LOGAN

I wake up to a dog pressed against my back, leaning against me with all his weight. He’s been the only one in this bed since Maggie and I separated, but I’ve slept with no interruptions since I’ve taken him in. Maybe the dreams are gone for good or maybe Herman’s keeping the demons away. Honestly, I might miss the furball when Kayla finds him a permanent home. He’s been a handful with needing to be taken out during my lunch breaks. Not to mention the baths he’s needed after playing in the mud in the backyard, but I can’t complain too much. I knew taking Herman in would make Kayla happy, and she's so busy I wouldn't feel right having her come over and do basic things for him like she offered. Honestly, he keeps me company.

Finally, I get up, take Herman outside, and feed him before I make myself breakfast. As I’m standing at the stove scrambling eggs, I pop some bread in the toaster, and the thoughts of Kayla and the Mr. Perfect Vet pop into my mind. Sadly enough, it’s haunted me more than I’d like to admit. The way his hand graced along hers and how she looked back at him with that look in her eyes did something to me.

He was obviously flirting and laid it on thick once Kayla said we were just friends. But we are just that—friends—and it’s better that way. I can’t deny I felt a tinge of jealousy, an emotion I’m not used to experiencing, and I’m still slightly confused by that.

I scrape the eggs on a plate and sit at the table. Herman comes to my feet, begging, but he knows better.

“So, what do you think about Kayla and the vet?” I look down at Herman as I place eggs onto a piece of toast. “You obviously liked him, huh?”

He looks guilty and lays his head on the floor.

I groan.

“You don’t care. I shouldn’t care either. She’s better off with someone else anyway. Someone that doesn’t have baggage the size of Mount Rushmore.”

As if he’s tired of listening to me ramble, he strolls into the living room and jumps on the couch. I finish eating, rinse off my plate, and then get dressed for work. On the way to the station, I think about Skylar and Maggie moving back and how putting Kayla in the middle of all of that wouldn’t be fair to her. There’s so much I want to tell her, yet I keep it inside. I know that makes me stubborn, but it’s what makes the most sense right now. We’re still friends and I’d rather have her in my life as a friend than not at all. Even if it kills me to see her with someone else after telling myself all those things, I know she deserves to be with someone who doesn’t have issues or baggage and can give her everything she needs and deserves. I’m not that man.

My phone goes off just as I walk into my office. I pull it out of my pocket and see it’s from Kayla.

I don’t want to lead her on. I don’t want her to think there is more between us than there is or can be. I make a pact with myself that I don’t intend on breaking. I’m fine with us just being friends and that’s how we’ll stay.

The day flies by and before I know it, I’m texting Kayla and letting her know I’m on my way home.

As soon as I pull into my driveway, she comes speeding down the road in her mustang. She steps out, wearing red high heels, a tight pencil skirt, and a shirt that hugs her in all the right places. Her hair is down and I watch as she tucks loose strands behind her ear. She’s...gorgeous. I open my mouth to speak and then close it. She doesn’t even notice she stole the words from my lips.

“Sorry!” she shouts, walking over to me with purpose in her step. “I thought I would be late.”

I laugh. “It’s okay. I just got here.”

She looks me up and down and smiles. “All right, Detective. Lead the way.”

I unlock the door and motion for her to come inside. As soon as Kayla steps in, Herman comes running toward her. She bends down to pet him, his tail wagging and whooshing air around the room.

“Do you want a treat?” she asks, showing a few treats in her palm. He eats it up and I laugh as I walk to the backdoor and open it. Of course, she would bring him treats. As soon as he hears the creak of the door, he takes off running. I leave the backdoor open until he decides to come in. The least I can do is give him thirty minutes to run around because he’ll be locked up for a few more hours while I’m at work. Granted it’s much better than his previous situation.

Kayla is standing in the living room with her arms folded looking around. “So, this is where the magic happens.”

I shake my head. “No magic happens here.”

She snorts. “Look at this archway and the brick wall in the structure. This house is beautiful and with a little elbow grease and decoration, some paint and pictures on the walls, it would be fabulous. Plus, you’ve got a big corner lot. All you need is some landscaping and you’d have major curb appeal. If you ever wanted to flip this house...”

“You should have your own television show, you know that?”

I notice the pout in her lip when she smiles and start to realize those little things about her that I shouldn’t. Freckles lightly dusted across her nose, and when she doesn’t quite know what to say, she bites the inside of her cheek. These are just a few things I’ve noticed in the last five minutes.

She walks toward me but then stops at a picture of Skylar and me on the accent table. I’m brought back to my reality. Kayla picks up the picture and genuinely smiles when she looks at her. “She’s beautiful, Logan,” she says.

My mouth slightly falls open and turns into a smile. “She is. She’s my pride and joy.”

Kayla sets the picture back down on the table and we share a small moment, a blink in time. Before I speak, I think of the words that need to be said and then clear my throat.

“I’m sorry for not telling you. It’s a complicated situation,” I tell her. “The only one who really knows the full story is Drew, and I’ve asked him to keep it to himself.”

“I understand. Sometimes it’s easier to keep our lives to ourselves.” She sits on the couch.

I wonder if she’s thinking about her own past that she hadn’t shared with anyone. We’re on the same page and I’m grateful she doesn’t push me to explain why. 

“I’m fighting for her to move closer to me, but that’s still to be determined.”

Kayla crosses her leg and smiles big. I can almost see her gears turning as she looks around the room. “Then you know what that means, right?”

I’m so confused right now, but her excitement makes me smile. “Not entirely.”

“That this house needs to be ready for your little girl. You can’t bring her here with it looking like a hospital.”

“It’s not that bad, is it?”

She gives me the eye, and as I look around, I understand what she’s talking about. Stark white walls with zero personalization, not even a rug on the floor. It’s where I eat and sleep and I’ve never really taken the time to make it a home. It’s where I moved when Maggie and I separated. “Honestly, If I’m being truthful, I don’t know where to start.” 

“Have you ever heard of a thing called Pinterest?” Kayla lifts an eyebrow and smirks.

“Well, I was thinking...” I shake my head. “Never mind.”

“What?” She’s so close to me on the couch, I can smell the sweetness of her skin.

“I was thinking that I could use the help of Kayla Sinclair?”

She laughs. “I am way better than Pinterest.”

She’s silent for another moment as if she’s contemplating something and I wait on edge for her to respond. If anyone could make this house more like a home, I know Kayla could. After what she did for Courtney and Drew’s house after they bought it, I have no doubt about it.

“I’d be happy to help you,” she finally says.

Relief flashes across my face. She’ll be able to make this house a place Skylar will love. “Thank you.”

“Anytime, Detective. I kind of owe you for helping me with Herman.”

As if he heard his name, Herman comes bolting inside with a stick in his mouth. It’s so big it won’t fit through the door, and I have a hell of a time trying to get him to release it. Kayla is laughing so hard, tears are running down her cheeks and she’s doubled over. When she stands up, I lightly brush one of my fingers across her cheeks and wipe away the tear.

She lets out a ragged breath, and when she looks up at me, with fire and passion in her gaze, I’m forced to take a step back. I went too far and I know if our lips happen to touch again I won’t be able to stop, which isn’t fair to her. Kayla is beautiful and a genuinely good person who spends so much of her free time making the world a better place, that she deserves a man that can make all her dreams come true. Unfortunately, I’m not sure I’ll ever be him.

––––––––

KAYLA

By the time I make it back to my office, I’m over an hour late, and I know it will put me behind this afternoon, which means I’ll have to stay later. I hope and pray when I walk in my boss is still out for lunch because he’s been riding my ass lately about coming in late and taking longer lunches. As I round the corner, I realize that my wish was not granted because Mr. Huffman is eyeing me with disdain on his face.

“Long lunch again, Sinclair?” he practically snarls.

“I actually worked through lunch and met with a potential client.” I’m not lying, but it’s not the complete truth either.

His demeanor changes slightly as I head to my office and get my notes sorted for the house I’m visiting today for the staging tomorrow afternoon. Not only do I specialize in interior design, but when any of my clients decide to sell their homes, I help them set up their entire house with furniture and decorations to make it feel like a home when potential buyers do walk-throughs. I’m proud to say that every space I’ve staged has sold within twenty-four hours of a showing.

I try to create the dream house that I would’ve loved to have lived in when I was a kid instead of being shuffled from foster home to foster home. My only goal is to create a safe haven for families, a place that feels cozy. And it doesn’t hurt that I bake fresh cookies before each showing so it feels and smells like home.

Lucy pops her head in my office and she’s smiling really big.

“I don’t want to hear about your lunch quickie.” I stop her before she can even open her mouth.

She playfully rolls her eyes. “Do I look like I just had sex?”

I stop what I’m doing and look at her. “Truthfully?”

She nods with wild hair and pink cheeks.

“Yes. Ugh, so jealous,” I say stuffing my files and iPad into my oversized purse, making sure I have the correct address.

“So...” she sits on the edge of my desk.

“Spill it. I know you’ve got something to say. I’ve been working with you for waaaay too long.” I stand, packing my laptop into my bag.

She’s grinning so big that I stop and laugh.

“What? Come on! Tell me!”

She taps her finger on her swollen lips. “What are you doing tomorrow night?”

I look at her like she’s lost her mind. “Probably going to watch Christmas movies and snuggle with my dogs...as usual.”

Lucy takes my hand in hers. “Actually, I was thinking you should join Mr. Wonderful and me for dinner along with his best friend, Dr. Christian Wyatt.”

My mouth falls open and she places her finger under my chin and shuts it.

“Your husband is not best friends with Christian Wyatt.”

She smirks. “Have been since high school. And somehow your name was brought up over drinks last night. So, I thought I’d, I dunno, play matchmaker or something.” She pretends to have a bow and arrow and points it straight toward me.

“You’re serious?” I ask again.

“Let me show you his Facebook. He’s got it pretty locked down but since we’re friends...”

She opens Facebook and scrolls through his photos. A sound escapes me when I see a picture of him hiking shirtless and see abs for days.

“Here’s a picture of him as the best man at my wedding.”

“That tux though,” I say, almost drooling.

“I know. And he’s single and kindhearted. He loves animals more than you do, don’t know how that’s possible, and he hasn’t mentioned a girl in years until last night when your name popped up in our conversation. Of course, I told him about how amazing and single you were.”

Heat rushes to my face, and I might be a little embarrassed.

“I also mentioned how when you’re older you wanted to have seventeen dogs.”

“No. You. Didn’t.”

“Chill out. I’m kidding. I told him how you’re the kindest person I know. And, honestly, I’m slapping myself for not trying to hook you two up sooner. Could’ve saved you some of that online dating torture.”

I groan and roll my eyes.

“He’s just not been interested in anyone. Until you, it seems,” she tells me matter-of-factly with a satisfied smile.

The alarm on my phone goes off and I look at the time and go into panic mode. “Oh crap, I’m going to be late. Text me the details please! Thank you! I love you!”

I grab my purse and rush out of the office to my car and drive across town as fast as I can. Lately I’ve felt like I’ve been in nothing but a rush everywhere I go. My heels clack against the cement as I walk-run across the driveway of the two-story home where I’m doing a walk-through. As soon as I step inside, I go into planning mode, taking pictures with my iPad and double-checking the dimensions of each room. Just as I’m about to leave, the owners pull up with smiles on their faces because they know they’re about to sell this million-dollar home for their asking price.

“Ms. Sinclair,” Jessica says. “I’m so happy you’re helping with this.”

She gives me one of those fake kisses on each cheek and I hold back the eyerolls.

“Me too. I should have everything staged tomorrow afternoon so you can have the showings anytime on Friday.”

“That’s perfect, darling. If you’re as good as everyone says you are, I’ll be writing an extra bonus for you.”

I give her a sweet smile, explain the process, and promise to send her an email with my expectations and timelines of how tomorrow will play out. I head back to the office and park two blocks away because there is no parking at the building. I’m exhausted and my feet are killing me from wearing heels all day. Tomorrow I’m going for flats.

Once I’m back inside, I sit down at my computer and start writing up the email I promised to send Jessica. She’s a high-profile client, and I know that if my staging is perfect, that house will sell with no issues for the price they’re asking. It could open up a lot of opportunities for me, which might allow me to branch out on my own someday. That’s the dream at least.

I set up delivery for the furniture I have being stored off-site and it’ll take several truckloads to get it across town. After a few hours of designing each room, I decide it’s time to call it a night and get back home to my fur babies. The sun is setting over the horizon, and I want nothing more than a glass of wine and a hot bubble bath.

Once I’m home and have taken the dogs out and eaten dinner, I head to the master bathroom. As I turn on the water in the tub, I finally have a moment to think about what happened between Logan and me today. He confuses me. He looks at me like he wants me but he doesn’t respond or make a move or anything. He’s made it clear we’re just friends, and going forward, I’m going to treat it as such, regardless of the way my body responds when his eyes meet mine or how each time we’re together that low hum of electricity seems to stream between us.

Before hopping in the bath, I grab one of my favorite bath bombs off my vanity and toss it into the water. I watch as it fizzes and purple and blue colors start surfacing. It smells amazing, like lavender and ocean mist. It’s so calming, and I enjoy using them whenever I have the time to take a bath.

A text dings on my phone, distracting me from the bath, and when I look at the screen, I nearly faint in shock.

I write out several messages and delete them before I finally find the right words to say. I don’t want to lie, but I feel weird telling him I have a date with Christian.

He doesn’t say he’s going to visit Skylar, but I know he is. It explains so much actually, but every time we have a conversation that’s surrounded with awkward tension, I wish more than anything that I could just tear down his walls. Then again, he’s not the only one who has skeletons hiding in his closet. I just wish he wasn’t so guarded with them, but I honestly understand. I’ve got my own issues I don’t talk about either.

I don’t push him to tell me and I know our conversation is basically over. I slowly step in the steaming bath and sink down into the water. I close my eyes as the hot water relaxes my muscles. It’s so calming and soothing, but I feel a strange sense of guilt overtake me.

Logan and I are just friends and he’s made it very clear he wants to keep it that way. If I’m ever going to get over my feelings for him, I have to date. I have to give people who are interested a chance and that’s exactly what I plan to do—starting now.