Chapter 7
Monday morning came before he knew it, and Logan paced in the living room waiting for Brice to show up. It was just two minutes shy of ten, and Logan wanted to get the meeting over with. Not only so he could join Maddy and Bree at the lake, but he was not looking forward to the meeting. This time his guard was up, he would no longer be fooled by the sweet innocent look.
Hearing the car, he walked over to the front door and watched Brice get out of the SUV. Damn, why did the guy have to be so good-looking? His eyes seemed to reflect the sun, and Logan wondered how long Brice and his girlfriend had been together.
“Morning,” Logan said, opening the screen door and allowing Brice to enter. Gay or not, the man still had a great ass, and Logan took a long hard look at it.
“Morning. Is the kitchen fine?”
Logan nodded. Though the man was still nice, he seemed frustrated. But that was not Logan's concern. Heading into the kitchen, they took a seat.
“Coffee?” Logan said.
“Thanks, but no. So, you started work, is that correct?”
Logan nodded. “I did last week. I’m basically working Tuesday through Saturday. It will take about three weeks before my first paycheck.”
“Excellent. Just get a photocopy of the paystub so I can have one. Pass them along with each meeting is fine.”
Logan nodded. He found his heart racing again, his breath short in his chest. The guy was up to it again, playing the sweet innocent look. For the next few minutes Brice asked him some basic questions about any drug use, illegal activities, and the typical questions he expected.
When Brice was done, he stood up, looking ready to go, his face anxious. “Alright, Logan, keep up the good work. I think the next five and half months should be smooth for both of us,” Brice said.
“I think so too.”
“Any plans for the day?” Brice asked, his hand going to the back of the chair. Logan glanced at it, noticing the smoothness of the skin, wondering what it would be like to hold that hand.
“I’m heading down to the lake at the end of the property. My sister and Bree are down there.”
Brice nodded. “Would that be the blond woman from last week?” he spat out rather fast, causing Logan to be confused. It seemed he was almost upset.
“That’s her. There’s only one Bree.”
“Pretty woman. You’re a lucky guy.”
Logan laughed, a shake to his head. “No, it’s not like that. She’s like a sister to me and has been best friends with Maddy for nearly twenty years now.”
Brice laughed pretty hard. “Oh, that’s great,” he said, then cleared his throat. “I mean, that’s great they are best friends.”
Logan bit at his lip. Could it be? “Not to invade in your personal life, but was that your girlfriend the other day at the park?”
Brice shook his head. “The park?” Then his eyes went side. “Oh no! That was Carol, I work with her. We took a lunch together, it’s not like that.”
Logan felt relief wash through him, the anger and fear of being played leaving him. This guy did like him, and just like with the man’s belief about a relationship between Logan and Bree, it was apparent they had both misjudged a situation.
Logan laughed. “That is too funny. I saw you two hugging, and well…” he said, his voice trailing off, not sure what to say.
“You’re telling me. I saw the blond—sorry, Bree—running up to you, and I thought, well….”
Both stood in silence, and Logan could have sworn he heard Brice's heartbeat as well as his own. Then looking into the eyes of the cop, he wanted to reach over and pull the man in and hold him.
“Not that I was thinking about it,” Brice said, breaking Logan from his thoughts.
“Exactly. And I mean, like, it’s my business who you date?” Logan added.
They both laughed, and then heading out to the front porch, Logan stopped and turned towards Brice.
“I appreciate you making these meetings simple, and hell, they’re fun.” He then offered his hand out, Brice shaking it instantly. The feeling was strong, warm, and compassionate. And as Logan stood staring, he felt himself being pulled in once again.
“Anytime. Well, I guess I better go.”
“Wait,” Logan said, missing the feeling of the hand that left his. “Come down to the lake with us.”
He saw Brice hesitate, his face looking as though it was contemplating it but unsure if he should.
“I mean, you need to see what I'm doing. I could be running a drug company down there or something.”
Brice laughed. “I guess you could be. Grab your stuff, I’ll give you a ride down there.”
Logan smiled and then hurried back inside.
***
“I appreciate the lift,” Logan said, getting into the passenger side of the SUV. He was wearing his shoes, swim trunks, and no shirt.
“Of course,” Brice said, his eyes checking Logan out, bringing a smile to Logan's face.
“So, how am I getting there?”
“Go back to the road, take a right, then the first right again leads right to it,” Logan said, putting his seatbelt on and making sure to give his bicep an extra flex. He heard Brice give a small gasp, and he bit down on his lip to stop a laugh.
“So, no girlfriend for you?” Logan asked, not wanting to beat around the bush, but still not wanting to ask him right out if he was gay. He watched Brice smirk as he pulled the SUV around and then headed down the driveway.
“No,” Brice said, not offering any more information.
It was quiet for a moment, then the SUV turned onto the road that led to the lake.
“None for me either. Never had one, never will,” Logan offered to see how Brice would react.
He watched Brice nod. Logan let his eyes roam over the cop, soaking him in.
“Same here.”
They drove in silence, and once they got to the lake, Logan smiled. It connected both Bree’s property and their own, with each technically owning half of it. Her parents were always out in Europe or one of the many other homes they owned around the country and had often left Bree alone, even when she was under eighteen. It had continually crushed the poor girl, and Logan and Maddy had always made sure she had a home with them.
The road leading to it was rough and not meant to be traveled on by anything less than a four-wheel drive to keep any strangers at bay. Not that Hollow Grove had a lot.
When Brice pulled the SUV to a clear spot and put it in park, Logan said, “I'm going to be honest, Brice, I don't like cops. But you, you seem like one of the good ones I hear about. Anyway, I appreciate the way you treat me.”
Brice turned to him. “Same about convicts. You seem to go against the mold. Keep up the good work,” he said, extending his hand.
Logan took it and gave it a shake and then they both stared at each other for what seemed like eternity. He wanted to lean over and kiss him, but Brice spoke up instead.
“See you next Monday?”
Logan went to nod, but then a thought came to his mind. If this attraction was real, there was one way he could test the waters with it. “I almost forgot. I have to help Maddy early in the morning. Could we make it around noon? I could even provide you some lunch for the trouble.”
It was quiet for what seemed like eternity, but then Brice spoke up.
“Sounds good. See you then.”
Logan got out of the SUV, closed the door, and watched as Brice drove off. What had started off as a day wanting nothing more than never to see Brice again had ended with Logan wanting to see him more than ever.
***
Logan, Maddy, and Bree spent a few hours at the lake, and walking back through their property, Logan laughed as both women complained about the heat.
“I swear, I'm lying under the fan in the living room when we get back,” Maddy said, with Bree agreeing with her.
Logan smiled as they came to the porch. Heading inside, both girls went right under the fan, which was circulating the cold AC, and lay down still wearing their swimming suits.
“Logan, get me a Coke, please,” Maddy said.
“Me too, honey bunch,” Bree said, and they both laughed.
With a smile, Logan went to the fridge and came back, handing them each one and then lay out next to them. The cold air did feel good, and the cold drink even better.
“Do you girls want pizza tonight for dinner?” Logan asked, then took another drink.
“Sounds great. I will buy if you go get it,” Bree said, a smile on her face.
“I was planning on it. Pick out a few movies for tonight while I'm gone, because I'm beat and don't want to get up off the couch once I get back.”
He looked over at Maddy, whose face looked worried. Her breathing was off and she sat up, her hand going to her chest.
“Maddy?” Logan asked, setting his Coke down, his heart racing.
“It’s OK, honey, I'm here,” Bree said, sitting up and taking Maddy's hand.
Maddy nodded but tears rolled down her face.
“It’s a panic attack, but Maddy is strong, aren't you, sweetie?” Bree said.
Logan felt absolutely helpless as he watched his sister cry, the fear in her eyes and face so evident. But watching Bree talk to her and console her put him a little at ease. It would be something he would talk to Bree about later, so he could help Maddy as well.
But for now he could not shake the feeling of helplessness, and grabbing his drink and not wanting to see his sister suffer, he hurried to the bathroom to shower.