Page 51 of Misfortune and Mr. Right

But siblings often have an irresistible need to set the record straight.

Logan looks Jacob dead in the eyes. “When you say you’re working on these things, what exactly do you mean?”

“I mean, they’re in the works. Every great invention starts with ingenuity.”

Logan opens his mouth to say something. Then he shuts it.

“Hard work pays off,” I tell Jacob. “And by hard work, I mean the work that comes after the brainstorming.”

Jacob takes a sip of his drink, as if he doesn’t have a care in the world.

I glance at Logan, and he exhales a long breath.

His eyes are soft—weary, but also possibly relieved.

Was he worried I would judge him for his brother’s choices? Maybe he doesn’t know me as well as I think he does.

Jacob laughs, clearly unfazed. “Touché, Olivia.” Then he looks at Logan and tips his drink in Logan’s direction. “I like her, bro. Always did.”

Jacob smiles at me. “Olivia, you’ve got spunk.”

Then he looks at Logan. “You should keep her around.”

Logan shoots his brother a glare. “Ignore him.”

“I’m trying,” I mutter, thrusting the box at Logan. “Here. I’ll get out of your way.”

“Wait,” Logan says, taking the box and trailing after me as I turn for the door.

I step onto the porch, and Logan follows me. “Sorry you had to walk into … that.”

I shrug. “Not my business. Families are complicated. He’s not a reflection of you—or your parents. Who knows? Maybe one rainy day, you’ll look back on this conversation while you’re putting a pupbrella on Rhett, scratching the wallpaper for one last sniff before your morning walk.”

Logan chuckles. “Yeah. I’m sure that day is right around the corner.”

Logan’s voice drips with a tired sort of sarcasm, but his mouth tips up in a smile. I can’t help but smile back. I nearly made him laugh. And it made me feel better than I usually feel around him.

I walk down the steps toward my car, but then I glance back at Logan. He’s still got that sad, defeated puppy dog look in his eyes. It’s a look I don’t ever remember seeing on his face.

“For what it’s worth,” I tell him. “I don’t think you’re the golden child. You work for what you have. That’s more than can be said for some people.”

Logan blinks. I obviously caught him off guard. Maybe he’s the type who thinks he can disparage his brother but then gets riled up when anyone else speaks the truth about him.

Just when I think Logan’s going to lay into me, defending Jacob, he smiles. It’s not a big, wide-open smile. It’s just a little grin, but it’s enough to make my heart skip a beat.

Whaaaaat?

My heart does not skip a beat for Logan Alexander. Even if he does seem more human than ever. Nope. This is dangerous territory. I’m the fly, buzzing around this soft, beautiful silken web, admiring the beauty and chatting with the spider who wove it. Before I know it, I’ll be stuck, trapped, the spider’s unwitting prey.

“Thanks,” the handsome spider says to me.

He grins again, and I flee.

Sorry, spider. This fly will live to see another day.

Chapter Fourteen

Olivia

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