Page 124 of Until the Sea Runs Dry

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The timer ticked over so agonizingly slow, that Jane wondered if she’d be staring at it for the rest of her life.

Having arrived home several hours ago, she’d spent the rest of the day frantically throwing together a carrot cake, after Delia had revealed it had been Logan’s favorite, growing up.

His mom had offered to help, but Jane had wanted to do this on her own. Now that she’d had a chance to see just how much he had been taking care of all those around him, it was important for her to give something back, however small this might seem compared to his lavish gestures.

She knew she had made the right decision when Delia kissed her cheeks as she left, vowing that it wouldn’t be long before they would see each other again.

Standing on the doorstep, those green eyes of hers shining, she had confided, “You are the first woman Logan has introduced me to that I approve of.”

It was a moment after Delia’s car had turned down the drive before Jane was able to compose herself.

Logan was due home in less than two hours. She needed the cake out of the oven and cool enough that she could frost it without the frosting melting.

Kitty hovered close by, picking up on Jane’s anxiety. “I’m sure it’ll be ready in time. Miss. Delia’s recipe has never failed to deliver.”

“I haven’t baked anything since I’ve been here. I have no idea if it’s something I do well or not. I should have just bought one from the store.” Jane paced the kitchen as Loki regarded her with one big ear flopped over to the side. He was carrying yet another of his toys into the new bed she had picked up for him. They surrounded the bed with their rainbow of colors, but he still wasn’t satisfied. He dropped the rubber bone that was in his mouth and padded off — presumably to bring more toys back.

“You followed the instructions perfectly. I’m sure it’ll be fine. Have some faith in yourself.”

But Jane couldn’t stop from over-analyzing every aspect. When had baking a cake become so important? “I’ll bet none of his other girlfriend’s have ever worried about a cake like this.”

Washing the mixing bowl in the sink, Kitty paused as she considered her comment. “No. Then again, you are the first to make him one.”

Wiping down the marble island, Jane’s hand froze. “None of them have ever baked him a birthday cake?”

Kitty’s eyes were a well of sadness. “No. That’s why, he will love this one, no matter how it turns out.”

Jane couldn’t resign herself to what she’d just been told. Logan — who looked after everyone, and in particular, the women in his life — had never had a cake baked for him other than by his mother.

What kind of women had he dated before her?

It was even more important that this cake be perfect. She stole another glance at the clock — the hands had barely moved in the few seconds since she’d last checked. She busied herself by cleaning the kitchen, almost incurring Kitty’s wrath in the process as the woman kept insisting that it was her job to do. When the buzzer finally sounded, Jane was ready with the oven mitts. Kitty had cleared a large space for the cake and had set a rack for it too.

There was a moment of panic as, intoxicated by the smell of the cake, Loki tried to snatch it out of her hands until Kitty had to chase him off with a towel. His howls of displeasure could be heard inside the house, but both women ignored him. With the cake waiting in front of a fan, and Kitty to keep an out on it, Jane persuaded Loki to forgive her and took him into the gardens for a game of catch.

The two raced and chased and tugged in battle, weaving in and around the gardeners at work, laughing at their antics. The gardeners didn’t even seem to mind when Loki stopped by that particular flowerbed that seemed to be his arch nemesis and promptly undid all of their work at fixing the last arrangement of flowers he’d dug up.

Under the crystal sky, with a happy anticipation of the surprises she had in store for Logan, Jane was able to forget her worries of yesterday.

As far as she was concerned, her life was here and now, with this amazing man and his adorable dog.

And she was determined for it to stay that way.

* * *

Logan drummedhis nails on the car door, foot tapping an impatient beat in the footwell.

All day he’d felt a pressure on his chest, pushing down just enough that it was noticeable, though not something he’d need to see the medic about.

He knew what the cause of it was and it had nothing to do with the trying scene that was being shot, or his charmless, antagonizing co-star.

Neither of those worried him as much as this other thing.

He loved his mother more than anyone else in the world, but that didn’t mean he was blind to her ways: the woman could be as sneaky as they came.

But somehow, when she had suggested she spend the day with Jane, Logan hadn’t the wits about him to come up with a suitable excuse. It had been far too early in the day for him to think straight.

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