His eyes crinkled with a smile, but he didn’t say anything for a long time.
“How would you feel about me calling you?”
A nervous, shy smile filled her lips. “I would like that.”
She should explain about Philip, but it was complicated. Besides, it wasn’t Logan’s responsibility. And it might send him running in the opposite direction. Even Aunt Brenda knew nothing about how Philip treated her, and she was leaving tomorrow. The timing hadn’t been right to talk to her. Aunt Brenda might change her mind about letting her stay here. And the last thing she wanted was to return to her mom’s house.
There would be a better time to explain that they had broken up.
When Aunt Brenda returned.
Making her decision to keep her problems with Philip to herself, she veered toward safer conversation. “My aunt’s leaving tomorrow.” Her throat felt dry, parched like she hadn’t had a drink in days.
“Where’s she going?”
“California.”
His eyes widened. “Really? But you’re not going?”
“No.”
“How long will she be gone?”
“Possibly the whole summer.”
Logan studied her for an extended, unblinking moment. Did he grasp from her discomfort that there was more to the story? That she longed for his touch, his love, his protection? “You’ll be staying here alone?”
“No.” Addison didn’t miss the concern edging his voice. “My best friend Taylor’s spending the summer with me.”
“Good.” Logan’s glint of relief was instant. “Did you need to get back inside since she’s leaving tomorrow?”
“No.” She inhaled the warm summer air. “She’s not here anyway.”
After walking a few more minutes, they turned back toward the house, and the closer they came, the more she dreaded it. She didn’t want their time together to end.
“What time is she leaving?”
Addison slowed and slid her feet into her flip-flops. “Before lunch.”
“So, Taylor’s staying tomorrow night?” He fumbled with getting his feet into his shoes.
“Yes.”
“Is it okay if I stop by and check on you?”
“Check on me?” She shifted closer and affectionately leaned into him. “When?”
He responded by taking her hand and pulling her fingers to his lips. “As often as you’ll allow me.” The heat of his breath smoldered through her fingers with the hushed words. After a gentle press of his lips against her skin, he let their hands drop but didn’t release her fingers.
“You don’t have to do that.”
Hesitation deepened the tiny lines surrounding his eyes as his gaze lingered. “It’s as much for me as it is for you.”
“Is that so?”
“Absolutely.” He was confident as usual, his tone captivating, while she tried not to trip over her feet as they ascended the stairs. He secured his grip on her hand and awarded her with a smile that was both charming and genuine.
When she opened her mouth to respond, he interjected, “I won’t be able to help worrying about you. One of the perks of my job.”
Her desire to be near him deepened. When he motioned for her to step up onto the porch, she looked away. How long had she been staring up at him? He had caught her, but she was too elated to care.
He led her to the porch swing. “Make sure you keep the doors locked.”
“I will.” She could easily get used to all this attention. “Where do you patrol?”
“This area and south of here.”
“Really?” Taking the seat closest to the water, she forced her shoulders to loosen. “So, my neighborhood? My house?”
He nodded. “Is in my district.”
“That makes me feel better already.”
“For now, anyway. We move around the city. But call me anytime you need anything. Even if I’m not working.”
“I will.” And she meant it.
They sat side by side on the swing while Logan lazily pushed his foot against the wood slats creating an unhurried motion. She couldn’t see his face clearly, but his eyes twinkled in the moonlight.
“What’s your favorite thing about your job?”
“Helping people.” The hum of cicadas rang through the silence. “What about you?”
“The same. Loving the kids. Seeing them learn new things. Maybe once I get a full-time position, you can visit my class, be my show-and-tell.” She tugged at a lock of her hair while Logan’s eyes moved over her face slow and steady.
“Your show-and-tell, huh?”
It was impossible to hide her delighted smile.
She glanced lazily at her watch. They’d been out here for a while, yet it seemed like only minutes.
Logan brought the swing to a halt and she lifted her gaze, already dreading his departure. “I better go,” he said. “It’s getting late.”
They stood and, before she knew what was happening, he pulled her against him, and she nestled into his chest as if it was where she’d always belonged. She drew in a deep breath, savoring the fragrance of his cologne.
The rumble of crunching rocks reverberated from the driveway. Aunt Brenda. Addison had barely detached from his embrace when it hit her. She’d made a mistake.
“Sounds like someone drove up.”
Her pulse kicked up with a jolt. Aunt Brenda couldn’t see her with Logan. There had been no time to explain. She wouldn’t understand.
He lengthened the space between them. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes. Yes, of course.” She cannot see us together. Not yet. “It’s my aunt. I should go in and help her.”
“Do you need me to stay and help?”
“No, I just meant she’ll need me for some last-minute stuff.” Her body stiffened as her aunt’s car door slammed. “But thank you.”
“Okay, I’ll see you later.”
“Okay.” Hands trembling by her sides, she watched him until he disappeared beyond her view.
Then raced inside.
23
The next morning, Aunt Brenda climbed into her car, excitement filling her eyes. “I’ll be calling you very often. Have a great summer and I’ll miss you so much, honey.”
“Me too and don’t worry, I’ll be fine. Enjoy your time and take lots of pictures.” Addison stood on the curb waving as Aunt Brenda drove away, but then Philip wrapped his hands around Addison’s waist.
“Wow, I can’t believe she’s leaving you with the whole house to yourself.”
“She needed to get away for a while, Philip.”
“Yeah, but still, the house is yours.” His hands roamed lower down her back, still holding her tight.
“Stop it. You shouldn’t be here, and my neighbors might be watching.”
“Let’s go in then, so we can be alone.” He traced her neck with his lips, and chills sliced through her skin.
“What’re you doing?” In one fluid motion, she yanked from his grip. She had already risked too much by ignoring his intentions this long.
“We’re going in.”
“No, we’re not. You’re leaving. I have to work this afternoon and need to get ready.”
“You have plenty of time before you have to be there. I thought we would celebrate.”
“Celebrate what, Philip? There’s nothing to celebrate. What’s wrong with you?” Addison asked, trimming her volume so the neighbors wouldn’t hear.
“What’s wrong with you? You’re no fun anymore. You’re always so serious.”
“Why don’t you find someone else to have fun with? There’s nothing stopping you anymore, remember?” She hated how wobbly her voice sounded.
He laughed and grabbed her again, sending icy slithers down her arm. “I don’t want someone else.” His eyes grazed over her and she cringed. “You’ve made me wait long enough.” His voice was sharp. “But now we have more than enough privacy.”
“Philip, stop.” Using all her strength, she pushed him away. �
�I said stop. You need to go, now.”
Within seconds, Taylor pulled into the driveway and parked. She jumped out quickly and grabbed her suitcase.
“Perfect timing, Taylor.” Addison said as she helped Taylor with her bags. Without looking back, Addison hurried up the porch steps after Taylor and closed the door behind them.
After securing the lock, she stole across the room to the nearest window and peered through the crack along the curtain to make sure he was leaving. Philip staggered to his car, still looking toward the house. He punched the hood of his car and, after one last look over his shoulder, climbed in.
Addison breathed a sigh of relief. The curtain slipped from her trembling fingers and she leaned against the wall for support.
“What was he doing here?”
“Pretending to care that Aunt Brenda’s leaving.”
“What?” Taylor plopped down on the couch.
“Nothing. What matters is he’s gone.”
The restaurant was already busy at five o’clock. Addison fell into the routine quickly, all thoughts on keeping her guests happy. She tamped down her hope that Logan would show up here tonight with each hour that passed.
On the drive home, Taylor talked on her phone the entire time and Addison’s mind transported to Logan’s visit last night. Was he working tonight? If he rode by, would he stop?
All evening, she glanced at her phone set on silent, hoping Logan had sent something. At 12:45, she noticed she had one text message. She swiped the screen, her pulse racing.
I just wanted to say hi. I hope you had a good night. How long would he wait to see her again? What if he changed his mind? Especially after the way she rushed him away Saturday night.
She started typing, not sure how to respond. Just got home from work. I hope you had a good night too.
Addison stepped into the shower, the hot water stinging her skin. She stood motionless, too tired to move, too exhausted to think.
A fresh wave of disappointment roused her thoughts when she climbed under her cold sheets.
Logan didn’t ask to see her tomorrow.
“Why don’t you invite Addison to our cookout this weekend?” Matt asked.
“What?”
“Y’all are talking, right?” Matt punched him in the arm.
“Sort of.”
“Ask her to come. Shelley won’t leave me alone. Besides, we need to break her in.”
“No. We are not breaking her in.”
“I’m kidding, man.” He chuckled innocently, then shrugged. “I wouldn’t do that to you.”
“I don’t know.”
“Bring her. I’ll behave. I promise.”
Logan hated himself for not stopping by her place last night, but he had already taken his dinner break and couldn’t come up with a good reason to stop. Not at one o’clock in the morning. Not when Taylor’s car was parked beside Addison’s in the driveway and they seemed to be secure inside her home. He didn’t want to be too presumptuous or push things too fast. After all, she had dated Philip a long time and didn’t want to be her rebound. And he still wasn’t sure where he stood. Especially after the way she rushed him off the other night when her aunt came home.
Still, he worried about her most of the night and had almost asked Nathan to go by and check on her today, but he’d stopped himself. He wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.
But now, tonight, there was only one car parked in her driveway and the living room light was still burning. It was late, but he couldn’t wait another day to see her.
He typed the first few letters of her name into his phone and pressed call before changing his mind.
She answered on the second ring. “Hello.”
“Addison, hey, it’s Logan.”
“Hey.” Relief filled the simple word.
“I know it’s late, but I’m on my dinner break.” He hesitated as he pondered whether to invite himself, now, at this hour. “Would it be okay if I stopped by for a few minutes?”
Silence filled the line between them.
“I mean, if you think it’s inappropriate for me to be there with your aunt not home, I understand completely.”
“No, I just wasn’t expecting ... Yes, I would love for you to stop by.”
Logan took several deep breaths. “I’m pulling in.”
24
Addison’s heart seized before skipping away with her breath. Logan was here now. Already in her pajamas, she was lying on the couch watching a tearjerker of all things. Her eyes were probably puffed out to her ears. With a paper towel, she wiped at the smeared mascara under her eyes. It only made it worse.
Starting over with a fresh towel, she managed to wipe it off and took an extra minute to brush her teeth.
She glanced through the window to make sure it was him before opening the door. He stood on the porch facing the yard, the dim light flickering off his badge. At the sight of his tall form dressed out to protect her city, the anxiety that had bound her for several hours shriveled to the size of a pea.
She blew out a breath, then opened the door. “Hi.”
“Hey.” He made no motion to enter the house. “Do you want to sit out here?”
The idea seemed wonderful, with her swollen eyes. “Okay, but let’s go to the back.” They’d have more privacy. No one would see them back there. She couldn’t have her nosy neighbors talking, especially with his patrol car parked on the curb.
They walked through the kitchen, but she didn’t switch on the light.
“Would you like something to drink? I have sweet tea, orange juice, and lemonade.”
Logan looked around the kitchen as she watched him carefully. She had never seen him in uniform. He was something to behold. And it was hard to look away.
Thank goodness he wasn’t paying attention.
“Sweet tea would be great.”
With a slight tremble, she grabbed two glasses from the cabinet. “How long is your break?”
“Thirty minutes.”
“Did you already eat?”
“Not hungry.”
After filling both glasses with sweetened iced tea, she followed Logan through the screened back door.
Logan took a seat on the swing and she moved into the space beside him, careful not to brush against his gear when she sat.
It had been several days since they’d sat in this very spot, and after he punched through a few break-the-ice questions, he reached for her pinky with his. His touch kicked up her pulse a notch. She plunged her free hand beneath her leg, wrestling against tingling sensations stirring commotion through her veins.
“Did your aunt get to her destination? Or is she still traveling?”
“She made it about half-way today before stopping at a motel for the night.” The evening air was warm and briny. She pulled a breath deep into her lungs.
“How are you doing here without her?”
She stared at his darkened form before answering. “It’s different and I miss her, but I’m okay.” She loved sitting here, talking to him. It was everything she longed for in a relationship, longed for in a man. A longing she’d never thought would come true. And still wasn’t sure was real.
“Your friend’s still staying with you this summer?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t like staying alone, do you?” There was no ridicule, no agenda, only concern. And it deepened her affection.
“No, not really. I feel safer with Taylor here.”
He didn’t speak for several seconds as he pushed the swing back and forth with his boot. “My apartment’s only a mile from here, so even when I’m off duty, if you ever need anything, call me.” It was impossible to read his expression, but his tone expressed sincerity and her voice rejected a response. “Is everything okay? You look like you’ve been crying.”
Addison laughed. “I was hoping you wouldn’t notice.”
He stiffened. “Is something wrong?”
“No, I was watching a good movie.”
“So
, good movies make you cry?” He regarded her with a warm smile. “I’ll have to remember that and only watch bad movies with you.”
“Ha, ha, ha. Very funny,” she told him, her gaze caressing his darkened form.
“How’s the teaching job search going?”
She lifted a hand to brush loose strands of hair away from her face. “I have a couple of interviews lined up.”
“For schools here in Wilmington?”
“One is, yes. But the other school is in Jacksonville.” She steeled herself for his reaction—a bad habit—one she intended to break.
“Jacksonville?” His jaw twitched. “That’s a good hour drive.”
“I know. But there aren’t many positions available.” Too aware of his thigh pressing against hers, she stretched out her legs. “What about you? Are you still planning to become a detective?”
“As soon as a position becomes available, I’ll be the first in line.”
Peace bordered the perimeter of her heart, struggling to gain entry, wrestling against the pain of her past.
With a deep breath, she warded off the internal battle stealing her short, precious time with Logan. “What time do you get off?”
“Seven in the morning.”
She imagined him working those long nights, those dark brown eyes tormented as he patrolled the streets of Wilmington. She grimaced, visualizing the danger he faced shift after shift. “Do you like working this shift?”
“I’m getting used to it. Working different shifts during college was a challenge, but now that I’m on this shift permanently, it’s easier.” He pivoted slightly. “Are you working tomorrow night?”
Having trouble concentrating, she peered into the darkened sky, into something ordinary. “Me? Tomorrow, no.”
He released her pinky and gently maneuvered his fingers between hers. The thrill of his touch flowed through every nerve ending as he continued to push the swing lazily with his boot. Waves just beyond the hill crashed through the silence.
“There’s a cookout tomorrow night at a friend’s house. Would you go with me?”
“I would love to.” The electric current that flowed between them intensified with each second his fingers lingered with hers.
Shattered Treasure Page 15
