Page 44 of Wild Boys After Dark: Logan
“Hi, Mrs. Dalton. I’m…” She hesitated out of habit, and realized Willow already knew her real name and she’d already revealed it to her mother. Logan must really trust them to have shared her true identity. She wasn’t sure why that hadn’t clicked earlier. Probably because Willow had instantly made her feel comfortable.
“Stella Krane. It’s nice to meet you.”
Willow’s mom waved a dismissive hand. “Pfft. Call me Roxie, honey. The only one allowed to call me Mrs. Dalton is…Well, I can’t think of a darn soul around here.” She tugged Stella into a hug, crushing her so hard against her chest that she could barely breathe.
“So you’re Logan’s girl. Nice man, that Logan Wild.” She took Stella’s hand and led her to one of the tables by the window.
Stella stole a glance at Willow, ringing up the couple’s purchase. Willow shrugged and smiled, as if this was how life was around here. Stella shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Logan’s girl? What had he told them?
Roxie leaned across the table and took Stella’s hands in her own. “Oh, sugar. What is that trouble I see brewing in your eyes?”
Am I that transparent?
Roxie patted Stella’s hand. The couple left the bakery, making the bells sound again. Stella looked at the door, over at Willow, anywhere except into the eyes of the warm, friendly mind reader sitting across from her.
“Don’t tell me, sugar. Just know that whatever it is, if you need to talk, Willow and I are here. Any friend of Logan’s is a friend of ours.”
Willow stood beside the table holding the box her mother had set on the counter. “Mom, I have enough soap. I’ll share it with Bridge.”
Roxie released Stella’s hands and rose to her feet. “Nonsense. You can never have enough soap.”
Willow rolled her eyes. “My mom makes her own soap and other incredibly delicious-smelling lotions and fragrances.”
“Did I see Mom’s car?” Another tall blonde, with a little boy perched on her hip, came through the archway that led from the flower shop. Stella quickly realized it was Bridgette, Willow’s older sister. Willow had raved about Bridgette and her three-year-old son, Louie. The only similarities between the sisters were their friendly smiles and their green eyes. Bridgette’s shoulder-length hair was wavy and thick with multiple shades of blond and brown, while Willow’s was as blond as blond could be, and her braid hung almost to her waist.
“There’s my little pumpkin.” Roxie reached for Louie.
“Grandma Roxie!” He wrapped his lithe arms around her neck and hugged her with all his might. Roxie glanced over her shoulder at Stella. “Nice to meet you, Stell. I’m going to take my boy into the flower shop and see what he’s been up to in there.”
Stella felt a pang in her heart at the scene unfolding before her. She longed to see her mother, to know how she was feeling and to feel her arms around her.
No sense pining over something I might never be able to do again.
As she’d done so many times before, she tucked thoughts of her mother away and focused on Willow and her family. Bridgette was less animated and much leaner than curvy Willow, though they were both equally beautiful.
Bridgette reached into the box, and Willow turned the box away from her with a mischievous smile.
“Willow!” Bridgette smiled at Stella and rolled her eyes, like this was a familiar battle. “Hi. I’m Bridgette, and that little monkey was my son, Louie.”
Stella returned the smile. “Hi, I’m Stella. A friend of Logan’s.”
Bridgette and Willow exchanged a glance that told of sisterly secrets. Stella felt a pang of longing again. She was envious of the energy between the two girls, and it made her long for friendships again. She’d become an expert at ignoring her loneliness, but being here with Willow today brought it all to the forefront.
Bridgette set an assessing gaze on her.
“What?” Stella asked with a hint of confusion.
“Logan doesn’t bring friends here,” Bridgette said. “We’ve met one of his hot brothers, but otherwise, he comes alone.”
“She’s his girlfriend,” Willow said with an air of confidence. When Stella opened her mouth to respond, Willow handed the box of soap to Bridgette and held a palm up to Stella. “Don’t even try to deny it.”
“I’m not getting in the middle of this, but you could do a lot worse than Logan. He’s the nicest guy around, and easy on the eyes, too.” Bridgette glanced in the box. “Take what you want and I’ll put the rest in the pantry so we can share them, Will.”
