heard of your jealous tendencies but I’m taken.”
    Liz rolled her eyes but looked at Ethan, starving for the sight of