He did. “I want to make this work,” he said. “Not just for this week. For the long haul.”
“Good.”
Halfway to the front door, he stopped and quickly scanned the area for Izzy before he spoke. If he gave away her birthday surprise, Erin would probably turn him out within ten seconds and force him to sleep in his truck. “I’d like to help.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I know why Cliff is working a second job.”
“It’s just for this week.”
Somehow he didn’t think it would end after a week. The owner would likely offer him more shifts, especially during events, and Cliff would take them. He knew how expensive keeping some girls happy could be. One week working security, even for some rich Californian, wouldn’t be enough.
“Cliff would never accept the money from me,” he said. “But maybe you can talk to him. If you let me know how much you need, I’ll make it happen.”
“Logan, we couldn’t possibly accept your money.”
“I want do something right for a change. You’ve been more than kind to let me stay here when you could’ve forced me to book a hotel room and deal with the mob following me around. Let me help you make your little girl’s dream come true.”
Erin gave him a gentle, appreciative smile. At least for the moment, he’d won her over. Come Sunday, it might be a different story.
“Gibbs, let’s go.” The fluffy dog abandoned his lookout post at the window, leaving behind a few nose smudges on the glass. He trotted toward the back door, floppy ears swaying.
The overcast sky suggested a possible morning shower, a heavy one from the looks of it. He’d never been a particular fan of a muddy arena, not since he face-planted in a deep mud puddle his first year on the main circuit. Hopefully, everything would dry up before tonight’s event.
Gibbs plopped down outside Abbie’s door and waited as he knocked. “Abbs, you there?” The dog tilted his head at somethunkfrom inside. It didn’t sound life-threatening, but Logan tried the knob anyway. “Abbie?”
The dog darted through the cottage toward the bedroom in the back. He followed, stopping in the doorway. Abbie sat atop her tall dresser, an arm stretched behind it. A hefty book lay sprawled on the floor, seemingly the culprit of the earlierthunk.
Gibbs hopped up on his hind legs, and dang if that dog’s nose wasn’t an inch from the dresser top. In another month, he’d be able to see the top of it standing like that.
“My arm is stuck.”
Logan didn’t chuckle at all, just muscled the piece of furniture a couple inches away from the wall, allowing Abbie to wriggle herself free. She pulled up a yard stick with a ball of masking tape on its end. “Looking for something?” It was covered in lint, but nothing of value he could see.
Abbie let out an exaggerated sigh. “Didn’t find it.”
“Find what?”
“What I was looking for.”
“Which was?”
“Never mind. Help a girl down?”
Lifting her to lower her to the floor, he smiled as her arms wrapped around him without the slightest hesitation. They lingered there, too, as he took the moment to hold her a little closer and kiss her forehead. They’d shared a few kisses after the rodeo last night, and first thing this morning when he came to fetch her for breakfast. But now, he just wanted her to know he was there for her.
“I’m sorry your offer didn’t get accepted.”
She hugged him a little tighter, nestling her cheek against his chest. “I guess I knew I wouldn’t get it. Some people might find it amusing that they used to chase me away from their house with a broom, but Mrs. Hampton just isn’t one of them.”
“She’s a tough one.”
“And even if she had picked my offer, where would that leave me? Begging for my job back? No thanks.”
As he was about to ask if she’d heard from Vince, his phone vibrated in his shirt pocket. She giggled at the buzzing as it must have tickled, but her expression went solemn when she saw it was the vet calling.
“Guess we better go find out about Gus.”
