Except in my flustered state, I forget that I’d set the peach cobbler on broil for aquick finish.
I open the oven—and smoke bellows out like I just summoned a demon.
“Shit!”
I grab the mitt, toss the cobbler onto the counter, and start waving a towel around like it’s a sword.
Jackson bolts up. “What the hell?—”
“It’s fine! I’m fine! I meant to do this. It’s, um, smoked cobbler. Very artisanal.”
Logan coughs, hiding his laugh behind his napkin.
Jackson opens a window. “Seriously, are you okay?”
I nod, eyes watering. “Totally fine. Just, you know. New leaf. Still getting used to the Riverbend fresh air. Such a change-up from Dallas. All that…oil.”
Logan meets my eyes and grins. That smug,I-know-what-you-look-like-under-that-dressgrin.
I am going to murder him.
Jackson stands by the door, grabbing his keys off the hook, and slinging his bag over his shoulder. There’s a pause—one of those slightly too-long ones—where he glances between me and Logan.
“Hey,” he says, softer now. “Thanks again, Cass. Seriously. You didn’t have to say yes to this, and I appreciate it.”
I nod, trying not to blush. “It’s fine. I mean, I’ve hosted worse, I’m sure.”
Jackson huffs a laugh, then turns to Logan and clasps a hand on his shoulder.
“And you. Big day tomorrow, man. First workout with the Riverbend squad. Go show ‘em what you’ve got. Congrats again on getting called up to Triple-A.”
“Thanks, Jackson,” Logan says, his voice steady but his eyes flicking toward me for just a second. “I will.”
Jackson notices. Of course he notices.
“You two gonna be alright?” His gaze lingers on me.
“We’re great,” I say a little too fast.
“Totally,” Logan adds, just as awkward.
Jackson raises an eyebrow. “Uh-huh. Well, try not to burn the place down. Maybe you can talk about…books or something.”
I hold my breath, praying that he doesn’t ask us which bookstore and corroborate our stories.
Then, with a grin and a wink, he opens the door and heads out into the warm June night.
“Have a good night, y’all.”
The second the door closes behind him, the air between me and Logan practically crackles.
He grins at me.
“Abookstore? Really?” I say, hands on my hip. “Thatwas the lie you came up with?”
“What? Jackson was getting suspicious. I had to saysomething. He noticed our vibe.”
“Our vibe?”
