"What's this?" She asked when I placed the hot brew in front of her.
"Lemon and ginger tea. It will help with that sore throat."
She reached for the cup and just before she brought it to her lips, my hands curled over hers to stop her. "You have to blow on it first, Sugar." Maybe there was something wrong with me, but I got a hell of a kick out of the way her eyes widened, and her breath hitched when I leaned in to cool the hot liquid down by gently blowing over it.
Knowing it was safer, I moved back to the counter to prepare toast and fruit for her. My back was turned to Harper, but I felt her questioning gaze on me. I prayed like hell that she didn't voice any of them because I didn't have answers.
When I was done, I placed the minimal spread in front of her. Her lips lifted into a soft smile as she eyed the food on the table. There weren't too many options when cooking for a sick person, so I settled on buttered toast and a small bowl of sliced fruit with apple juice.
I felt my own smile grow when she eagerly tucked into the food. It might've been my imagination, but I could've sworn the color returned to her cheeks with every bite she took.
When her plates were empty, I made the mistake of escorting her back to bed. Once she was safely tucked in and the pale yellow comforter pulled up to her chin, I had to resist the urge to climb in next to her and just hold her until she drifted off into a peaceful slumber. But when her eyes grew heavy and shut, I couldn't resist brushing my knuckles over her cheek.
Just as I turned to leave Harper called my name. Pausing at the door, I looked over my shoulder. Never had a woman looked so vulnerable.
"Yeah?" I rasped out.
"Thank you."
I couldn't answer her, that ache in my chest was back. Instead, I offered her a tight nod before stalking out of her house. Outside, I tilted my head to the open sky and released the breath I was holding.
My dad was right—you felt it in your bones.
I woke up with a start, and at once a cold sweat started at the base of my neck and rolled down my spine. It had nothing to do with being sick. In need of something to ground me, I hugged the comforter closer to my chest and willed my heart to slow down from its wild gallop.
How could I be so stupid? I shouldn't have let Logan in that morning, and definitely shouldn't have allowed him to take care of me—even if it was just for a couple of hours. There was something about the way he was with me that tugged so deep at my heart, it hurt.
His presence scraped at a wound that I'd rather have left closed. Despite having Flynn, I was lonely. Having Logan in my space when I didn't have the strength to put on my armor was absolutely disconcerting. It was whisper-soft, but I felt his fingers brush over my skin and for a stupid second, I wanted to turn my face into his touch.
Pushing into a seated position, I eyed my open bedroom door cautiously. I'd been sleeping most of the morning, so I had no idea if Logan came back or not. What I did know for sure was that I couldn't have him in my space.
Not now, maybe not ever.
When I was satisfied that I was alone in the house, I padded to the living room on my bare feet. I swear I could still smell his scent in the air. Or maybe it was just my mind playing tricks on me?
I hated how that man had crawled under my skin. Hated how he'd made me see all the things Flynn was missing out on. A sound from the door trapped my breath in my throat. I stood stock-still as I waited to see who was entering my home.
Relief blew over my lips when Flynn came charging toward me. It took me a moment to realize that I'd been sleeping almost the whole day.
"How was school?" I stooped and picked my boy up, planting a kiss on his cheek. Most of his mile-a-minute dialogue went straight over my groggy head, but judging by the huge smile on his face, he was happy.
"I brought you some soup," Lizzy said from the door holding up a brown bag. "Chicken nuggets and fries for Flynn."
"Yay!" Flynn's excited squeal brought a smile to both mine and Lizzy's lips.
"Go wash up," I told him when his feet touched the ground, he didn't waste any time, sprinting out of the living room without another word.
Lizzy squinted as I moved toward her to retrieve the food. "You okay?"
I took the bag from her and pretended to look through it, way too afraid of making eye contact. "Yeah, I just need to sleep the rest of whatever this is, off." Wasn't that the truth?
"Uhm…okay," she didn't sound convinced. "I'd stay but with Dawn not there-"
"Go," I interrupted her by placing my hand on her forearm. "Thank you for getting Flynn to school and back. I swear he'd rather give up his superhero collection than miss a day."
Lizzy patted my hand and hesitated for a second before saying goodbye and bounced down the steps. Once the door was locked, I headed for the kitchen expecting to find the morning's dishes.
It was spotless save for a paper bag with a note attached to it. I approached the damn thing as if it contained a bomb and by the way my heart was thundering, it thought so too.
Placing Lizzy's food next to it, I cautiously pulled the bag toward me, reading the note first.
Sugar, you need to eat and take two of these,
then back to bed with you.
Call me if you need anything.
Logan.
That silly flutter-ache was back. I didn't know if I wanted to laugh or cry at this man's sweetness. Why wasn't he making it easier for me not to want him?
When I opened the bag, I found a bottle of acetaminophen, two bottles of apple juice—one labeled for Flynn—and another note that said there was food in my fridge.
Still holding the second note, I rushed to open the fridge and sure enough soups, and fresh fruits lined my middle shelf. I closed the freaking thing faster than I opened it. This should feel like an enormous invasion of my privacy, but all I felt was this wave of emotion rushing over me.
My heart hurt, it genuinely ached. It scared me that all I wanted to do was curl into Logan's big chest and just be. It scared me even more that that feeling didn't lessen during dinner or Flynn's bedtime story.
It was absolutely terrifying that I was blankly staring at whatever was playing on the television and wondering what Logan was doing and who he was doing it with.
Just as a frown pulled my brows down, a knock sounded from the door. It was so sudden and unexpected it caused me to jump. A quick glance at the clock hanging above the TV told me it was just after 8 pm. Lizzy wouldn't show up before calling so who the hell was at the door.
I was careful not to make a sound as I tip-toed to the window next to the door. All the breath rushed from my lungs when I saw Logan. Legs spread wide, one hand rubbing the back of his neck and the other planted on the frame.
There was no way I could face him in this state. My defenses weren't strong enough. So I just stood like a coward and prayed he didn't see me when he knocked again. My heart stopped when his gaze flicked to the window where I was hiding.
Those dark brows of his formed a deep v above his eyes but then he slowly backed away and left.
If only these feelings were just as easy to shake, I'd be fine.
Harper was avoiding me.
I'd seen her shadowed silhouette at the window a few minutes ago. Why was she avoiding me? Did I intrude by leaving her the medicine and food? Should I have left it on her porch instead?
Shit!
These thoughts were driving me insane and sitting alone in the dark wasn't helping matters much. With a frustrated groan, I pushed to my feet and grabbed my jacket before I rushed out of my house.
I hunched into the leather as I dragged the zipper up and eyed my bike. I wasn't going to need it. I planned on getting drunk off my ass.
If she wouldn't leave, I'd drink her out of my damned brain.
With every step I took, Harper's unguarded eyes flashed before me. Why did she keep those six-foot walls up all the damn time? I came to an abrupt halt as a thought struck me. Was she guarding her heart because someone had hurt her? Was
that the reason why Flynn's daddy wasn't in the picture?
More damned questions. I needed a reprieve.
As I pulled the door to Joe's bar open, I made a vow to myself: I'd drink until I was too far gone to think about Harper and her son. The bar had been here for as long as anyone could remember. The owner, Caleb, had inherited it from his uncle and didn't see any reason into changing the name, or the décor for that matter.
The off-white floor beneath my boots had seen better days as did the light-wood bar that ran the length of the building. In the furthest corner from the door stood three pool tables and an old jukebox. The rest of the space held a few tables and chairs that were rarely occupied as everyone was either seated at the bar or busy with a game.
As I made my way to the far end, I spotted Brett in deep conversation with Lola, the bartender. As her name suggested she looked like a pin-up from a 50s magazine—dark hair, bright red lips—she also sported some incredible ink on her arms, and her body as her black crop top suggested.
I was half tempted to turn around and walk out of the bar. I was in no mood to pick up the conversation Brett and I had had a few days ago. Like Harper was avoiding me, I'd been avoiding my best friend.
"Haven't seen you in ages! The usual?" I cocked my head to the right to find Caleb grinning at me. Too late to leave now.
"Yeah, the usual," I said as I slid onto the nearest stool. "And a shot of tequila too."
Caleb's blonde brows shot up in surprise. "It's one of those nights?" Without waiting for an answer he moved away to fill my drink order while I turned my attention back to Brett and Lola.
It was no secret that those two were leaving the bar together tonight, and it was also no secret that Brett would be leaving with someone else tomorrow night. At that moment right there, I envied my friend. I'd give just about anything to go back to a place where I could engage in a meaningless tryst.
A place before Harper.
That woman was screwing with my mind in the cruelest way. She'd given me just enough for me to know that there's something there and then she'd shut down. It was like dangling a piece of meat just out of reach of a starved lion.
Before my mind went down this hell-path again, Caleb placed my stout and shot on a coaster and moved it toward me. As soon as it was within reach, I grabbed the tequila and threw it down my throat, marveling in the burn—now was not the time to mess about with salt and lemon.
"Another," I tapped the glass twice against the wooden surface then held it out for Caleb to refill.
"Funny seeing you here since I haven't seen you at the shop in a few days." Brett had abandoned his flirtation with Lola and made himself comfortable next to me.
Refusing to look at him I focused on the bottles of alcohol neatly stacked behind the bar while I grunted a greeting.
Brett stayed quiet for a long minute before I sensed him lean closer. "Look, man, about the other day-"
"Leave it." My mood left a lot to be desired, and I really didn't want to get into it with my friend, not when all I kept seeing were those unguarded eyes and tiny frame asleep in her bed. Impatiently I tapped the shot glass again. "Can I get another bloody shot?"
To my complete surprise, neither Brett nor Caleb said anything about my tone. They did share a look though. After another tequila burned its way down my throat, I turned to face the man I'd come to think of as a brother.
He spoke before I even had a chance to open my mouth, "I didn't know it was like that." He dragged his fingers through his hair and gave me a pointed look.
I knew what he meant. Brett had told me once that he'd met the woman he was supposed to spend the rest of his life with a long time ago. He'd said that the first day he'd seen her; he'd known she was going to be his. I don't know what happened between them. Whatever it was had landed him in jail.
That's where we met.
"Yeah well," I brought my stout to my lips and took a deep swallow, trying my best not think of how the rich dark color reminded me of Harper's hair.
"I don't know what the deal is with the two of you," Brett said from behind his beer. "But I do know that you're not one to give up. And usually, when there isn't a way, you make one."
If ever I had a moment of clarity, this was it. Discarding the rest of my drink I stood and smacked Brett on the back.
I threw a "Thanks man" over my shoulder as I headed back out. I was going to bulldoze my way straight through those six-foot walls.
Sugar, I'm coming for you!
"You sure you should be here?"
"I'm fine," I said to Chase as I closed the door behind me. "Besides, I'll go nuts if I spend another day in bed." Yeah, I'd go nuts thinking about Logan.
"At least we won't be too busy today. I'm heading out to the farms in about two hours." Chase always took one day a month to visit some of the farms to make sure the animals were still fine. I nodded as Chase pulled his cell phone from his pocket and fired off a text.
As I busied myself with starting up my computer and getting the few patient files of the day ready, I spotted the care package that Chase always made up when someone adopted a pet. "Did one of the animals get a forever home?"
For some reason, Chase looked sheepish when he answered. "Uh…yeah, they did." Refusing to meet my eyes he rubbed the back of his neck and eyed the door.
"Who?"
"Huh?"
I planted my hands on my hips and glared at him. "Which one of the pets is leaving us?"
Before he could answer, the door chimed and the first patient and their owner came waltzing through. Chase looked like he'd just dodged a bullet. Shaking my head at his weird behavior I greeted Mrs. Henderson and her Husky-Labrador-mix.
Five animal patients later Chase stalked out of the clinic with a brusque goodbye. Funny how my mind wandered to Logan the moment it was able to. I'd spent most of the night tossing and turning and feeling bad. But unfortunately, there was no way for me to tell him that I wasn't just hiding from him. I was hiding from everything he was making me feel.
I was wrong when I compared how I felt around Logan with how I had felt around Drew. Everything was magnified with Logan. I'd never fantasized about Drew the way I had with my big, tatted neighbor.
For a brief moment, I allowed myself to imagine a scenario where I actually gave in to what Lizzy had been suggesting and jump into bed with Logan without any consequences.
Oh, I was pretty sure those big hands would take their time smoothing over my skin. Goosebumps popped up all over as I imagined the scrape of his beard and the feeling of his mouth on mine.
I was trying to get a grip on my thoughts when the bell chimed. As if my sex-filled imagination had conjured him up, Logan filled the doorway.
The jeans and navy tee, that stretched over his broad chest, just served to send my mind straight back to where it was a moment ago.
Sex!
Hot and dirty sex with a hot and dirty mechanic.
Ugh, I needed help!
I expected him to come ambling toward me with that swagger of his, but he didn't. He stayed rooted in place while his eyes took in every detail of me that was visible. Under the table, I rubbed my, suddenly clammy, palms together in my lap.
By the way, his lips curled into a side-smile I got the feeling he knew exactly how he affected me. With his gaze locked onto mine, Logan stalked to where I was sitting. My throat clogged up more with every step he took.
His scent floated around me and took up residence in my lungs before his large frame dropped into one of the chairs adjacent to my desk.
Perched on the chair with his legs spread wide and his arm resting along the back of the chair next to him, his focus was still on me. His lips still curved into that sinful grin that I either wanted to smack or kiss off.
"Shouldn't you be in bed, Sugar?" That sentence said in his raspy voice took on a whole new meaning and did things to my insides.
Thankful for the ability to seem unfazed I said, "I'm doing better today. No need to lazy around at home."<
br />
"Hmm," Logan ran a hand over his beard and regarded me for a long second. "Or maybe you're afraid I'd show up again? Do I scare you, Sugar?"
Yes! Yes, you do.
"Now why would you scare me, Logan?" I heard the slight trip in my voice and I was certain he did too, but to my surprise, he said nothing. With the silence between us becoming rather uncomfortable I asked, "Was there a specific reason you stopped by today?"
His smile was back in full force. "There was, actually." He checked the chunky black leather watch on his wrist and then eyed the door before turning those eyes on me again. "I'm here for lunch and to pick up Dozer."
"Lunch? Chase isn't here." It took a moment for my brain to register that he was the one adopting and that Chase had conveniently neglected to tell me. It was Logan's next words that confirmed my suspicion that my boss was setting me up.
"Not looking for my brother. We're having lunch. You and me, Sugar."
The door opened at the same time as my mouth did to speak and in came a smiling Jimmy, Lizzy's delivery boy. With my mouth ajar I stared as Logan stood and handed a few notes to the scrawny kid before retrieving the bag.
When it was just me, Logan, and my overactive imagination left in the suddenly too small waiting room, he sauntered toward my desk looking very pleased with himself.
"What's this?" I asked as he silently unpacked the food.
Two sandwiches, two pink milkshakes and two slices of pecan pie were spread out in front of me when Logan finally spoke.
"Told ya, lunch." Mirth sparkled in those whiskey eyes and damn if it wasn't melting my resolve. He dragged one of the chairs closer and seated himself across from me. His smile was so infectious, I found myself returning it.
"You'd better eat up. You're gonna need all your strength, Sugar." He pushed a sandwich in front of me followed by the milkshake and pie. I didn't pick it up immediately, I just stared at him with wide eyes.
Shattered (Willow Creek Book 1) Page 6