“Morning,” Clipboard Guy says. “Pipe burst on Birch? We’ll take a look, set up some drying equipment.”
Logan jerks his chin toward me without answering. I shoot him a look and step forward. “That’s me. Kitchen sink decided to impersonate Old Faithful.”
Clipboard Guy chuckles, but his partner lingers a beat too long when his eyes meet mine. Not overt, not inappropriate, just noticeable.
Logan notices, too. His shoulders stiffen, and he takes a step closer to me, though he doesn’t say a word.
We cross the street together, Dusty trotting while Logan stalks next to me. Inside, the kitchen is still damp, tile cool underfoot. The guys get straight to work—checking the cabinet, measuring moisture with a little handheld meter, setting up the industrial fan so it roars to life.
“Good news,” Clipboard Guy says over the noise. “It’s mostly surface. Keep this fan running for a few days, and you’ll be dry. Once the pipe’s replaced, you’re back in business.”
Relief floods me. “That’s it?”
“Yep. Three, four days tops,” the other guy says, checking the dehumidifier once more, then glancing up. “You’ll be out of the house in the meantime, right?”
I nod. “Guest room across the street.”
His grin widens, eyes dragging down. “Lucky neighbor.”
I laugh, heat rising in my cheeks, but Logan steps in. “Yeah. Lucky me. You done?”
The guy blinks, a little taken aback, then clears his throat. “Yeah, just need a signature.”
I sign, thank them both, and see them out. The second my front door shuts behind them, Logan mutters, “Guy needs to learn where to put his eyes.”
I glance sideways at him, biting back a smile. “Pretty sure he was looking at the leak, not me.”
“Pretty sure he wasn’t.” His voice is flat, dark enough to make something flip low in my stomach.
I let it slide, but tuck his reaction into the mental drawer markedThings I’ll Tease Him About Later.
By the time the plumbers have driven off, Logan’s nudging me back across the street. Dusty bounds ahead, tongue lolling, and clearly happy he has his two favorite people with him.
When we get back, I make a beeline for the back doors, opening them wide and letting the Sunday morning light stream through.
There’s no family brunch today. Charlie has Noah and Meadow at a friend’s birthday party, Hutchy has gone to visit his grandpa, and Zoe and Chase are… probably still tangled in their sheets. Which means it’s just me, the late fall sunshine, and Logan’s pool.
The sunlight hits the water, and I nearly choke on my own laughter as the flamingo bobs lazily beside the massive white swan, their rubbery heads dipping like they’re deep in conversation. Serious Swan and Flashy Flamingo, ruling over Flamingo Lagoon.
“Your pool’s basically the Denver Zoo now,” I say, grinning as he moves to stand beside me. “I’m thinking I’ll bring in an alligator next. Maybe a hippo, if shipping isn’t too steep.”
Logan’s mouth pulls tight, but there’s no real bite to it. “You’re banned from Amazon Prime.”
I press a hand to my chest. “Banned? Harsh. Even Eli only grounds me from Target.”
He cuts me a dry look, one corner of his mouth twitching in that way that lets me know he’s fighting a smile.
I shade my eyes with one hand, squinting at the floats. “Actually, you know what’s missing? A giraffe. Something tall to keep watch. Or maybe a kangaroo. Then it could be an international exhibit.”
“Christ.” He drags a hand down his face, but his voice is more exasperated affection than anything else. He’s not storming overthere with a knife to pop them; he’s just standing with me in the sun, letting me rattle on like he always does.
“Fine,” I say, tilting my chin. “But if you wake up one day and there’s a zebra out there, don’t act surprised.”
“You’re a menace.”
“I’mefficient,” I sing-song, just to needle him.
His gaze snaps back to me. “A circus in my pool is the least efficient thing I’ve ever heard of.”
