“Did the henna set?” Mrs. L’s voice drew me back.
“Yeah—I mean, yes, it did.” I held out my arm to show her. At the red imprint of Logan’s name on my skin, she laughed. After all, she’d dried it for me. “You do realize that could cause some raised brows? Having a boy’s name on your arm?”
I found myself smiling. “It’s Logan’s whacked sense of humor. I like that about her.”
Mary peeked at my arm and chuckled, too. “It’s good to see her mischievous spirit back. Devyn destroyed too much of her.”
Yeah, I still wanted to hurt him for that.
Despite Mrs. L’s soft expression and smiles, her stern, light brown eyes met mine, making me a little wary. “My daughter likes you a lot. Don’t hurt her.”
“I can safely promise you that,” I told her. There’d never been a girl like Logan, one who made me smile just by being. Who made me forget the shit in my life. She didn’t give a damn who my family was—even if, according to her, she was with me only for the sex.
Sean Logan walked in, his gaze shifting between us. “Are we all done?”
Mrs. L nodded, a smile lighting her pale features. “The basket’s ready. Just a few things…”
I took the drink Mary held out. “Thanks.”
As I drank some of the apple juice, my cell rang. I set the glass down and retrieved the device from my pocket and wished I hadn’t looked. Usually, I’d ignore my father’s calls, but with Logan’s parents’ watching me, I forced a polite smile. “Excuse me, I have to take this.”
Outside in the shadowy evening where the night insects started their disharmonious chorus, I answered.
My father’s cold tone cut right in. “Two weeks, and you’re back in the media?” My jaw snapped shut. I counted to ten as he continued speaking. “And you’re living with a girl—a window dresser? Is this another attempt to draw my attention?”
Damn fucking reporters worked fast. I had to warn Logan.
“Very well, you have it. Get rid of your latest distraction…”
I blocked him out and stared into the gathering darkness, then up at the stars twinkling above. How had I ended up in this hell? The one person who truly meant more to me, who pulled me out of the nightmare I’d endured since that night over four years ago, who made me feel like I mattered… And my father expected me to leave?
“…your trust fund will be accessible soon…” I caught the last bit of his lecture.
Did he really think that was all that mattered to me? Did he imagine me lazing in some fancy holiday resort drinking beer in South America? It had been the last thing on my mind when I left. I just wanted away from civilization. From a place that continuously fed my inner demons—a place where I was on a direct path to no return. I’d stayed in a village with people who had no idea who I was. A volunteer working my fingers to the bone as a handyman, fixing up buildings after the ravages of a storm had hit the small settlements there. I’d made mistakes. I learned.
“…get a decent place to live and finish your business degree since your music one’s over. I don’t care how long it takes you. At the end of it, I want you at the bank.”
“Is that all?”
“Dammit, Maxwell!”
“If you expect me to walk away from her, not happening,” I ended the call. Only when the pain in my cheek intensified did I realize just how hard I’d clenched my jaw, surprised I hadn’t cracked my teeth. Christ, I rubbed my hands over my face, a low throbbing starting behind my eyelids. Any encounter with my old man always left me a little unhinged.
A familiar floral fragrance with the hint of sweet apples teased my nose.
“Hey,” Logan said softly.
I shook my head. Doubted I could hold a decent conversation with the anger churning within. I felt like a corked geyser.
When I didn’t turn, she came around and stopped in front of me, her amber eyes searching mine. Then she simply slipped her arms around my waist and hugged me. She didn’t ask what was wrong, she simply held me.
I squeezed my eyes tight, finding it hard to swallow past the tightness in my throat.
After a moment, she shifted, and her hand touched my face. I didn’t care what she was doing as long as she was holding me. She tucked something cool into my ear and slipped her arms around me once more. In the quiet night with chirping insects, soft music filled my head, and I just held her, needing to breathe again, to find my balance…and then I realized she understood.
My life was a loaded gun, but I wasn’t alone.She’dsaved me from this storm of destruction that usually took hold of me in moments like these. Inherarms, I’d found my safety net. My chest expanded with the emotions churning through me.
And as if my feet had a mind of their own, I found myself moving to the music. My arms tightened around her. I didn’t have to look up to see the stars because the oppressive night had suddenly dissipated. All I saw and felt was her. Cupping her face in my palms, I kissed her.
