“That’s so sweet,” she told Logan.
He said nothing, only regarded her with a crooked smile.
“What? Why are you looking at me that way?”
“The way you look at things. I see things differently when I’m with you.”
For no reason, Addison laughed. “Would you like to hear my favorite memory with my daddy?” There was no need to wait for a verbal answer, it was clear in the delight that brightened his eyes. “He told me I had a special gift because I feel things so deeply. I could reach into the heart of anyone I dared and wrap them around my finger.”
It was the crinkle of his smile that gave her the strength to go on. “It isn’t true, but still my favorite memory.” She never believed it to be a gift. Because she felt things so deeply, those hard things hurt even deeper. “I really don’t know why I told you that.”
“I believe it.” His voice held warmth, his eyes even more affection. He slipped his fingers between hers and held them up. “Because I’m in very real danger of all these fingers.” He pressed his lips to her hand. If he didn’t stop, she would fall hard and never return. “Would you like to dance?”
Her stomach fluttered, the feel of his skin against hers once again electrifying every nerve ending. “Okay.” Addison had dreamed of this moment for days.
Logan pulled her closer, riveting her attention with his gentle touch, as if she were something delicate, something to cherish. “I know I’ve already said this, but you look absolutely beautiful, Addison.”
They swayed gently back and forth, closer than she dared imagine in all her fantasies of this moment.
The rhythm of the song, Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton was measured, the words echoing her feelings. When the music ended, she thought he would lead her to the table, but he didn’t. Instead, he pulled back and looked into her eyes. “One more?”
She stared into his tender brown eyes, captivated. A new song had only started when Logan suddenly shifted.
“Mind if I cut in?”
Addison stumbled back. Nathan. She exhaled, taking several relieved deep breaths. Logan was staring at her, waiting for her reaction. She didn’t want to hurt Nathan’s feelings, but she didn’t want to leave Logan. What if Logan didn’t ask for another dance?
“Okay, but only this once,” Logan said, winking at her before slowly releasing her waist.
She had no time to compose her thoughts, still aware of Logan’s hands attached to her, before Nathan spun her around. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
Her breath quickened. “What?”
“Don’t lie and tell me everything’s fine, because it won’t work. You were so happy before. What happened? Did Logan say something?”
Turning from his scrutinizing gaze, she spotted Ami across the floor dancing with Zach. “Nothing’s wrong.”
“Addison.” With an abrupt halt, he stopped dancing. “I know something’s bothering you. There was something different in your eyes when you came into the auditorium and you’ve been acting funny ever since.”
Funny? Had anyone else noticed how entranced she’d been while in Logan’s arms?
Couples danced all around them, but Nathan remained still. He was embarrassing her. “Are you going to dance with me or not?”
He resumed motion as she stared into the space behind him, trying to gain control of her emotions. Logan had made her forget. Nathan was reminding her. Could she be honest with him? Why did he even care? “Your brother didn’t do anything. He’s been really ... nice.” With a quick glance, she zeroed in on Logan sitting at a table in the corner, then her gaze skipped across the room and settled on Philip, who was glaring at her.
Suddenly the room blurred as uneasiness pricked her flesh.
“Okay, so what happened, then?”
Blinking the dizziness into submission, she tightened her grip on Nathan’s arm. “Philip.”
Nathan leaned back, his eyes wide. “Who’s Philip?”
“Nobody important.” Her voice broke as she glanced in his direction. Philip was still watching.
Logan stood by a table across the room, watching his brother talk easily with Addison. Resentment wove through his core, growing with each breath. He turned away. His brother could have any girl he wanted. Why did he have to invade on the one girl, the only girl Logan wanted?
“You’re Logan, right? I’ve seen you around campus.” The girl had appeared out of nowhere and was now leaning against his table. “Mind if I join you?”
“I guess not. No one else is sitting here.”
She flipped her blond hair and reached across the table. “I’m Somer, and my sister’s officially a débutante.”
Logan shook her hand but looked across the dance floor. “Nice to meet you.” His mind seethed. Addison and his brother moved in slow motion to a fast beat song. He hated this.
The blonde was trying to talk to him. Why wasn’t he listening?
“I love this song. You want to dance?”
Logan looked into her dark green eyes. “Sure, why not?”
The song’s lyrics went perfectly with this stupid decision. What was he doing? He glanced around the room, anywhere but the girl’s face. He moved mechanically, regret filling him. The song lingered lasting longer than he remembered.
“I can tell you’re not really into this.”
“Sorry. I’m here with someone else.” He hadn’t meant to announce that. No matter how badly he wanted it, it wasn’t the whole truth. Addison rode with him, but they weren’t together.
“That’s okay. I’m the one who should apologize. My date has been ignoring me all night, watching this other girl. I was trying to make him jealous.”
Funny, he was attempting the same thing. The exact opposite of how Addison should be treated. He hadn’t given her a fair chance to respond to his interest. Of course, he still wasn’t sure he had a chance and still hadn’t asked her out officially. But there was nothing stopping him. Except Nathan.
He wanted to return to Addison, but first he had to handle the situation in front of him. “I’m not trying to get my head busted.”
“Don’t worry. He’s paying no mind to me,” she added, looking toward the entrance.
His gaze followed hers and that’s when Logan spotted him. “You’re here with Philip?”
“You know him?”
“We play ball together.”
Logan already knew what he’d find but looked in the direction that held Philip’s attention anyway. Addison and Nathan were leaving the dance floor.
“Oh?” She turned back to face Logan. “Don’t tell him what I said. Not that it would matter.”
“Don’t worry.”
“Sorry for using you. You’re a real sweetie. If things don’t work out with your girlfriend, look me up.”
Speechless, he watched the girl walk away.
19
Logan was dancing with someone else. Refusing to look at Logan or in the direction she’d last seen Philip, she sat at a corner table and watched Ami dancing with Zach. Zach liked Ami. She could tell.
“I was hoping for another dance.”
Blood raced through her veins hearing the familiar voice. Her gaze met Logan standing only a yard away.
Her heart pounded as Logan moved closer and didn’t stop until they were only inches apart. “You at least owe me the one we didn’t get to finish.”
The song blaring through the speakers was fast paced. She held her breath for a full three seconds. “I would love to,” she said softly, grateful for the diversion, “but I don’t dance very well.”
“Sorry, Miss Morgan, but that won’t work.” With his strong palm tucked securely in the middle of her back, he led her back to the floor. He pulled her along, his hand in hers, as they moved to the beat of the music.
Addison had no choice but to go along. She ignored the twinge in her gut that Philip was here still watching and probably waiting for the perfect opportunity to approach.
An older hip-hop song, Stereo Hea
rts by Gym Class Heroes with Adam Levine, sounded through the speakers and, with a rush of adrenaline, her body reacted naturally to the rhythm.
Logan laughed out loud, triggering a nervous laugh from her. “And you said you couldn’t dance.”
He twirled her around and she landed on his foot.
She pulled her gaze from his chest and focused on his face. “I’m so sorry.”
Taking her by the shoulders and pulling her completely against him, he whispered close to her ear, “You can step on my feet anytime.”
Tall and poised, the man mirrored strength. She closed her eyes, willing her anxiety to vanish. When she opened them, a single look at him reminded her she was living in the moment she’d been waiting for all day—to be in Logan’s arms.
Her joy faltered when she met Logan’s gaze. “What?”
“You just ... You’re so beautiful when you smile that way.”
She responded by resting her head against his chest for the span of a few heartbeats. He made her feel safe, made her feel important, made her want to soak in his strength and never let go.
He pulled her closer than before, his breath brushing against her face. “If it’s okay with you, I don’t want to share you with anyone else tonight.”
Speechless, she allowed him to sway back and forth to the rhythm, holding her close. The scent of his cologne, the nearness of him roused comfort within her with each note.
They danced to three more songs before he led her from the floor. She let out a calm breath, still soaking in the warmth of Logan’s arms.
Logan lowered his gaze to where Addison’s hands twisted together as they left the dance floor. With caution, he seized one of them, letting their intertwined fingers hover in the space between them. “What time do you have to be home?”
“No specific time.”
“Can we hang out a little longer?”
“Here?”
The hesitance in her question lured his gaze to hers. “No, somewhere else ... anywhere else.”
“Oh,” she said with a tense laugh. “I would like that.”
It wasn’t her words that convinced him. It was how her hand relaxed within his, like it had always belonged there.
After saying goodbye to his family, they walked out into the cool evening air.
He opened her door, helping her to climb inside his truck, and allowed his fingers to linger on the silky material of her dress.
Before starting the truck, he paused, adoring the tiny lines that crinkled across her forehead. “That was fun.”
She shifted suddenly. “It was. I’m so glad Ami invited me.” Her tone indicated a mix of doubt and expectation.
“Did you want to stop by your house and change?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Good.” He kept his tone even. “But just so you know, I’m having a really hard time keeping my eyes off you.”
The sound of her laughter drifting through his truck brought an unexpected rush. He could get used to that.
“Ami looked so beautiful, so happy tonight. What do you think of Zach?”
Her question caught him off guard. “He’s a cool kid.”
“He likes Ami. The way he looks at her. I mean, it’s sweet,” she mumbled, tucking her hands beneath her thighs.
Logan pulled the truck to a stop at the light and turned to look at her. “They’ve been friends forever. I guess it would be okay if they started dating.” A moment of silent passion sparked between them at the mention of dating and Logan’s breath caught in his throat. Did she feel it too?
They both faced the road as he drove the short distance toward the pier.
When he had parked, Addison cleared her throat. “Ami said Zach was going away to college this fall. And that she planned to take a few classes at the community college.”
“I’m not sure what Zach is planning, but I’m relieved Ami will be home a couple more years.”
“You’re worried about her?”
“Can’t help it.”
“I agree with you. Even though I went straight to college from high school, if I had another option, I would’ve done the same thing.” She glanced at him. “It’s definitely cheaper.”
“And will give her a chance to mature a little before jumping out there with all those who aren’t.”
Slipping his jacket off, he draped it around her bare shoulders. “It’s cool tonight.”
“Thank you.” Her voice was gentle, soft like the flutter of butterfly wings.
He opened the passenger door and took her hand to help her down.
They walked across the wooden walkway that led to the ocean. A briny scent sifted through the air. They brushed against each other as they walked down the steps and a sudden urge to grab her hand assaulted him, but he resisted. This time. They were alone and it would be impossible to suppress his urge to kiss her. With a quick reach, she slipped her heels off and held them with two fingers. He led her onto the stretch of sand and then near the edge of the water. Her dress swished back and forth with each step, the black sequins sparkling in the moonlight.
As he rolled his pant legs up, Addison lifted her left leg and rubbed the skin above her foot.
“Did you hurt your ankle?”
“Yes, I—” Her voice caught, and her throat dipped with a hard swallow. “I’m so clumsy,” she continued with a nervous laugh.
Logan studied her expression. Something wasn’t right. The last words he’d use to describe Addison Morgan was clumsy. Each step, each movement she’d made since the first time he saw her was graceful. When she added nothing else to her story, he touched her elbow. “We don’t have to walk.”
“No, it’s okay.”
Without thinking, he took her hand. “Come on.” He led her to a large rock set within a patch of wild grass.
“Logan, it’s really okay.”
“It’s me. I danced all my energy out trying to keep up with you.”
Full-blown feminine laughter exploded from her slim frame as she took a seat on the boulder and he fought his desire to sit closer.
“You’re not a very good liar.”
“Just let me see.”
She scooted farther onto the rock, finding her balance. “See what?”
“Your leg.” He tugged her foot toward him and searched for swelling. “Does that hurt?”
“It’s just a little tender.”
“It feels good to me.” He glanced at her with a teasing gleam. “But maybe you should prop it up for the rest of the night.”
Resting her foot across his leg, she smirked. “Starting now?”
“Absolutely.” His gaze was sweeping across her bare legs as he wrapped both hands around them. “I’m more than happy to be your support.”
She laughed and swatted at him as she retreated and positioned her feet beneath her. “I was kidding.”
I wasn’t. She was right though. The whole episode, all five seconds of it, did strange things to his pulse. Made him want to be closer to her. If he didn’t look away, he would make a fool out of himself.
Gaze on the water, Addison sat silently for several heartbeats before lifting her lashes to him. “I love it here.”
“Me too.” His gaze shifted to her bare feet. “Do you walk down to the ocean a lot?”
“Not as much as I would like. I love walking on the beach, finding shells, watching children play, but my favorite is watching the sunset.”
Listening to her talk, the passion in her voice when she spoke sent a thrill through him. He loved listening to the way she pronounced each word, her southern accent deeper than most.
Addison looked beyond where the waves were crashing before them. “I do try to sit on the back porch every night.”
“Really? Every night?”
“I never get tired of it. Every sunrise, every sunset, every crashing wave. It’s seeing proof of God’s existence, even on life’s darkest days.”
20
When Logan dropped Addison off an hour later, she stepped
inside and closed the door behind her. “Did that really just happen?”
“What did you say, honey?”
“Nothing, Aunt Brenda, I was talking to myself. What are you still doing up?”
“Couldn’t sleep. Did you have a nice time with Ami?”
“It was great.”
“That’s wonderful. Can you come in here for a minute? I wanted to talk to you about something.”
Addison sat on the couch.
Aunt Brenda studied her. “I’m thinking about spending some time on the West Coast.”
Addison’s stomach dropped. “What?”
“It wouldn’t be until after graduation. I would love for you to come with me. We could do all kinds of exploring.”
Addison didn’t want to leave. Not now. Not after tonight.
Aunt Brenda tilted her head. “There are several properties that have caught my interest.” She leaned against the sofa. “I’ve never been able to sit still for long. You know that.”
Her heart broke for Aunt Brenda. Her aunt had sacrificed so much to give her and her sister a better life. Somewhere safe to stay. But Casey’s death had been hard on them both. The reminders in this house, everywhere. But the reality of Aunt Brenda leaving her here alone disturbed her. “Are you selling the house?”
“Oh, no. I could never give up this place.” Aunt Brenda stared into space for a long moment before speaking again. “I know you probably don’t want to leave right now. But will you be okay, staying here by yourself?”
Addison breathed a sigh of relief. “Yes, I’ll be fine.”
“You have this new job you’re trying to get. And I’m sure you’ll be spending your last summer with your friends. Philip. I can’t believe you’re almost a college graduate.”
Addison stared at the table, fighting her tortuous thoughts. She needed to explain about Philip.
“Is everything okay with you, darling? You’ve been acting so different lately.”
She wanted to tell her about how she’d fallen in love with Ami’s brother. About how Philip showed up at the débuette dance tonight and had hurt her, again. But it wasn’t the right time. The last thing Aunt Brenda needed was to worry about her while she was away this summer.
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