Page 33 of Logan

She opened her mouth to speak, but with no words forthcoming, she closed her lips, and Logan observed them quiver slightly. He battled the urge to press his mouth against hers to settle the nerves he felt move through her body.

Instead, he blew out a long breath and spoke in gentle tones. “I see I’m starting to get through. That's what I meant when I said I needed you here to watch their comings and goings. Not going over and meeting them. What if I had been late getting home? You would have been here with five known terrorists. And the instant one of them suspected you were anything other than a new wife taking some online classes, they would have killed you without compunction…and I wouldn’t have known what had happened.”

Tears welled in her eyes, and he hated making her feel as though her sense of accomplishment was decimated. Her shoulders slumped, but instead of Logan pulling away after making his point, he gently pulled Sakari from her arms and set the cat on the floor. He encircled Vivian’s shoulders and pulled her forward until her face planted in his chest. His arms slid around her back as he barely rocked side to side, and her arms wrapped around his waist as she held on, accepting the comfort he offered.

“I’m sorry,” she said, a silent trail of a lonely tear sliding down her face, soaking into his shirt. “I just wanted to help.”

“I know,” he said, his voice softer as his hand stroked up and down her back. “But you’re here to do the lab work and be my eyes when I’m not. That’s all. I can’t do my job properly if you’re not doing yours.”

She unclasped her hands and opened her arms, stepping back. Swallowing deeply, she offered a jerky nod, then smiled wobbly with a quick swipe underneath her eyes. The deep blush on her cheeks gave evidence to her embarrassment, and that was the last thing he wanted her to feel.

“Right…uh…right.” Glancing at the dishes in the sink, she said, “I can get these later. I think I’ll…uh…take a shower.” Slipping around him, she hurried down the hall and closed the bathroom door.

Logan stood in the kitchen, dropping his chin as he stared at his boots for a moment, his heart strangely heavy. Sakari stared up at him, the cat’s intense gaze feeling like a judgment. Rubbing his hand over his face, he pinched the bridge of his nose as his eyes squeezed shut.

“Fuck,” he whispered. This mission was not like any he had ever attempted, and it appeared to be getting more complicated by the hour.

Walking into the now dark living room, he stared at their neighbor’s house for a long moment before pulling out his phone and placing a call.

“What’s up, Logan?”

He heard the concern in Landon’s voice. “Would you believe I came home today, and she was in the front yard with the whole terrorist group having a barbecue? She said it just happened, but she managed to get them to talk about some things I would never have gotten and did it all under the guise of just being a cute neighbor.”

There were three seconds of silence before Landon snorted. “I swear, I can’t decide if that’s brilliant or fuckin’ crazy.” Then he started to chuckle. “You know, you’ve just called her cute. Is there something going on?”

“No.”

“Okay, fast but short answer. I’m sorry if that was the wrong thing to assume.”

He dropped his head to stare dumbly at the scuffed wooden floors, and his shoulders slumped as a heavy sigh left his lungs. “No, it wasn’t. She is beautiful and smart. And swear to God, she’s funny. But also maddening. She doesn’t seem to get thedanger from these people. She’s trying to help and manages to do what I ask, but then when I’m not around, she also manages to get herself in situations I can’t control.”

“Is that the issue? You’ve met someone you can’t control?”

Thoughts of the shared kiss from earlier lingered in his mind. “No,” he lied, then offered a kernel of truth. “I’m just not sure how all this works.”

“Take some time to get to know her. I know that wasn’t necessary for the mission, but it’ll make you more comfortable with being around her. You two will seem more natural.”

“Yeah, maybe that’s what I need. Anyway, I should be able to get the inside cameras up tomorrow since Vivian managed to find out they go shopping on Thursdays, and then we’ll make fast work of this. I should have it all wrapped up soon. Thanks.”

“Not sure I did much, but what are friends for anyway.” Landon laughed.

Disconnecting, he leaned his hands on the countertop, his gaze still aimed downward.Just think of her like any team member you’ve worked with.Not nearly as easy as the other Keepers thought it would be. He’d seen the look in her eyes after they’d kissed and knew she felt something. He wondered if he was brave enough to let her know he felt something, too.

20

Vivian slipped under the covers, her flannel pajamas giving warmth when cold slithered throughout her body. Still feeling foolish from her conversations with Logan after the events of the day, she sucked in a deep breath before letting it out slowly.

Sakari hopped up on her bed and began to paw her way to a comfortable position. Vivian smiled as her fingers trailed along the soft fur, the movement calming her tumultuous thoughts.

Clearing her mind, she began to focus on the next day.No more Miss Investigator. No more trying to help beyond what I was assigned. I’ll take some things to the shed and get them ready. I’ll watch out the window and take notes. That’s it. That’s all.

Satisfied she had her mind re-centered on what she needed to do, she rolled over, careful of the now slumbering cat before slipping into a restless slumber, thoughts of the earlier shared kiss dancing in her mind.

Shuffling down the hall the following morning, Vivian assumed Logan had already left for work. Her plan was to sit at the laptop and log the activities next door all day, doing nothing but that, no matter her inclinations.

Her gaze landed on Sakari sitting in the middle of the living room, licking her whiskers, giving evidence of having had a meal. She came to a sudden halt at the sight of Logan in the kitchen.

He turned, blasting an unexpected early morning grin her way as his gaze roamed from her head to her toes and back again, landing on her wide-yawning mouth. Without speaking, he pushed a cup of coffee toward her, and she wrapped her hands around it, mumbling her thanks.

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