Chapter 12
Logan smiled as he opened his eyes, ready for the day ahead. It had been three days since he and Brice talked, and he was glad that at least they could have a friendship. Neither was ready for a relationship, or even dating, yet both needed another man to talk to. Smiling, his eyes glanced over and his heart jumped when he saw Bree lying next to him on top of the covers.
“Morning, sexy. Last night was wonderful,” she purred.
“Wh-what?” Logan said, his mind racing as well as his heart. He didn't drink and would have known if he had done something like that. Bree started laughing, and her face went red as tears streamed down her face.
“Maddy, it worked!”
Logan turned as the door opened and Maddy stood there, a huge smile on her face.
“Logan, do you think I would actually do that? Sneak in and try to sleep with you?” Bree asked, still laughing as she crawled off the bed.
“Well, no, it’s just…” he said, finally seeing the humor in the situation. And the look on both of their faces was priceless, especially Maddy's. Like Bree, she had laughed so hard, tears were rolling down her cheeks. If these jokes are what it took to make her happy, then he would be the butt of them every day.
“That is the funniest thing I have seen in a long time. Your eyes went so big,” Maddy said, wiping at her eye.
“Should’ve told him I was already pregnant,” Bree said, with a sharp nod. Both girls giggled and then closed the door behind them, leaving him alone. Letting out a chuckle himself, he got out of bed and headed to the bathroom.
After relieving himself, he got right into the shower and let the hot water run over his body. His mind went to Brice, and friend or not, the man was handsome. It was the sophisticated good looks that turned Logan on. The smooth skin, the playboy-style eyes, and the straight posture. Rubbing the soap on his chest, he imagined for a moment Brice was in the shower with him. His hands moved the soap across his chest, his back, and other, more intimate, areas, the whole time thinking of what he could do with him. After his shower, he headed back to his bedroom, selected a pair of jeans and a tee-shirt, and then went to the kitchen where the aroma of bacon, eggs, toast and fresh coffee greeted him.
“Hey, lover, have a seat,” Bree said with a laugh, then gave Maddie a high-five.
“Yeah, yeah,” Logan said, taking a seat. A minute later they were all seated and busy eating. Maddy was a wiz in the kitchen and could make something as simple as an egg taste like fine dining, and paired with the local bacon, Logan was in heaven. He would never take good food for granted ever again. As he shoveled the food in his mouth, Logan glanced over at the girls.
Bree gave him a wink, then nodded towards Maddy. She still had a smile on her face.
“You know, you two got me good this morning. I’m going to have to get you back though,” Logan said, then took a drink of his coffee.
“What? No, we’re even now for the hypnotizing stunt,” Maddy said, and Logan almost spit out his coffee. Back when both girls were around fourteen, they had snuck into his room late at night, and reading from a script, they told Logan that he was head over heels in love with Bree. He had not been asleep but had repeated the words back to both of them, their laughs then the same as today. But it was the next morning, when he went full-on in ‘love mode’ with Bree that had both the so girls worried that they snuck back in to break the hypnosis the following night.
“Which you two started,” he said. “Yep, I’m going to come up with something, just you wait and see.”
Both girls rolled their eyes while he returned to his food.
Looking out the window Logan noticed how the weather was perfect, the sun shining and not a cloud in the sky. Looking back at Maddy the sun reflected off her smile, warming not only her face but his heart as well.
***
“Well, Logan, I'm glad things are turning around for you,” Fred Thomas, an old farmer who had lived in the area for as long as Logan was alive, said. “Stop by some time and say hi if you want.”
“Thanks, Fred, I will. And say hello to Emma for me.”
Fred nodded, took his bag of purchases, and then headed out the door. Fred was just another of a handful of people that Logan had bumped into since returning. And surprisingly, more and more were welcoming him back. Hearing a laugh, he turned to where both Maddy and Bree were decorating a mannequin with new clothes and seeming to be having a blast.
The store had been slow all morning and now, in the early afternoon, he wondered if the great weather outside was keeping people away. The door opened again and his heart picked up, a smile on his face as Brice walked in. He went to raise his hand in a greeting, then stopped when he saw Harry walk in behind him.
“Well, ain't this the cutest little store?” Harry said as both men approached the counter. Logan made a fist, trying to remain calm.
“What can I help you with, Harry?” Logan asked, making brief eye contact with Brice.
“Well, if I wanted shit, I would contact Doug for a ton of manure, but thank you all the same,” Harry said, his lip curling up.
Logan glanced to his left. Both Maddy and Bree were approaching, and with a quick shake of his head, both girls stopped in their tracks.
“So what do you want?”
“Whatever I damn well please. But I just thought I would take a look around this place. Seems legit. No drug running going on I take it?”
“No. I don't do drugs, you know that.”
Harry shrugged, his chins rising up as he turned, his eyes going to both girls. Logan stuck his hand out and gripped the counter until his knuckles turned white as he watched Harry let his eyes roam over both women.
“Hello, Miss Bree, don't you look pretty?” Harry said, his tongue licking at his lips.
“Thanks, Sheriff,” Bree mumbled, then taking Maddy's hand, pulled her away towards the back of the store. Logan exhaled, glad Bree got them both out of there.
“Logan, as you know surprise inspections are part of your parole,” Brice said, his voice calm, his brown eyes telling Logan he was sorry.
“I understand.”
Harry leaned against the counter, his gut testing the strength of the glass as it pushed in.
“That Bree is a hot little thing. Wouldn't mind a few nights with her. What do you think, Logan?”
Logan bit at his lip, not wanting to take the bait. Then his heart sank when Brice walked away. Part of him couldn't blame him, the other part felt betrayed by his new friend who wouldn’t stand up for him.
“Or maybe that sister of yours. I heard she likes it rough,” Harry whispered.
“Don't you ever…” Logan started to say.
“Or what? You want to threaten me, boy? Go right ahead.”
The anger that went through Logan was so great, he barely had control over it. He knew one or two punches is all it would take to lay Harry on the floor. But then it would be back to prison, and away from Maddy.
“Harry, found some drugs!” Brice called out, his voice excited.
Logan was shocked, seeing Brice smile and Harry turn around.
“Let me see that,” Harry said, waddling over and taking the small pouch. Harry looked down, and then Logan saw Brice wink at him.
“Damn son, you don't know what drugs look like? This is a freshener for clothes,” Harry said, throwing the white packet on the ground.
“Crap. Sorry, thought it was maybe a new way of disguising them. Well, I'll buy you lunch for my mess-up.”
“I'm hungry,” Harry mumbled. Turning around, he looked at Logan. “I’ll be keeping my eye on you. And your sister.” He winked, and it took every muscle in Logan’s body not to punch the man in his face.
They headed out of the store, with Brice mouthing “Sorry.”
Logan nodded, and then as soon as they were gone, headed to the door and locked it. He went to the backroom, where he found both Bree and Maddy standing there in an embrace. Maddy was sobbing, and Logan's heart broke all over again seeing her in pain.
“Fat fucking asshole,” Maddy said. “He’s as crooked as they come.” She broke her hug from Bree and then held on to Logan.
He rubbed her back and gave her a kiss on the top of her head. “I know. Are you two OK?” he asked, then looked over at Bree.
“I'm fine. Pervert has been staring at my tits for years. Glad you didn't knock him out, Logan, though he deserved it.”
Logan smiled, then a minute later they all embraced. Not wanting the day to be ruined, and to bring back the laughs from the morning, Logan spoke up. “Maddy, you’re the boss, but what do you say we call it a day? It’s nice outside and we shouldn't be cooped up in here.”
Maddy smiled as the hug broke. “Yeah, that would be nice.”
“Picnic lunch then a night of monopoly?” Bree asked.
“You two are wild. You make the guys in prison look calm,” Logan teased, and then they all laughed.
And that was what was important, as long as they all laughed, Logan would do whatever it took.