“Actually,” I corrected, “I left the firm almost a year ago and started my own business as a freelance marketing consultant.” I could see Logan’s smile growing. “I specifically work to help smaller businesses get their digital foundations built—so I could help you.” I felt a twinge of embarrassment. “If you want me to, that is,” I amended.
Logan nodded, still smiling wide. “Absolutely, Millie. That would be amazing. I would love your help. Thank you.”
“Cool,” I said, before refocusing on the plate in front of me. God, why was Isoawkward?
Rule number three, just be quiet.
After our plateswere empty and our bellies full, my mother disappeared into the kitchen to grab the assortment of desserts she’d made. There was a decadent pumpkin cheesecake, a pecan pie, and a large bowl of bread pudding.
We all dove into the desserts, unable to resist my mother’s famous recipes. Cheesecake was one of my most favorite things in the entire world and I wasn’t ashamed to admit that I ate the majority of what was now missing from the dish.
After dessert, we all busied ourselves with cleaning up. My father and Adam went to check on the stove in the basement to see if it needed more wood. The storm was now fully upon us with snow coming down in heavy clumps. Rachel and my mother transferred food into containers to put into the fridge, and I began working at the kitchen sink. After a few moments, Logan saddled up beside me, pushing his sleeves up along his corded arms.
“Mind if I help you, here?”
“Sure,” I answered, giving him a small smile. “Just like old times, huh?”
His returning grin held a hint of surprise, as if he too were thinking of the same memory but didn’t expect me to remember. “Yeah.” His voice was deep and low. “We have a lot of those, Mills.”
The kitchen suddenly felt too warm. I pulled at the neck of my sweater, spreading a stream of soap along my neck.
“Are you okay?” Logan asked as he followed the movement of my hand.
“Yeah, just a little hot.”
I watched as his grin grew.
Great. Probably not the safest choice of words. Feeling self-conscious, I picked up a dirty plate and began scrubbing, ignoring the flush that I felt in my cheeks. As I cleaned each dish, I handed them over to Logan to rinse and dry, unintentionally noticing the many calluses that riddled his fingers. It made sense that he would have them knowing he worked with his hands at the auto shop.
I felt myself blush again as I thought of what else he could do with his hands, before I was completely startled from my brother’s booming voice behind us.
“Dude, they have you in here washing dishes?”
I turned and threw my brother a pointed look. “No one asked him. He’sactuallyhelpful in the kitchen—unlike you.”
I heard Logan chuckle beside me as Rachel giggled from the other side of the kitchen’s island where she was packing up the turkey meat. “She has a point, babe.”
Adam swiftly smiled in her direction. “Alright, alright. Do you need help with anything, love?”
I looked at Logan and rolled my eyes, making him chuckle again.
“He is so whipped,” Logan whispered playfully.
Now it was me who was giggling as I gently pushed my hip into his in response. I felt him look down at me, but I kept my focus on the large glass bowl in my hands that was slippery with suds. It was the last of the dirty dishes, and it was heavy. I was scared I was going to drop it, so I kept holding it with both hands as I handed it over to Logan.
He reached over to take it from me, his hands wrapping around mine over the bowl.
I gasped, quietly enough that Adam and Rachel didn’t notice, thank god. Logan’s face held an expression of thoughtful intrigue, and for a long moment, I was helplessly locked within his burning stare.
We both looked away, busying ourselves with mundane tasks and working silently side by side for a few more minutes.
“I should probably call and check in on my dog,” Logan announced rather loudly as he felt for his phone in his pocket, “my neighbor has him right now. Won’t take long.”
“You have a dog?” I asked, surprised.
“Yep.”
“Since when?”
