“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it. Wait…What is it?”
How could I tell him all that I felt? I couldn’t. “I think…I’m a little tired.” I tried to smile, but it wobbled. “I’ve gone from my quiet cottage in Oregon with my cats, and now I’m up here, and I’m worried about my mom, and I’m working a lot of hours, and I think…I think…I think…” I wiped my tears with the back of my hand.
“What are you thinking?” He stepped closer.
“I think I got a little overwhelmed. But thank you. Thank you for helping me break up that fight between the entitled, spoiled worm and the odd little hermit.”
I dared to stare into those light brown eyes. I’d stared into those eyes since I was five and Logan and I decided to play with the blocks together in kindergarten. We made a super-tall tower, then we both knocked it down. It made a ton of noise, and I jumped up and down and clapped.
Today, all I saw was empathy and concern in those eyes. And maybe something else. I felt the air crackle between us. That line had always sounded so silly to me—what doescrackling airmean? —but it was all I could think of to describe it. He was standing close, and that crackle, that excitement, that attraction we’d always had, well, I could feel it. I didn’t know if he could, but I sure did.
Several people left the bar, saying goodbye to us as they left, and it gave me a second to catch my breath. Christmas music filtered out before the red doors shut again. I could hear the song “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” I would change the subject. I had learned that tactic from my mother.
“Logan.” Dang! My voice was breathless. “I have been meaning to talk to you about the Lady Whiskey’s T and A Christmas Burlesque Show.” I took a deep breath. Then another one. “How would you feel about having it on the second floor of your building in your office space? It’s huge and—”
“No problem. Let’s do it.” The tiredness left his face as he beamed down at me. I could tell he was happy I asked.
“The Bunger Farmhouse, as you know, burned down. Mrs. Bunger’s ex-husband ticked her off, so she got out the gasoline can. Divorces can bring out a lot of anger.”
“Sure can. We could say that her anger was on fire.”
“Excellent image. Thanks, Logan.”
“Of course. Happy to host.”
“Also…”
“Yes?”
“We’re going to need a stage and a catwalk for the burlesque performances.” I wrung my hands together. “I am so sorry to ask. It’s a ton of work. How about if we offer you free food at the bar until next Christmas?”
He laughed. “That is not necessary. I’m happy to build it. Still not clear about what a burlesque show is, but I do know how to get a stage and catwalk built.”
“Really?”
“Yes, of course.”
“I knew you would. I’ll pay you for all the materials and the labor in addition to the free food.”
He shook his head, so generous. “I would never accept it. It’ll be my donation. Thanks for asking. It’ll be fun.”
Darned if he didn’t smile at me again. Warmed my heart. Warmed other parts of my body, too. He always did that. From seventh grade on, he gave me the zings and zaps. Things got hot, heavy, and a bit out of control in high school. I smiled, thinking of some of those…times. I couldn’t help it. All the sudden, I was grinning like a Cheshire cat drunk on cream.
He grinned back.
I wanted to kiss him. My eyes dropped to his mouth. His jaw was slightly unshaven. Gave him a darkish, sexy, bad-guy appearance. His hair was a little longer, too. I saw him studying me. I leaned toward him, a small step, a bit of a step. His eyes changed; I saw it. I knew what he was thinking about—the same as me. He leaned toward me.
The door flung open, and five laughing people stumbled on out.
“Hey, Bellini! Hey, Logan,” they greeted us.
It was my cousin Beck O’Donnell, who was one of Logan’s best friends, and Colt Sanchez, also one of Logan’s best friends. Plus, my cousins Jaxi O’Donnell and Helena Cruz O’Donnell, as well as Collins Aline, one of my friends from high school. They held out their arms to greet us and pulled us into a goofy group hug. I was chest to chest with Logan, and I did not mind at all. I tipped my head up to see his reaction, and he started to laugh, so I did, too.
The opportunity for a kiss was gone. Thank heavens.
I thought.
Sort of.
