“I hope it works out for you.” And he meant every word.
The gritty feel of sand pressed against Addison’s feet as they walked toward the water, but Logan’s presence overshadowed her every thought. As their conversation came to an uncomfortable halt, she slung her beach bag over her shoulder and focused on the small waves crashing onto the shore.
Children played along the edge, running and kicking sand, building sandcastles, and dodging swelling waves. Ami stopped at an umbrella near the pier and helped Nathan set the chairs out after dropping their towels and bags into one pile.
“Put your stuff next to my chair, Addison.” Ami threw her stuff in the middle chair and took off for the water.
Addison dropped her bag into the chair next to Ami’s and slipped out of her cover top. She started to sit, but Nathan grabbed her arm and pulled her to the water’s edge. The chilly water enhanced the chill bumps spreading across her arms and legs. She turned just as Logan set his chair next to hers.
When Nathan pulled at her again, she lost her balance. She fell to her knees as a wave crashed above her shoulders. Nathan stood over her, laughing. Ami slapped him on the back, and he laughed even harder. Sinking deeper, she looked toward Logan, but he wasn’t watching.
Trying to relax, trying to forget that Logan sat just a few yards from them, she stood and walked deeper into the water, but her body’s temperature wasn’t acclimating to the cold water and she shivered almost uncontrollably as she gave up and staggered to the chairs.
“It is way too cold to play in the water. I’m fr-e-e-e-e-zing.”
“Nathan shouldn’t have ...”
“No-o-o-o, it’s oka-a-ay. Really.”
“Here, use this.” Logan spread the thick, full-sized blanket of warmth across her legs.
Immediately, she pulled it to her middle, stopping herself from inhaling his scent clinging to the blanket, and tucked it around her body. “Thank you so much. That feels like heaven.”
As they sat quietly side by side, Addison replayed their earlier conversation over and over. It had been going well and even ended well. But somewhere along the way, his attitude changed, briefly, as if he was fighting against something.
Forcing him into a conversation hadn’t been her intention. She’d felt uncomfortable in his presence from the moment she met him in the living room. She wanted to resolve any tension between them, but what if he didn’t want to let go? What if he couldn’t forgive her?
Never finding the nerve to stand up again, Addison stayed in her seat even when Logan, Nathan, and Ami threw a frisbee at the shore’s edge.
When Logan returned to his chair, Addison lifted his towel from around her, the edges and middle soaked through.
“No, you keep it. I’m good, but you were right, the water is freezing.” He paused only a minute and leaned toward her. “Oh, and by the way, I paid Nathan back for you.”
“I saw that.”
His vigorous laugh resonated somewhere deep within her and drew her even closer before she realized it. A burning sensation filled her cheeks and she stared at the distant waves crashing.
“Logan, I wanted you to know that my intentions for visiting Ami, for coming even that first time—I was so worried about your sister.” Addison twisted in her seat and met his gaze. “It was my fault. All my fault. I was at a party and did take a few sips of … something. I never should’ve left or driven. I never drink. And I would never drink and drive. That night I was just—” she shook her head. “It was a stupid decision.”
For a long moment, Logan only stared at her.
“I didn’t mean for it to happen, and I’m so thankful Ami’s okay.” With a rapid release of breath, she added, “I just wanted you to know.”
He nodded, his gaze softening as if pondering her words. “I’m thankful you are both all right.”
They stayed only an hour before leaving, and once they reached the Tants’, Nathan pulled her to the side. “Don’t worry. Logan likes you.” She hadn’t expected those words and her neck flamed. “He’s just weird.” He flashed a mischievous grin.
Addison exhaled an exaggerated breath. “I better go.”
Ami grabbed her arm. “We wanted you to stay for dinner.”
“I really ...”
“Logan will be disappointed. He’s grilling his famous cheeseburgers.”
With all of them nudging her, emotion expanded in her chest and her eyes glazed over with a sheet of moisture. “Y’all have been so nice to me. I know it was under terrible circumstances, but I’m so thankful to have met you all.”
“So, you’ll stay?”
“How can I say no to you?” Battling the disturbing sensations raging through her chest, she glanced at Logan across the yard and swallowed hard. “I can’t wait to taste Logan’s cheeseburger.”
Addison and Ami unfolded the red-and-white tablecloth and stretched it across the table. After setting out plates and napkins, Addison helped Ami fill cups with ice from the cooler. Mr. Tant, finally home from work, lit two lanterns filled with citronella oil and placed them on the center of the table. The strong scent swirled from the wicks, blending with the fragrant charcoal fumes.
Addison followed Ami to the patio and took a seat on the wooden swing next to her.
“I should’ve invited Zach.” Ami stared across the yard, looking over the tall picket fence.
“Zach? Is he your boyfriend?” Addison studied her hands and feet instead of looking in the direction of the grill.
“He’s my next-door neighbor. And no, we’re just friends.”
Mrs. Tant opened the kitchen door. “Ami, can you help me a minute?”
Ami stood. “I’ll be right back.”
Nathan immediately took Ami’s place.
“Are you having fun?”
“Yes, I love spending time with you guys.”
Amusement illuminated his eyes. “Even Logan?”
At the mention of his name, she glanced in Logan’s direction. When Logan’s face rose and he met her gaze, it displayed none of the irritation she’d expected to find. Instead kindness materialized in his smile.
Nathan leaned against her. Startled, she glanced at him. She’d never answered his question and he was still waiting.
10
Addison exhausted every inch of lawn along the fence line while desperately avoiding glances toward Logan standing across the yard.
Not until he pulled the cheeseburgers off the grill, did she take a seat at the table next to Ami. Not expecting Logan to take the seat on her other side, she straightened, trying to appear at ease. She suspected she was failing miserably. Her pulse spiked and her lungs refused air.
“Honey, will you bless the food?” Mrs. Tant asked her husband as Ami grabbed Addison’s hand.
Logan’s gaze flicked to Addison as he reached under the table and wrapped his fingers around her other hand. “It’s a family tradition.”
The sensation of his skin against hers was immediate and widespread. Starting at her fingers and sweeping through her body with intangible speed, the warmth of his touch penetrated every fiber.
Thank goodness she could close her eyes.
A persistent thudding resounded in her ears, and she was unable to concentrate on Mr. Tant’s prayer. When the blessing ended, Logan squeezed her hand softly before releasing it. Or had she only imagined that?
Waiting a few seconds, Addison swallowed a small bite of the burger, her throat expelling her decision. A lump lodged in her throat, so big she had a hard time breathing, much less swallowing. Unable to take another bite without risking an embarrassing display of choking in front of this family, especially the Tant sitting next to her, she pushed around her chips hoping no one noticed.
“You don’t like the burger?” Tone deflated, Logan stared at her plate.
Addison eased her gaze in his direction. “It’s delicious.”
It was a shame to not be able to enjoy the food fully. The perfectly balanced seasonings that flavored the burger w
ere mouthwatering. She wanted to tell him, but her brain and mouth wouldn’t cooperate. Especially with her mouthwatering for reasons that had nothing to do with the burger, but everything to do with the cook.
After they ate, Logan followed Nathan into the kitchen. He’d been waiting all afternoon to get his brother alone. “What’re you doing, Nathan?”
“What’re you talking about, little brother?”
Nathan knew just what to say to ruffle his feathers. “I’m not your little brother, Nathan. We’re twins.”
Nathan slapped him hard on the back. “What’s wrong with you today? You seem so uptight.”
“Have you got a thing for Addison?”
Nathan crossed his arms and leaned against the counter. “What?”
“You’re flirting with her.”
“So?” Though the kitchen light was dim compared to the brightness of the sun outside, Logan didn’t miss Nathan’s crooked grin as he looked through the kitchen window, his eyes focused on Addison. “Why do you care?”
What could he say? Stop flirting with Addison? There was no sensible reason for telling him to leave Addison alone, especially when he himself had barely spoken two words to her since dinner. “She isn’t your type.”
“I think she’s great. I really like her.”
Logan’s hair stood on end at the smirk on Nathan’s mouth.
“It wouldn’t matter whether I wanted her anyway … She’s in love with someone else.”
Logan’s blood ran cold. Philip.
The back door creaked open and Addison entered the kitchen. Logan thought she had changed her mind when she started to turn, but she stopped instead. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to interrupt. Your mom sent me in for the brownies.”
Nathan wasted no time walking toward her, but then slipped by her and flashed a mischievous grin toward him. “Logan will be glad to help you.”
“Yeah, they’re here somewhere,” Logan said as though her standing only a few feet from him wasn’t intoxicating. He scanned inside the refrigerator but found nothing. “I have no clue ...” He turned toward her. She held the platter in her hands. “Oh? You found them?”
“They’re still warm.”
Logan’s gaze fell to her mouth as her lips curled into an uneven line. “I guess we need some plates.” His mind raced as he pulled the plates from the cabinet. He ached to be alone with her, to get to know her. He wanted to somehow make up for his earlier behavior. But what did it matter? She was in love with Philip.
Had she told Nathan about him? Of course, she did. How else would Nathan have known?
“We may need a few more napkins too.”
They reached for the package at the same time. His hand brushed against hers and she pulled away quickly, her cheeks a stunning shade of pink.
“Thank you.” She rested her hand on his arm. “Your cheeseburger was really good.”
“I’m glad you liked it. Maybe we’ll do this again soon.” His words held a lighthearted tone, matching the weightlessness of being this close to her.
Her hand slipped away from his arm. “We better get these out there.”
“You have the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen.”
“Wow. That’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”
Bewitched, he lost focus, so consumed by her thick lashes surrounding those violet orbs, breaking him piece by piece from the inside out. Without restraint, his gaze wandered slowly, carefully, to the curve of her mouth. Her enchanted smile weakened, then faded completely.
He tore his gaze from hers. Finding no other excuse to keep standing there, he opened the door to let her pass as he salvaged what little focus remained.
But she stopped—in the doorway, leaving only inches between them, her gaze affixed to him. Her smile curved in a way that unleashed his pent-up desires all at once, quickly, leaving him breathless. “Thank you, Logan.”
His laugh came naturally, and he savored the sudden swell of relief as he followed Addison into the yard.
Sitting around the table with his family, Logan stared with ease even when Addison looked in his direction. A soft laugh escaped her lips, the sweet sound wrapping him in warmth. Nathan was right. She was great. And he couldn’t stop thinking about all she had said. How she wanted him to understand it had never been her intention to drink and drive. How it mattered to her that he knew the truth. She said nothing about blacking out, the actual cause of the accident, according to the report. And that still left unanswered questions. But all she had said made more sense than her partying and drinking and driving. There was nothing about her that would even remotely fit that description.
Looking at her now, watching her interact with his family, something within him stirred. She was a loving, goodhearted person, and the rest of his family had seen that from the very beginning. Logan listened with only one ear to the ongoing conversations the rest of the afternoon, his concentration absorbed with the girl. Until Ami invited her to the ballgame.
“Please come. It’s Monday at seven. Right Logan?”
My ballgame?
“I would love to. I haven’t been to a game this season.” Addison turned and faced him fully. “I’m anxious to see this pitcher I keep hearing about.”
Throat constricting, he coughed. “Trust me. There’s nothing special about him.”
Her breathtaking smile scrambled his thoughts. “I’ll be the judge of that.” She was flirting. Definitely flirting. “Thank y’all so much for having me and for the delicious dinner. It’s getting late, so I better get going.”
“I’ll walk you out.” The words tumbled from Logan’s mouth without his consent, but he had no choice. He couldn’t put off returning her notebook any longer. He closed the fence gate gently behind them. Addison’s curls bounced with each motion as they walked toward the front yard.
Logan stopped when he reached his truck.
She faced him and pulled her fingers through her hair, brushing the stray strands from her face. “How do you do it all?”
“What?”
“You’re a police officer. But you’re also taking college classes and playing college baseball.”
“Oh, that.” He could stand here all night talking to her. “There definitely isn’t much free time. So, I really enjoy times like this.”
“I bet.” Then she rested her hand on his arm. “Thank you again, Logan.”
The brief, unexpected touch imprinted her mark onto him even deeper. “Oh, I have something of yours.” Turning, Logan opened the passenger door and reached into his truck.
When he revealed the notebook, uncertainty washed across her face as she gasped.
“I picked it up by accident.”
Addison stared at her journal, seemingly speechless. What was he thinking? He should’ve never kept it this long. Especially after realizing what it was used for.
“I’m sorry,” he added, handing it to her. “It got mixed in with my books that day. The day we walked to the library.”
Her mortified gaze lifted to him, then returned quickly to her book. “I’ve been looking everywhere.”
“Addison, I—”
Her mobile ring tone blared through the moment.
She pulled her phone from her purse, glancing at the ID. Her brow furrowed before she pressed mute and dropped it back into her purse. He knew it was Philip. His name had flashed across the screen. A mixture of guilt and embarrassment splayed across her face. She belonged to someone else. Even though Philip didn’t deserve her, she was committed to him.
He hated that.
“I’m so glad you found this.” Her words didn’t match the edge in her voice. He’d read part of her journal and she knew it. “I better go.” She glanced over her shoulder with a strained smile. “I’ll see you later.”
Logan took her words for what they were. A brush-off. He had betrayed her. Not intentionally, but he had. And nothing he could say or do would change that.
11
On Monday, Addison reached the
Seahawks baseball stadium and searched for a seat near the front, but deep from centerfield’s view. It didn’t matter, Philip had already zeroed in on her. With an arrogant swagger, he crossed the short space separating the dugout from the stands at the same time Logan stepped onto the mound.
Philip getting the wrong impression hadn’t crossed her mind.
Until now.
That unleashed a whole new category of regret. Philip seeing her with Logan’s sister would complicate things even more. And she had never attended a Seahawks ballgame. Though blood drained from her face, she braced herself for the accusations he would hurl at her.
“What’re you doing here?” Philip slipped his fingers through the fence, his tone neither condemning nor welcoming. It was reserved and held tension. His smile rigid and detached.
“I’m not here to see you, Philip.” With a detached gaze, she edged deeper into the stadium seat. “But good luck.”
“I’m glad you’re here, baby. I needed my girl here today.” He winked, but there was no change in his demeanor. He remained aloof. “Wait for me after the game.”
It was a demand, not a request. She should’ve seen that coming. Addison mentally chastised herself. What was she thinking coming here? Of course, Philip would think she came for him. Was spending a few moments with Logan Tant from a distance worth the trouble she’d have undoing this mess she just created with Philip?
Her gaze stumbled past Philip as he departed and settled on the pitcher’s mound. The white uniform lined with navy blue stood out against Logan’s naturally tan skin. His dark brown hair curled out from underneath his ball cap. His movements were controlled, polished from throwing that little white ball thousands of times.
Her pulse tripled when she found Logan’s gaze on her. A thousand sensations rushed through her all at once, and his gentle smile caused her stomach to quiver in response. Within the safety of her unruly thoughts, Addison envisioned him coming over to her.
Shattered Treasure Page 8