“Heleft. He’s the one who walked out on what we had. I’m not going to suck up to him just to get an interview.” But she was lying to herself. That interview could be the stepping stone she needed to someday run theStarlight Gazette. Without it, she might never realize that dream. Big stories like this didn’t come often to Starlight. There was no telling when the next one might be. The thought made her stomach turn. She pushed away her untouched coffee.
“Logan left,” Erin repeated, “but you’re the fighter. The bulldog. You’ve always been able to get what you want. You’re persistent. That’s what I love about you most, Abbs.”
Erin’s words stuck with her as she closed in on the saddlery store to pick up Gibbs. She was able to get almost anything she put her mind to. Almost anything, except the man who left her behind.
“I hope Gibbs has been a good—”
“He’s been an angel.” Logan flashed his megawatt smile the camera and his fans loved, forcing her to divert her attention to a display of equestrian books. She picked one up off the rack and flipped through the pages.
“What are you doing here?”
“In the market for a new saddle.”
She rolled her eyes. “Forwhathorse?”
“Maybe you meanwhichhorse. I have a few.”
It occurred to her that she knew a lot less about Logan’s current life than she realized. She didn’t even know where he called home these days, despite vigorous efforts to track down that piece of information. She could start that article, but she’d never be able to finish it without his cooperation.Dang it!“Where exactly?”
Logan chuckled, that deep rumble. She busied herself with adjusting a button-down shirt on a hanger. That laugh always made her come undone. Every time. It wasn’t fair that years later he still had an effect on her at all.
“I’m not giving that up so easily.” He pushed off the counter he’d been leaning on. “You might want to stalk me.”
She huffed a laugh, but her jittery fingers knocked three shirts to the floor. “Stalk you. Please.” She crouched down to pick up the clothing, giving herself a moment to catch her breath.Ridiculous. This is so ridiculous.
“Can’t trust just anyone these days.”
“I’m just doing my job,” she said as she stood back up, finding Logan much closer now than a few moments ago.
“Still stuck on that interview, huh?”
She shrugged, looking around the shop for her absent dog. A scattering of brown dog hair blanketed the floor around Logan and trailed to behind the counter. She discovered Gibbs asleep back there, his massive body resting against the cupboard door to his favorite treats.
“What’s in it for you anyway?” Logan asked. “You wouldn’t agree if there wasn’t something you wanted out of it. I’m not stupid, Abbs.”
Debate bounced in her head. Should she admit a promotion of sorts was on the line? Would he even care that it was that important to her? “They didn’t think you’d talk to anyone else,” she finally said. It may not have been the whole truth, but at least it was only a lie by omission.
“And Vince thinks I’ll talk to you.” Logan laughed, waking Gibbs this time. The dog lifted his head, turning it from side to side until he caught sight of her. His furry tail thumped against the floor as he let out a sleepy yawn and struggled to his feet.
“I know, crazy.” Gibbs stretched, then trotted to Abbie for a greeting hug.
“How did you end up with Gibbs?” Logan asked. “Didn’t take you for the big-dog type. Especially not one that’ll be the size of a miniature pony by the end of the year.”
She almost told him about meeting the dog no one was willing to adopt at the local shelter while writing a story. He was too big and everyone worried how they’d handle him when he doubled in size. She only had to meet him once to know they were destined to be together. But Logan didn’t need to hear any of that. “Did you stop by your grandpa’s?”
His smile faded, his lips dropping into a frown. “Yeah.”
A silence hung in the shop as she waited for more. Did he know about the foreclosure notice? She had caught a glimpse the last time she dropped off a newspaper to Gerald. She wanted to mention Gus, how he needed to see a vet. But if she knew Logan, he already came to that conclusion. He’d always had a way with animals.
“Abbie, hey!” Her mom rushed in from the back room. “Sorry, Logan, had to take a call about a special order. I can’t tell you how good this rodeo has already been for business.”
“I’m glad to hear it, Mrs. Bennington.”
Mom smacked him playfully on the arm. “Logan, you know you’ve always been able to call me Judith.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Abbie rolled her eyes. “Oh, brother.”
