Between You and Me

by Jennifer Gracen

  “We all love you, Tess,” Charles said. “We’ll always need you. You’re our only sister, and our trusted friend. Sure, we’ve grown to count on you, because the four of us are a team. But we adore you. Hell, Dane named his hotel after you, for Pete’s sake. You’re our best girl. Always will be.”

  Tess didn’t say anything, but something in her warmed at his words.

  Charles continued, “No one’s begrudging you having something for yourself. We’re just concerned because it’s unusual behavior for you, and I know there’s something behind it. Something specific is driving this and you’re not telling me. I’d bet that ski house on it.”

  She bit down on her lip. He knew her too well. “I’m fine. I promise you that.”

  “Nice deflection. It only confirms my suspicions, Tess,” he said. “But I’ll respect your privacy for now.” He grunted softly in frustration. She could hear him shuffling papers, likely at his desk. “I don’t know what’s going on now any more than when you picked up the phone, and that bothers the hell out of me. But I hope you know—I thought you did—that I’m here for you always, when you’re ready to tell me whatever’s going on. I am, Dane and Pierce are, even Lisette, Julia, and Abby would be. We all love you.”

  “I hear you,” Tess said. “And I love you all too. Now stop worrying about me.”

  “Well, now that you’re at least answering your calls, I feel a drop better,” Charles said. “But only a drop.”

  “You’ll be fine,” Tess assured him. “How are the kids, big ones and baby one?”

  “Everyone’s fine. But I think Charlotte misses her favorite aunt.”

  “Aww, my little bean. I miss her too.” Tess heard the slam of a heavy door outside, likely a truck, and realized it was probably Logan. Her heart gave a strange tiny flutter at the thought of him. “Look, I have to go. Logan Carter just got here.”

  “Ah, Logan. Good to know he’s around. Tell him hello for me.” Charles paused. “You sure you’re all right?”

  “Stop mothering me!” Tess said with a laugh. “That’s my job, being the mother hen of the family.”

  “Well, with you leaving town,” Charles said, “guess I’ll have to pick up that title for a while. I am the oldest.”

  “Go for it. If you want to wear the tiara, it’s somewhere in my basement.” Tess sat up just as the doorbell rang. “Talk to you soon, sweetie. Gotta run.”

  “Yes, we will talk again soon,” Charles said. “Take care.”

  “I will. You too.” She set down the phone beside her water glass on the coffee table, then went to answer the door.

  “Hey, Tess,” Logan said with a twitch of a grin. “Just wanted to let you know I’m here, so when you hear noises out back you won’t worry.”

  “Hi yourself. Okay.” She did a quick once-over. The ends of his thick blond hair peeked out from beneath a navy wool cap, brushing just past his strong chin, and he wore his usual work attire of hoodie under his royal-blue jacket, jeans, and work boots. His ruddy cheeks and gloves on his hands were the only things that hinted he might be cold, though it hadn’t even reached thirty degrees that day. “Long day at work?”

  “Same as usual,” he said. “No big shakes. How are you? You settling in okay?”

  “Yes, I am, thanks.” She swept her hair back from her face. “Can I get you a drink? Some water, or hot tea?”

  “No, thanks, I have water in the truck,” he said. “Just gonna take out the trash, then check your wood supply.”

  “I haven’t lit a fire yet,” she said. “I’ve been out as much as in. Maybe tonight. But hey, I went by the yoga center. You were right, what a difference! It’s so much bigger!”

  He nodded, his breath forming as white puffs against the cold air.

  “I saw Sami-Jo, she was glad you sent me,” Tess continued.

  At that, he grinned. “Cool. She’s a sweet lady.”

  “She really is.” Tess leaned her hip against the door frame. “I’m going to have a one-on-one with a trainer, Susan, who’ll come up here to the house for that, and I’ll go there to take classes twice a week with Carrie. Do you know either of them? You seem to be like the town mayor.”

  For a split second, she caught a strange look in his light green eyes . . . like he’d been caught at something, maybe? But he merely said, “Yeah, I know Carrie. Susan’s new, I guess. Good luck with all that.”

  Something about that quick, odd look intrigued Tess, and she wanted to keep him talking. “Thanks. I take yoga classes at home, but I’m upping it here with the extra personal session. I feel so good after I’ve done it. You ever done any yoga?”

  “Me?” He laughed, making the creases by his eyes crinkle appealingly. “Hell no. But I hear people who do it love it.”

  “I guess you get enough of a workout just doing your job day to day,” Tess said.

  “Some days I do.” He adjusted his hat a little, pushing strands of his long blond hair away from his eyes. “I still hit the gym a few times a week for weights and some cardio. Yoga, that’s just not my thing. But kudos to you for doing it. Any physical activity is good.”

  “Agreed.” She had a fleeting vision of him lifting weights in the gym, his biceps straining and sweat dripping down his neck . . . It was a delicious thought. “I want to hit the slopes next week, but I also love long walks. In fact, I went hiking myself this morning before I went into town. I’ll do that two or three times a week, I think.”

  “Wait, you went up the mountain? By yourself?”

  “Yessss,” she said. She stepped back and held out her arms to give him a full view of her. “And as you can see, I made it back just fine. This city girl can take care of herself.”

  “Well. We’ve covered that before.” He scrubbed a hand over his face and something in his eyes shuttered. The change in his demeanor surprised her. He’d gone from teasing to something dark so quickly. It made the joking smile slide off her face.

  He cleared his throat and said, “I’d better get to work. Just wanted to get it done before sunset, and I’ve got about”—he glanced up at the sky, shades of deep blue with hints of pink in the wispy clouds—“maybe half an hour of decent light left.”

  She simply nodded. “I won’t keep you, then. Thank you, Logan.”

  “Yup. Glad to hear you’re settling in fine. Talk to you soon.” He turned away and went down the steps. “Have a good night,” he called over his shoulder before heading around the side of the house.

  “You too,” she called back before closing the door. He used to be friendlier to her, and it ate at her . . . She wished she knew if she’d said or done something to offend him.

  Bubbles came scampering to her, yipping and wagging her tail. Tess crouched to pet her and cooed, “Are you hungry, little miss? Do I need to feed you now?”

  Bubbles barked and wiggled in response.

  “Okay, Bubs. C’mon, let’s feed you.” Tess walked through to the kitchen, her mind preoccupied with thoughts about the ruggedly gorgeous blond man out in her backyard. The more she learned about him, it seemed, the more there was to learn. She was definitely intrigued enough to find out. He interested her, it was that simple. Logan Carter was more complicated and layered than he seemed. She’d seen flashes of gruff or guarded moments, enough to suspect that his easygoing, self-assured outside was hiding something darker and more compelling inside. Somehow, over her time there, maybe she could get him to tell her his story.

  Chapter Four

  Logan got back to his apartment at seven, having put in a full day. He’d gotten up at six thirty to hit the gym for a workout, then gone to several houses over the course of the day. All in all, the day had flown by and he couldn’t complain.

  After a quick shower, he changed into a soft gray sweatshirt and navy track pants, then stretched out on his living room couch to relax for a few minutes before deciding which movie to watch that night. A few rays of moonlight shone through the far windows, slanting lines of light onto his dark brown walls. He pillowed h
is arms behind his head and considered his current life.

  Things were fine. No drama, no angst, everything on a pretty even keel. His quiet life kept him busy, he helped people, and he was doing honest work and getting paid decently for it. His schedule was his to manage, his boss treated him well, and his clients, for the most part, were respectful and glad to have him around. It was the simple, quiet life he’d once longed for, and grateful he had now.

  Being on his own was what was best for him. He almost never thought of Rachel anymore, which was how it should be. She was out there living her life, and he was living his. He dated sporadically, never letting it get too deep or complicated. Yes, women approached him, but except for an occasional night here and there, he preferred his solitude. He’d carefully crafted his post–New Orleans life that way. Fewer ties meant fewer people to hurt or disappoint.

  He had friends here, a small handful which suited him fine; he’d never been comfortable as part of a big social circle anyway. His older brother had married right out of college and gone to live near his wife’s family out in Portland; Shane only came to Aspen once a year now, usually in summer, when his four kids were off from school. Long ago, Logan had made peace with the fact that they led very different lives. Sometimes he thought of his dad and missed him, but that was normal, especially around the holidays.

  Just the other day, on Christmas, Logan commented how he couldn’t believe it’d been twenty-three years now since his dad had passed. His mom had sighed and nodded . . . She also keenly felt every one of those twenty-three Christmases she’d spent without him. She’d been so devoted to Wyatt Carter that even though a car crash had left her a widow at forty-two, she’d never married again.

  Logan sighed and closed his eyes. His mom. The cancer seemed to be winning. She wasn’t keeping any weight on, and her eyes were tired. The doctors tried to maintain a positive outlook, but deep down, he knew better. Would she live to see another Christmas? He had a sinking feeling the answer was no, which was why he’d tried to make it extra special for her this year. But he refused to ruminate on that. Annmarie Carter was a fighter. She’d fight to the last, whenever that would be.

  Mercifully, as if to distract him from speculating on that any further, his cell phone rang and he gladly lifted it from the wooden coffee table. A glance at the caller ID made his brows lift, curiosity sparking. “Carter,” he answered, as he always did.

  “Hi,” came her voice, always so elegant yet friendly at the same time. The people’s princess. “It’s Tess Harrison.”

  “So my caller ID says,” he said. “What can I do for you?”

  “I hate to bother you in the evening,” she said, “but I’m trying not to panic.” Only then did he pick up on a note of distress in her tone. “I have a—a situation here, and I don’t know what to do. You were the first person I thought to call. Unless I should just call the fire department.”

  “What?” Logan bolted upright into a sitting position. “What’s going on?”

  “I don’t know what I did.” She sounded embarrassed, as if admitting the words were torturous. “I don’t think the house is on fire . . . but it’s filled up with smoke. I—”

  “Get out of the house!” he shouted. Alarm flooded him as he jumped to his feet. “Are you okay? What happened?”

  “I’m fine, I’m out in front of the house,” she said. “I lit a fire in the fireplace for the first time, and within five minutes, the house filled with smoke. I grabbed Bubbles and got out. I’m surprised you can’t hear the smoke alarms going off.”

  He listened for a second. “Actually, now I can.” Swearing under his breath, he headed for the bedroom. “Sure you’re all right?”

  “We’re cold, but fine. Honestly.”

  “Okay.” He shucked off his track pants with one hand and grabbed a pair of jeans. He wanted heavier pants, with pockets. Something occurred to him. “Tess, did you open the flue before you started the fire?”

  “What?” Horror filled her voice. “No. No, I didn’t. I forgot. Ah shit!”

  At least he had an idea of what the problem was. “Stay outside,” he told her. “I’m pretty sure your house isn’t on fire, but call the fire department. I’ll be there as soon as I can, under fifteen minutes.” Disconnecting the call, he rushed around his small house, gathering his keys, wallet, and phone, pulling on his heaviest coat and his hat. It was under twenty degrees out right now . . . ah hell, he hoped she was okay. And the house too. It was a beautiful house, it’d be a shame if it got damaged. On his way to the door, he stopped. Eyeing the extra fleece blanket he kept in a basket by the couch, he grabbed it to bring along, just in case.

  He raced through the streets, driving like a madman around the winding path up Red Mountain, and made it to her house in nine minutes flat. His headlights floated over her as he pulled into her long driveway, gliding over her red parka and a ball of white fluff in her arms before he cut them. The sensor lights over the front door gave more than enough light as he ran to her. Heart rate definitely up, he gripped her shoulders to quickly examine her. “You’re okay?”

  “I’m fine,” she said over Bubbles’s barking at him. Her nose and cheeks were pink from the frigid night air. “Just cold, and feeling incredibly stupid.”

  Time was ticking, every second needed. He jogged back to the truck, reached in for the blanket, and returned to her. “I’m going inside to check it out. You are staying here,” he said as he wrapped the blanket around her shoulders. He wished it were bigger, but it was better than nothing. “This’ll help for now.”

  Her big blue eyes locked on his face. “Thank you. That’s very kind of you.”

  He made sure to tuck the end of the blanket around the dog, who licked his hand and yipped. “Did you call the fire department?” As soon as he said it, as if on cue, the sound of sirens wailed nearby. “Atta boys, they’re so good.” He patted her arm and commanded, “I’m not kidding, you stay here,” before going into the house.

  Billows of thick gray smoke wafted all through the ground floor, rising to the high wood beams of the ceiling. The fire, while small, still smoldered in the hearth. Damn. He pulled his scarf up over his nose and mouth and went right to the fireplace, peering through the smoke. It made his eyes burn and his lungs heavy; he coughed as he looked. Sure enough, Tess hadn’t opened the flue before setting the fire. A rookie mistake. As he worked the flue and got it open, three firefighters burst into the room.

  Half an hour later, the scene was calm. With the help of some of Aspen’s finest, they’d doused the fire, opened all the windows to air out the house, and made sure everything was secure. Tess sat in the warm cab of the fire truck while they worked, holding her dog tightly and looking chagrined.

  Logan went to go talk to her with Captain Bellamy when they were done. He stood by quietly, not intervening as the fireman went over what had happened, what to do now, all of that. Shaking her head, Tess apologized about half a dozen times through the short conversation; her embarrassment and remorse were palpable, and it made Logan feel bad for her. Made him want to reassure her beyond the fire chief’s words, which were echoes of what Logan had said and thought. Seeing the guilty look in her sharp blue eyes made him want to pull her into his arms and give her a hug.

  It was only when the fireman said, “However, you’re going to have to let the house air out for a while,” that Logan finally spoke up.

  “I’ll take care of her,” he said.

  Tess’s eyes flew to Logan’s face in obvious surprise, but Captain Bellamy nodded and said, “All right, then,” without a glance or a thought.

  “That won’t be necessary,” she said.

  “Really?” Logan asked. He crossed his arms over his chest. “You won’t be able to go back into the house and close the windows for . . . what, Captain, two hours, at least?”

  “Sounds about right,” Bellamy said. “I’d give it four—or more, actually, unless you don’t mind the smell of smoke in your furniture.”

  Logan
nodded in agreement, his eyes holding his client’s. “And it’s seventeen degrees out right now.”

  He saw the understanding start to dawn in her face.

  “Way I see it,” he went on, “you have two choices. You can stay out here in the cold, maybe sit in your truck for a while, if that suits you. Or, you can go inside, quickly grab a few things, and let me take you into town so you and your dog can stay at a nice, warm hotel for the night. Which I’ll gladly take you to, and pick you up from in the morning to bring you home.”

  He watched Tess as she shot a glance at the garage. Her SUV was in there, but the fire truck and captain’s car were parked in front of it.

  “Sounds like a good idea to me,” Captain Bellamy said. “Why don’t I leave you two to discuss it.”

  Tess stepped out of the fire truck. Still cradling Bubbles with both arms, she almost lost her balance. Logan held her arm to help her firmly onto the ground. She looked up at him, those wide marine-blue eyes locking on him, and said, “Option two sounds good to me. Thank you, Logan.”

  “Of course. Can’t have you out here freezing to death.” He rubbed Bubbles’s head, bringing a short bark and licking. “You want to go in and grab what you need, or you want me to do it?”

  “I’m going to need to put her down to do anything,” Tess said, glancing down at the ball of white fur in her arms.

  “Gimme.” Logan reached out and took the dog. He laughed as she wiggled wildly. “Squirmy li’l thing, aren’t ya? C’mere, missy. Let’s get you in my truck for a few minutes while Tess and I get some stuff.” He glanced at Tess for permission, and when she nodded and smiled, he walked back to his truck. He turned on the heated seats and blasted the heat for a minute before setting Bubbles down in the backseat. “Don’t pee in here, okay, sweetie?” She barked in reply.