She sniffed. “Nothing I wasn’t expecting.”
“What did they say?”
Erin avoided his eyes, but answered his question. “They said I was unprofessional and they couldn’t believe that they hired me. They plan on contacting Good Eats and letting them know how I ruined their special day.”
Logan’s temper flared. How dare they say that to Erin. “I know that the situation isn’t ideal. But it’s not your fault. You are an amazing baker.”
Erin’s “Okay,” was less than convincing.
He reached out and touched his fingers to her chin. When she didn’t pull away, he tilted her head up so that she was looking at him. “I mean it. They have no idea how amazing you are. That woman is a bridezilla.”
That earned a small smile from her.
“The only question is whether or not she deserves a cake after the way she talked to you.”
“She’s upset. I’m sure she didn’t mean all those nasty things she said.”
Logan wasn’t sure about that. Some people looked for any excuse to be angry at the world, but he waited silently for Erin to continue.
“Besides, I said I was going to do it. I want to be the kind of woman who does what she says she will.”
The fact that he statement mirrored what he’d said at the Wilsons’ wasn’t lost on him. He understood Erin’s need to see this through. He nodded. “Okay. Then tell me what to do.”
She looked up, her eyes red. “What do you mean?”
He snorted. “If you think I’m going to let you do this by yourself, you’re crazy.”
Her brows lowered. “I don’t understand.”
The words, “What are friends for?” were on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t say them. He’d been a terrible friend for the last ten years, though, at the time, he was sure he was doing the right thing by leaving. Now, he wasn’t so sure. He should have at least come back when Jake was dying. He saw that more clearly now than he had since he’d been in Frostford. The Lord certainly had a way of making Logan see how badly he messed up. He wanted to make it up to Erin.
There were things he could never take back, but he had a strong desire to prove he wasn’t the same man he used to be.
He looked down at Erin, who was still looking at him, waiting for an explanation for why he was helping. He took a step back and had a hard time looking at her. His eyes went to the oven, where several round cake pans filled the racks. “Yeah, well, I did knock the cake over.”
She let out a strained laugh. “If you think you’re responsible for knocking over the cake, then you’re the one who’s crazy. I saw what happened, and I know it was an accident.” She tilted her head. “But if you’re willing to help, I’m surely going to need it.”
“Of course.” Logan was ready to roll up his sleeves and do whatever she needed.
She surprised him by taking off her apron. “I want to spend a few minutes with Samantha and Parker. I need them to know that I love them and that everything is going to be okay. I’d like to tuck them in.” Erin bit her lip. “But it would be really great if you kept cleaning the kitchen.” The words came out like a question, almost like she was afraid of asking him to do more.
“Erin,” Logan said, her voice firmly enough that she would know that he was being serious, but he hoped there was enough tenderness that he wouldn’t make her cry again. “I want to help. If that means I wash dishes all night, that’s fine.”
When her eyes started watering, Logan worried he’d been too firm. He started to apologize. “I’m?—”
Her arms circled his waist as she pulled him close into an embrace. “Thank you,” she said into his chest. “Really.”
He cleared his throat and wrapped his arms around her. “You’re welcome.”
Logan knew this was dangerous territory. He should have been more careful. Careful not to growclose to Parker and Samantha. Careful not to hold Erin like this. But even as warning bells were ringing loudly in his mind, he still held Erin close. He knew this was going to end in more heartache but he couldn’t force himself to stop.
After several moments of holding each other in the quiet kitchen, Erin stepped back and turned toward the stairs. Logan stood and watched her leave before he grabbed a dish towel and started drying dishes. He heard Erin’s gentle steps as she went up the stairs to the children’s room.
Once the dish drainer was clear, he started washing again. His mind raced with what had just happened and what it would mean. What was he going to do? How was he going to leave again without hurting the woman he loved? The children he’d come to love.
Between his racing thoughts and the sound of running water, he barely registered Erin’s return.
“Wow. You’ve gotten a lot done.”
