Page 179 of Sin Bin

Meadow wasn’t about to admit that she, too, was nervous about bringing him home. Despite the incredible night of lovemaking they’d shared, she didn’t know what the future held for them. She didn’t know what she wanted or what he expected from her. She didn’t want to give her father the impression that their relationship was more serious than it was.

As they entered her neighborhood, Logan slowed the car and looked around, absorbing every detail. “Is this where you lived after you were adopted?”

“No. We moved here after my mother died.” Her voice softened. “Dad didn’t want to leave the old house. But there were so many painful memories…so many ghosts. We were both hurting so much, Aunt Rosalie thought a change of scenery would help us heal and move on. So Dad reluctantly bought this house, and over time we gave ourselves permission to create happy new memories.”

Logan took one hand off the wheel and gave her knee a comforting squeeze.

She smiled at him.

He smiled back before turning down her palm-tree-lined street.

She directed him to the two-story stucco house with the red tile roof. As he pulled into the driveway, she beamed at the sight of her father trimming the manicured shrubs. He had his earbuds in and was listening to music to drown out the high-pitched whine of the electric trimmers. So he didn’t see or hear the car pull up.

Logan climbed out of the Jag and came around to open Meadow’s door. She put her finger to her lips, gesturing for him to be quiet.

His eyes glinted. “It might not be a good idea to sneak up on him while he’s wielding a pair of hedge trimmers.”

His words fell on deaf ears as Meadow started across the large manicured lawn. Grinning impishly, she snuck up behind her father and tapped him on the shoulder.

He jumped and looked over his shoulder, his hazel eyes widening in shock when he saw her.

“Surprise!”

Harris shut off the hedge trimmers, ripped out his earbuds and turned around to stare at her. “Meadow?”

“Hey, Dad! I’m back!”

A broad grin splitting his face, he dropped the hedge trimmers and grabbed her in a warm bear hug. She laughed and hugged him back, savoring the earthy scent of grass mingled with his woodsy aftershave.

“What’re you doing home?” he asked. “Is everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine.” She pulled back and smiled up at him. He was already staring past her at Logan. There was a hint of suspicion in his eyes as he peeled off his work gloves.

Logan stepped forward. “How’re you doing, Mr. Ryan?”

“Good to see you again, Logan.” Harris gave him a firm handshake and clapped him on the shoulder. “It’s been a long time.”

“Yes, sir. It has been.”

Meadow smiled at her father. “I came home to attend Logan’s last game of the season. I would have dropped by sooner, but you weren’t here. How was the leadership conference?”

“Good. Very informative.” Harris wiped the sweat off his brow with the back of his hand. “How long have you been in town?”

“Since Wednesday.” She grinned teasingly. “I thought about pulling a prank by telling you that I was moving back home, but Logan said it wouldn’t be right to get your hopes up.”

Her father laughed. “Thank you for talking some sense into her,” he told a grinning Logan. “Doesn’t she know she can’t be playing with an old man’s emotions like that?”

“Old man?” Meadow snorted. “You’re not even fifty. Talk to me when you need a walking cane.”

He laughed and affectionately tweaked her nose. “Let’s go inside. Trish is here—she’ll be happy to see you. Wendi too, of course,” he added as a quick afterthought.

“Of course.” Meadow gave Logan a meaningful sidelong glance as they followed her father into the house. She’d told him about her strained relationship with Wendi, and he’d been very sympathetic.

“They’re out back.” Harris led them outside to the wraparound deck, where Wendi and Trish were relaxing with glasses of wine.

“Look who couldn’t stay away from home,” he announced jokingly.

Wendi and Trish looked around, their eyes lighting up in surprise. “Meadow! You’re back!”

---