Page 31 of Embattled Return

Marigold came to mind, with her bright green eyes and dark hair. Logan had a feeling that she would have a field day playing in his brain once she got through school.

Sighing, he swiveled to face his laptop, but those eyes taunted him. The hurt he’d put there didn’t sit well with him, but he wasn’t sure how to approach her to apologize.

He looked at the phone on the bedside table. It was silent. It was always silent. The most excitement he’d had recently was when a telemarketing company had added him to their roster. Though he hadn’t driven for more than a year, and had no vehicle, he listened to the warning that his car warranty was about to expire.

TV sucked. The one time he’d turned it on he’d gotten so sick of the political ads he’d turned it off immediately.

When there was a knock at his door, he almost didn’t believe he’d actually heard it. The knock came again, motivating him up out of the chair. He crossed the room and peered through the peephole.

Those brilliant, smiling green eyes he’d just been thinking about looked back at him. Fuck, what was she doing here?

“Hold on,” he said, shuffling back enough to open the door. He peered around the edge. “Marigold. What are you doing here?”

She lifted her brows, looking curiously at the door. “Well, it’s a beautiful afternoon and I thought I’d get you out of the crappy hotel room. Have you moved at all since I left you here Friday?”

He scowled, not liking how transparent she thought he was. “Yes, I have, actually.”

She rolled her expressive eyes. She wore her glasses today, as well as a pair of blue jeans that seemed painted on her they were so tight. “For more than getting ice down the hallway?”

His face must have revealed guilt because she laughed. “Come on. If you’re going to be out here you might as well see the city.”

Logan stared at her for a moment. “Do you mind waiting for me downstairs? I’m not dressed.”

The humor faded from her expression and something more aware settled in. Her irises dilated and he wondered, somewhat regretfully, what she thought he looked like without his clothes. “Believe me,” he said quickly. “You’re not missing anything.”

She blinked and her cheeks flushed with color. Quickly, she backed away from the door. “I’ll be downstairs in the pick-up loop. Take your time.”

Logan shut the door firmly, wondering what the hell he was going to do. The woman was stirring emotion he didn’t want to deal with, let alone have.

* * *

Marigold thoughthe had agreed to go with her, but it took him a while to get downstairs. The front desk clerk kept giving her the side-eye through the big window to the left, but Marigold wasn’t moving. There was plenty of room for other vehicles to get around her if they needed. Maybe he just didn’t like her car.

When Logan eventually appeared, her heart thudded with excitement. Though he was too old in the eyes, there was something about him that drew her. She had been praying for John to find out information as much as Logan had, just so that she had a reason to see him again. Then, she thought, fuck it. She was a grown ass woman. If she thought Logan actually meant what he’d said, she wouldn’t have bothered, but she truly believed that he had fears of becoming attached, then being hurt again. He had told her as much with the no commitment crap. And if she put herself in his shoes, so to speak, she would probably have fears of being a burden on someone. Without his even speaking the words she knew his injuries were catastrophic and would be something he would have to deal with the rest of his life.

The blue ball cap shaded his face as he settled into the car, the crutches going alongside his legs. It was cold out and he’d bundled into his gray wool coat. There was a navy-blue sweater beneath the coat, and blue jeans. He wore those brown boots a lot, and she wondered if he needed the support for his ankle joints.

“We can put those crutches in the back if you need more room,” she said.

“I’m okay,” Logan told her, glancing out the side window at the attendant, then back at her.

Marigold didn’t think he turned his head away to hide from her as much anymore, and she appreciated that. The scars on his face were bad, but not hide away from the world bad.

“I’ll admit, I’m surprised to see you,” he said. “I thought I made my position clear.”

She looked him in the eye. “No commitment, I know. But I was worried about you. I doubt you’ve eaten anything decent for a while, so I thought I’d take you to a local watering hole. It has incredibly good food, and you’ll be supporting a veteran.”

His jaw tightened, and he stared at her for a long moment, before eventually giving her a reluctant nod. “Fine.”

“But before we do that, I thought I’d show you a few highlights of the city.” She smiled at him and lifted her brows, trying to lighten his mood. She’d jerked him out of his lair and he wasn’t necessarily happy about it, but he could lighten up a little.

“I’d appreciate that. Not sure I’m up for hiking the mountains yet, but maybe another day.”

She snorted, appreciating the attempt at humor, though it was self-denigrating. “That’s fine. This is a car tour. No hiking needed unless you want to get out and look around.”

Marigold turned toward downtown first. They were only a few blocks from the capitol building. When they idled by, she pointed. “If you stand on one of those steps you’ll be exactly one mile above sea level.”

“Ah, very cool,” Logan murmured. “I always wondered where that point was.”

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