Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 101501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Logan couldn’t help but take a step closer to her just as Max had done. Seeing the fear in her eyes when he’d first stepped inside the bar would stay with him for a while. It had kicked in his protective instincts to such a degree, he’d had a hard time stopping himself from pulling Skylar into his arms so he could take away the pain. But he knew better than to touch her, so Logan had done the only thing he could at that moment: he’d sat as close as he could to give her comfort and let Max work his special brand of miracle.
“I could be persuaded to work for you,” he finally answered.
After a year of searching for some semblance of peace after he lost his brothers—six months of that spent on the road watching town after town disappear in his rearview—this tiny woman and her brothers had ignited a fire in his gut where there had only been intense pain. He wanted to help them navigate the turbulent waters life had thrown at them, more than he wanted to move on and lick his wounds. But the way his blood burned with want when he looked at Skylar was the most important reason to stay. She intrigued him more than any woman of his acquaintance. Had the ability to dull his pain with a single smile. Alcohol hadn’t excised his ghosts, but this tiny woman had turned his focus from the past and heartache with a simple look.
“What would it cost for your services?” Logan rolled his lips to keep from laughing when she realized how that sounded. “Oh, boy . . . That sounded . . . What I meant is, I’ve never had a bouncer on payroll, so I don’t know what to pay you.”
Not a fucking thing would have been his answer. He’d saved every penny he could for the past ten plus years. He didn’t need money any time soon, and considering what she was facing, he wouldn’t accept it. But he also knew pride was involved, so he made a concession. “I need a place to bunk for the winter. If you’ve got somewhere Max and I can throw a sleeping bag, we’ll call it even.”
“Sold!”
Logan turned his head and looked at Jamie after her outburst. She was smiling from ear to ear. With everything that had happened in the past ten minutes, he’d forgotten she was in the room.
“But you have to eat,” Skylar stated, “and Max needs dog food.”
Logan took a step closer and noticed she had gold flecks in her light green eyes. “I’ve got money for food. I just need a place to lay my head until spring hits.”
Skylar seemed surprised, then searched his face as if she were trying to discern a lie from the truth in the depths of his eyes. “And when spring hits?”
When spring hit, he’d already be in her bed. “We’ll reevaluate.”
Skylar didn’t seem convinced, so he held still while he waited for her to decide. She looked down at Max then back at him. For a moment he thought she would say no, but she put out her hand with a smile. “Welcome to Big Sky Saloon, Mr. Storm.”
“Logan,” he answered, taking her hand in his. It was just as soft, just as warm, as he remembered. “Call me Logan.”
They stood like that, in a bubble smiling at each other, until a ringtone broke the spell and she let go to answer her cell.
Jamie approached him then, a smirk tugging at her lips. “A place to bunk?”
Logan shrugged. “It’s not a lie.”
She looked over her shoulder at Skylar before continuing, “I know men. I can read them better than most. This is about her, isn’t it? You don’t need a job that bad.”
Logan nodded. No reason to lie to the best friend. She’d clearly pegged him and his intentions.
Her mouth grew into a dazzling smile. Some women who looked like Jamie came with egos and insecurities that had them competing with their friends for men’s attention. But Logan could tell her enthusiasm for his staying in Ennis was for her friend, and not some catty attempt to flirt with him. “Good.”
“What do you mean you can’t find Josh?”
Logan turned at Skylar’s outburst and moved her direction.
“What about the fieldhouse, Jake?” she questioned.
When he reached her side, he pulled the phone from her hand and put it to his ear. Skylar looked shocked at his interference and tried to grab her phone back, so Logan turned so her phone was out of her reach, and barked out, “Jake?”
Silence.
“Storm?”
“Talk to me.”
More silence, then, “Josh never made it to school.”
The front door opened loudly and light spilled inside. Logan turned his neck and found a police officer standing in the doorway with his arms crossed, and he was glaring at Logan and Skylar.