Page 81 of Sin Bin

“Totally.” Meadow plopped down on a stool at the center island and stretched her arms above her head, grateful to be off the road.

“Be right back.” Her aunt left to take the beer to Logan. When she returned, she was grinning from ear to ear. “I hate to tell you this, but I think you’ve been replaced in Cam’s affections.”

Meadow scowled. “No way. Never.”

Laughing, Rosalie propped her elbows on the island countertop and leaned forward to grin at Meadow. “There’s something downright irresistible about a man who’s naturally good with kids. It makes him a thousand times hotter.” Her grin spread. “I can tell Logan’s going to make an excellent father someday.”

Meadow thought the same thing, but she didn’t want to dwell on it or the way it made her heart feel.

Rosalie’s hazel eyes twinkled. “Your dad told me that Logan kept you company during your road trip. He says you guys talked through the night.”

“We did.” Meadow toyed with the water bottle cap, screwing and unscrewing as her aunt watched her closely. “He’s a good friend.”

“Of course he’s a good ‘friend.’ Why else would he stay up all night with you and then show up here just minutes after you arrived? What other explanation could there possibly be?” Rosalie gave her a meaningful smile.

Meadow felt her cheeks heat up. She finished her water and then slid off the stool. “I think I’ll go see what the boys are up to.”

Her aunt laughed and followed her out to the tastefully furnished living room, where Logan and Cameron were battling each other in a rowdy game of NHL Hockey on Xbox. Cam must have brought the gaming console from the basement. Logan was playing himself while Cam used the player he’d created. Sporting his newly autographed jersey, he was giggling maniacally and talking mad trash.

“Watch me deke on you, Logan. I’m gonna make you— Aw, man!” he groaned protestingly as Logan thwarted his scoring attempt.

“C’mon, son,” Logan taunted. “You’ve gotta come better than that.”

Rosalie grinned at them. “I hate to break up this epic duel, but Cameron needs to get ready for his best friend’s birthday party and sleepover.”

“Do I have to go?” Cam asked without taking his eyes off the game. “I wanna stay here with Logan!”

“Of course you have to go,” his mother chided. “Jaxon is your best friend. You’ve been looking forward to his laser-tag party for weeks.”

“I know but…” Cam trailed off sheepishly.

Logan paused the game and ruffled the boy’s hair. “We’ll hang out some other time. Go have fun with your best bud, and eat lots of birthday cake for me.” He winked. “Especially if it’s chocolate.”

Cam beamed at him, making his mother laugh as she predicted, “He’s going to brag to everyone that he was playing hockey with Logan Brassard.”

“Yup!” Cam crowed gleefully. “They’re gonna be so jealous!”

Everyone laughed as the little boy scampered off to his room to pack his sleepover bag.

“I’d better finish wrapping Jaxon’s present.” Rosalie clapped her hands together and smiled at Meadow. “The bosses gave me the night off to attend a big charity gala with some of my colleagues. I’ll come back after the birthday party to get dressed, then I’ll be home pretty late.”

Meadow nodded and glanced at Logan.

He gave her a lazy smile.

She plucked at the hem of her sweatshirt, feeling frumpy and unkempt and totally out of her league. “I think I’ll, uh, go hop in the shower.”

A wicked gleam flickered in Logan’s eyes. He probably would have made a suggestive quip if her aunt hadn’t been standing right there.

“I’ll bring in your stuff,” he told her.

“Oh, you don’t have to do that by yourself. I’ll help—”

“Don’t worry about it. I can handle it.”

“But—”

“But nothing. Go take a shower and unwind. I got this.”

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