When Chase had just hired me, Eli had come charging in asking his brother how he could hire some random stranger without knowing anything about them or doing a background check. Sheriff Jackson had said that I could be a dangerous psychopath for all they knew. He'd said all of that and more right in front of me.
"Well, at least he is soft on the eyes. Like all the Jackson men." Lizzy picked up my discarded food and began picking at it. "Maybe there's something in that creek at their parents' farm, because honestly, how the hell can three men be that good looking?"
Nodding my head, I hummed in agreement. Lizzy wasn't wrong; all three men were esthetically blessed. With their tall and lean bodies, dark eyes and even darker hair, they stole attention wherever they went. But Logan, he stole the whole damn show. Where his brothers were more conservative, Logan was loud. He wasn't ashamed to show off his colorful ink, every strand of hair didn't need to be in place, and his shirt didn't have to be tucked in all the time.
I actually envied his rebellious nature. The trouble I'd landed in when I'd first met Drew wasn't because I was being defiant, it had been because I was hungry and the owner of the restaurant had had a stone in place of a heart. When my parents died, I jumped from foster home to foster home, but none of them wanted a teenager.
I was hurting because I'd lost my family and wasn't given the time to deal with my feelings. So yeah, I might have been brooding a bit, but I never caused anyone any trouble, and still, no one had been willing to keep me. Running away possibly wasn't the smartest thing to do, but I couldn't take feeling unwanted.
"Earth to Harper."
Hearing my name, I blinked a couple of times and when my eyes regained focus, I saw Lizzy snapping her fingers in front of my face.
"Where did you just go?"
"Nowhere," As much as I cared for Lizzy I didn't want her knowing about my past, I didn't want anyone to know. So, I did what I did best: deflected. "Well? Who are you sleeping with?"
Lizzy smiled a smile that had me thinking I wasn't going to like what was about to come out of her mouth. "I'll tell you, but you have to do something for me first."
I knew what she was going to say, yet, I still asked, "What?"
"Take one night off from your life. Go out with Logan or better yet, stay in with him. Let him blow your mind. It'll be good for you."
I felt the irritation rush through my veins. "Let it go," I bit out.
Lizzy looked like she was about to argue, but the chiming bell saved me from that. I'd just made a friend, and I didn't want to fight with her, but if she kept pushing this, we were definitely going to have words.
Chase looked about as stormy as I felt, stalking through the office with a deep frown marring his forehead.
"I'd better get going," this coming from Lizzy next to me. In the time it took me to look at her, Chase had disappeared down the hall and closed himself off in his office.
"Okay," I said to Lizzy. "Thanks for lunch."
"No problem," Lizzy stood and squeezed my arm. "I'll pick you and Flynn up later?"
"Please."
Once I was alone again, I heaved out a sigh. Maybe I was being absolutely ridiculous. If everyone in this town was right about Logan, he would be open to nothing more than meaningless sex. The thing was, I didn't think I could keep it meaningless. These things that he made me feel scared me. And If I was to share my body with him, who knew what it'd do to me.
The one thing I knew for sure was that I didn't want to find out.
The sound of the phone ringing prevented me from not heading too far into my own mind. Maybe for the best. Reaching to my right, I grabbed the receiver and pressed it against my ear.
"WC Veterinary Clinic, how can I help?"
"Hey, sugar."
Straight away my stupid heart kick-started at the sound of his voice and his ridiculous endearment. For the life of me, I didn't know why the man called me that, I didn't want to ask either.
"You still there?"
"Yes, I'm here. Are you looking for Chase?"
"Nope. You."
"Oh."
I felt his chuckle vibrate through my entire body. "Listen, it's gonna be a while before your Nissan is drivable again."
A defeated sigh passed over my lips, I didn't want to put Lizzy out any more than I already have. I know she wouldn't mind, but she had her own life to get to, which apparently included a new man.
"If I put a rush order in, the parts should be here within the week, and your car fixed come Monday. I just have to run the costs of the parts by you before I order."
A very heavy weight settled on my shoulders. If there was one thing I didn't have, it was savings, except for my emergency money. But that money was there in case I needed to take Flynn and run on a moment's notice. I would never touch it.
"How much?" I asked Logan. When he gave me the amount, I nearly fell off my chair. I needed a car and to pay for this, I wouldn't be able to save any money this month. Tilting my head toward the ceiling, I squeezed my eyes shut and inhaled deeply. "Put in the order."
"Alright," there was a pause on the other end before he let out a slow breath. "Talk to you soon."
The way he said it made it sound more like a prayer than a statement, but I could just respond with, "Okay."
I didn't have too much time to dwell on Logan or the way his sexy voice rolled over my skin like a caress because the clinic was fairly busy. By the time five o'clock rolled around, I was too happy to call it a day.
That was until I looked up and saw Logan standing in the door, looking pretty much like sex on legs. Yeah, that analogy might be cringe-worthy, but it was fitting. Looking at him the only thing I could think about was sex!
From his denim-clad legs right to the tips of his windswept hair, the man oozed sex. There was no hiding his toned, muscular chest beneath his skin-tight black tee. But even all of that couldn't compare to the way he looked at me. The intensity behind his gaze turned me into a puddle of want and had all sorts of elicit images forming in my brain.
Running my clammy palms down my khaki shirt, I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Chase is in the back," I said, throwing my thumb over my right shoulder.
"I'm here for you."
"For me? What for?"
Logan answered by pushing off the frame and stalking toward me. Robbing me of my senses when he stopped in front of my desk, and I inhaled his scent. There was just something about a man smelling like a man and not a perfume shop.
"I've got something for you." One side of his mouth curled into the most sinful grin.
Is it thick, hard and long? Goodness, there was something seriously wrong with me. I needed to get home and have a little alone time.
"Good news?" How I managed to ask that with a straight face with everything going on in my brain, I would never know.
"Well, sort of. Fixin' up your Nissan is going to be a while, but," Logan reached behind him and pulled something from his back pocket. Dangling the shiny piece of metal in front of me, he smiled that full-on smile that did things to me. "You need to get around, right?"
When I eventually realized what he was saying, I shook my head. "I couldn't-"
Logan silenced me by grabbing my hand and placing the key in my palm before wrapping my fingers around it. "You can and you will." His voice was soft , but his rasp had the slightest edge to it, and his hand was still firmly wrapped around my closed fist.
My gaze dropped to our connected hands, and I was instantly taken back to that moment in my kitchen last night. I was fairly certain, if Flynn hadn't shown up, I would have given in. Slowly shifting my gaze to his, I found those deep whiskey eyes fixed on me, studying me.
"You don't have to do this." I meant the car and the way he was looking at me as if I was some priceless piece of art. I wasn't. I was the damaged product you returned for a refund. Defective.
"We've just covered this, Sugar. You're driving my truck till I get your car fixed."
"Your truck?!" Shocked, I snatched my hand out
of his and uncurled my fingers so I could offer him his key back. "I thought you were lending me a car from your shop. I can't take your truck. What will you-"
Again, Logan folded my fingers over the key. "I have my bike. Now stop arguing, we have to pick up Flynn."
"We?"
"Yes, Sugar, we. You're gonna have to give me a ride home."
I was out of options, and I would have said anything to get him to stop touching me. Because every time he did, electricity zipped through my veins. I didn't want to be dealing with these… feelings. I had enough to worry about as it stood.
Like the way my boy's face lit up when he saw Logan, or how he couldn't stop talking to Logan on the drive home. How was it possible that Flynn felt so comfortable with this man we barely knew, and I so uncomfortable? So out of my element.
When we pulled to a stop in my driveway, I couldn't get out of the truck fast enough. I watched as Flynn high-fived Logan before sprinting up the steps. The thing that caught me was the way he was looking at my son. There was longing all over his face and for a split second, I wanted to take his face in between my palms and kiss that look away.
Whoa.
When he looked my way and his gaze locked onto mine, I was unable to look away. My heart started beating at an alarming pace as he moved toward me. When he was so close that I could feel the warmth of his body fill the space between us, he made a move to reach for my hand but stopped mid-way.
Holding the key to his truck up between us, he said, "You two have a good night now."
Like the idiot he'd turned me into, I just nodded and took the key from him. When he made no move to walk away, I managed to croak out a weak, "Thank you… for the truck."
Logan's eyes narrowed and roved over my face before he gave me that smile again. "Anytime, Sugar." With that, he turned and finally gave me breathing room. But no matter what I did I couldn't get that smile out of my mind.
It was the smile I saw late that night when I slipped into a deep sleep filled with fever dreams.
I was pretty sure it would be that same smile that would shatter me into a million pieces too.
Useless.
Trying to sleep with Harper making her rounds in my brain was useless. Figuring that woman out was just as useless. There was no mistaking the fact that there was at least a mutual attraction between us, but for reasons she alone knew, Harper wasn't acting on them.
I'd seen the little hitch in her breath a few days ago when I'd given her the keys to my truck. I knew she'd felt the same electrifying feeling I had when our hands touched. Of course, it had me imagining how intense it would be if I sank into the warmth of her body and felt her breath on my skin.
I pushed my head back into my pillow and stared at my ceiling, images of Harper immediately blurring my vision. I imagined her looking at me with affection, smiling brightly. Her big, green eyes shining as she leaned in and kissed me. I swear I could even feel her lips yield to mine.
My ears were filled with the sound of my name on her lips in a breathless whisper. If you thought my fantasies about Harper only involved the physical stuff, you'd be dead wrong. I wanted everything! I wanted her mind, body, and soul.
Tired, irritated, and mostly confused I shoved the sheets off me and stalked to my bathroom where I washed my hands and splashed my face with cold water. With my fingers curled around the edge of the cold porcelain, I locked eyes with myself in the mirror. "The hell are you doing?"
I didn't know anymore. There was a small part of me that wondered if I'd still be this obsessed with Harper if she didn't have a son. I would like to think it wouldn't have made a difference. Sighing heavily, I pushed off the basin and decided I needed a change of clothes then coffee and advice.
With my coffee in hand and my cell pressed against my ear, I stared out of my kitchen window. I wasn't bothered that I was calling at 6 am because I knew the man I was phoning was awake. I wasn't wrong because he answered on the second ring.
"It's early, son. Is everything alright?"
And that was Charles Jackson for you, no-nonsense and straight to the point.
"Nothing wrong, Pop. Just wanted to check in."
Dad's chuckle was chased by a bout of coughing; no doubt he'd been smoking in secret again. "If you'd wanted to check in," he eventually said when the fit was over. "You'd have climbed in your truck and done it in person. What's bothering you, Logan?"
I squeezed my eyes shut. The times I'd had a heart to heart with my dad could be counted on one hand. I wasn't the type of person to spill my guts or ask for advice. But if anyone could help me make sense of this storm brewing inside me, it was Pop.
"How did you know that momma was the one for you?" I asked, almost whispering the question. I fully expected my dad to give me the third degree or make fun of me.
He didn't do either of those things.
"Well, son. I knew the moment I laid eyes on her that she was my missing piece. I felt it in my bones. I was sweaty from cleaning her daddy's stables and most likely didn't smell too good either, but she still offered me a kind smile and a glass of lemonade." I felt an ache in my chest as my dad's voice took on a wistful tone. I wanted that. I wanted what my parents had.
But I couldn't have all of it, though.
My dad's rich chuckle reached my ears and forced my attention back to what he was saying. "Of course she didn't know it then. That momma of yours made me work for it."
"But it was worth it."
"Yes, son. It most certainly was." There was a pause and then, "I know this has something to do with that lady working at your brother's clinic-"
"Pop."
"Just listen, Logan. I won your momma's heart because I believed I could. I didn't have the money or status her daddy had, but that didn't stop me. You understand what I'm saying, son?"
My dad's words hit me hard. He'd touched on the one thing I'd never voiced. I didn't believe I deserved to be happy. And I sure as hell wasn't worthy of a woman like Harper. It didn't stop me from wanting her, though.
"Got it, pop." My voice was strained as I was struggling with the sudden emotional clog in my throat.
My dad seemed to understand this, because he cleared his throat and asked, "You coming to dinner on Friday?"
"Wouldn't miss it."
We said our goodbyes, and I was left staring into my half-empty coffee mug, mulling over dad's words. Was it really that simple?
I still didn't have an answer when I stepped out of the shower an hour later. My buzzing phone prevented me from dwelling on it for a while longer. Wrapping a towel around my waist, I hurried to answer it.
"You still got that thing for Harper?" Chase's voice vibrated through the line.
The scowl meant for my brother was aimed at the carpet beneath my feet. "I'm hanging up."
As I pulled the phone from my ear, I heard my brother's voice, "Wait!"
"What?" It came out as annoyed as I felt.
"If you're still trying to get closer to her, I might have something that can help."
That got my attention. I didn't care if he was yanking my chain or not, I eagerly asked, "Yeah?"
"She called in sick a few minutes ago."
My frown was back. "How's that going to help me? I'm not a damn doctor."
"No, but she sounds very off. She's going to need someone to help out around the house today."
"Lizzy's probably doing it."
"I asked, Lizzy is going to pick up Flynn and take him to school, but she has to be at the diner because Dawn's not there."
Sure enough, the wheels started to turn and what Chase was saying sank in. Whatever else he said didn't register at all. It couldn't because my brain was running in a million different directions. I vaguely remember saying bye to my brother and getting dressed.
Even grabbing food from my fridge and cupboards were done in a haze. It was only when I was standing in front of Harper's front door that clarity seeped in, along with doubt.
What the hell was I going to say? I couldn't
lead with: 'Hey Chase called and told me you were sick, so I thought I'd swing by and take care of you.'
Yeah, that didn't sound creepy at all.
Hiking the grocery bag a bit higher, I scanned my surroundings until my eyes landed on my truck and I was presented with an answer.
More confident than I had been a few moments ago, I raised my hand and tapped my knuckles against the wood. Shifting my weight from one foot to the other, I waited for her to open the door and let me in.
Figuratively and physically.
Nothing could have prepared me for the sight of her, though. How could someone look so terrible and so beautiful at the same time? Her skin was pale and clammy and her eyes less vibrant with purple patches beneath them. Her nose was a deep red, and her plump lips were chaffed.
That didn't stop me from wanting to wrap my arms around her and cradle her close to my chest.
"Logan." Her voice was hoarse, possibly from coughing through the night. I felt the frown form on my forehead. I didn't get sick often, but you can bet your ass that, when I did my momma would be there doting on me. How many sick nights did Harper have to face alone?
"What are you doing here?"
Damned be any excuse I'd wanted to feed her; I wasn't going to lie. I brought my hand up and smoothed it over my beard. "Chase told me you were sick." I jerked my head in the direction of the groceries in my arm. "I'm here to help."
One thing a sick Harper couldn't do was hide her expressions, and it was amazing to see any form of emotion run over her features. Seeing those green eyes absolutely unguarded stole my breath.
Her brows pulled together, and I could see a million questions dance behind her eyes. But she settled for one, "H-help me?"
I took a tentative step closer. "Yeah, Sugar. Now open up and let me take care of you." I meant that in more than one way. I wanted to tend to every single one of Harper's needs, and I wanted her to want me to.
"Okay." Her response was whisper-soft, and I would've missed it if she hadn't stepped aside to allow me entry.
There was no question that having me in her space made her nervous. That was evident by the way she was tightly hugging herself. She'd refused to go to bed and leave me alone in her kitchen, so now she was sitting on one of the dining room chairs that I'd brought in for her, watching me closely.
Shattered (Willow Creek Book 1) Page 5