Stella smiled and felt her heart skip a beat.
This was the kind, impulsive yet compassionate Logan that Stella had developed such strong feelings for.
This was the Logan who had kept a hold on a small but significant piece of Stella’s heart for so long.
But more than anything else, this was the version of Logan that Stella wished could be on show for the whole time. There was no talk about a fear of commitment, no cancelling plans, and no flaking out on responsibility.
This version of Logan was the true Daddy edition that Stella desired.
Hell, this version of Logan had actively sought out the responsibility of going down toThe Dog Denand helping out with the comparatively pretty dull task of sorting out stacks and stacks of doggy blankets and beds.
As they took a seat outside of a rough and ready bar, a rarity in Blue Rock, Stella raised her bottle of beer and saluted her old friend Logan.
Logan flashed a smile in return and took a big glug of the beer.
‘Feels good after a good deed at The Dog Den,’ Logan said. ‘Not that I was there just so I could justify a beer, of course. Those damned mutts are just too cute. Shit, in another life I might have been a vet.’
‘You totally could have been a vet,’ Stella said. ‘But you’d have needed to graduate though…’
‘Touché,’ Logan replied, a grin on his face. ‘I’ll let that sass slide, girl. But, anyway, you know me. I like to cut and run too much, right?’
The pair of them shared a moment of contemplation.
Stella was glad to see that Logan was at least self-aware of his own tendency to run when the going got tough.
‘I want to set things straight,’ Logan said, a contemplative look in his soulful eyes. ‘College was college. You were young, I didn’t want to tie you down. Well, not likethatanyhow.’
‘But you could have explained that to me,’ Stella said, determined to not let Logan off the hook that easily. ‘It really freakin’ hurt me. It’s been an influence on my relationships ever since, and not in a good way either.’
‘And for that, I’m truly sorry,’ Logan replied, the sincerity in his voice clear. ‘That’s the last thing I’d want. Even when I left, it didn’t change the fact that I felt so many strong feelings toward you. I always have done. I just have never been in the rightplace, you know?’
‘I think I hear you,’ Stella said. ‘But… what about now? What about last night?’
‘Last night was fun as hell,’ Logan said. ‘I’d like more,muchmore. But I can’t make any promises, I want to be clear on that. My life is a mess. As much as I’d love to do a big romantic gesture, I can’t. It wouldn’t be fair. I know how much having a Daddy means to you.’
Stella took a moment to consider what Logan was saying.
Yes, it wasn’t exactly the promise to total commitment that Stella would have dreamed of. But it was one thing. It washonest. Stella could see that Logan meant every word that he said.
‘So…’ Logan said, running his finger over the top of his beer.
‘So,’ Stella replied, licking her lips.
‘Shall we…’
‘Head back to mine?’ Stella said, her heart racing and the moistness in her panties intensifying.
‘No,’ Logan replied. ‘I’ve got a better idea. And it’s an idea that I know you’re going to justlove.’
Logan flashed one of his enigmatic, totally enticing smiles. Stella felt like putty in Logan’s hands.
Whatever Logan had in store, Stella wanted to find out what it was.
Fortunately for Stella, the wait to find out what Logan had in mind was even shorter than she imagined…
Chapter 8
Logan’s heart was beating, and that old sense of thrill-seeking lust for life was practically bursting forth from every bone in his well-maintained body.
