Page 13 of Logan

“Can I see you again?” he asked.

“I’d like that.”

“Do you horseback ride?”

“I have. I’m not real experienced though I did like it.”

“How about going with me tomorrow? My dad has a few gentle horses. I promise you, I’ll put you on the gentlest horse he has.”

“I’d love to go.”

“Alright. I’ll pick you up tomorrow around eleven. Is that alright?”

“Yes.” Dixie stood on her toes, kissed his lips, entered the apartment, and after giving him a little wave, closed the door, then leaned back against it and couldn’t keep the smile off her face. She couldn’t wait to see him tomorrow.

Things moved quickly for them after that. They spent every spare minute they could together.

Logan took her to meet his father, and Dixie fell in love with Clint Townson. Just as she did with Logan. She fell fast and she fell hard.

Rousing herself from her thoughts, she angrily wiped away tears. She refused to cry one more tear over Logan Townson.

****

As Logan sat in his SUV cruiser, his thoughts ran back to Dixie and how much he’d loved her. After seeing her earlier, he couldn’t get her off his mind. He remembered calling his boss to get off the case…

Logan’s fingers tightened around the phone as he spoke to his boss. “I’m too damn attracted to her,” he admitted with exasperation.

“Damn it, Townson. I didn’t send you there to fall in love,” his boss snapped back.

“I know that. Do you think I want to feel this way?” Logan retorted.

“I can’t pull you off that case—”

“Why the hell not?”

“Because you already met her! If I pull you from that case and send in another agent, it will look suspicious. For God’s sake, you can’t just disappear, and we replace you with someone else. How the hell is that going to look?”

Logan ran his hand through his hair. His boss had a point.

“You don’t have a choice. You will follow through with this. Keep your emotions to yourself and your damn dick in your pants,” his boss emphasized.

“Yeah, alright.” Logan huffed in defeat.

“I mean it, Logan.”

“Yeah, I get it.” With a final sigh, Logan hungup the phone and resisted the urge to throw it across the room. He sat down at the kitchen table, trying to process his conflicting emotions.

“Something wrong, son?” His dad’s voice broke through his thoughts as he entered the kitchen.

“No, Dad. Well, maybe. Hell, I don’t know,” Logan replied honestly.

His dad pulled out a chair and sat down across from him, studying him intently. Logan knew he could trust his father with anything.

After a moment of silence, Logan opened up about his feelings for Dixie. He knew his dad would listen without judgment or repeating anything he said.

“Well, that’s quite a predicament, son,” his dad mused after he finished. “What are you going to do?”

“My job,” Logan answered firmly. “I’m bringing her here today to go horseback riding.” He shook his head. “I shouldn’t even do that.”