Page 13 of The Wounded Mountain Man

Logan turns to face me, drying his hands on a dish towel. "Let me check my overflowing social calendar… Oh, look. Turns out I'm free any night apart from Sunday, because that's dinner with my folks, and book club the first Tuesday of every month."

"So you're free this Friday?"

He grins. "I am."

"And you want to come?"

He knows Hattie and the kids, and even though he seemed relaxed with the guys at the center, I still want to make sure this isn't overwhelming for him.

"I'd love to. Actually, wait. I have an idea."

He shares what he's come up with, and I smile. "Cool. I think Hattie will like that." He turns around again, and my gaze drops to that delectable ass. "I'll speak to her about it today."

"I've got a bone to pick with you, mister."

Thankfully, Hattie's words are drowned out by Sofie and Jax barreling toward me. "Uncle Waaade!"

"Careful. No jumping," Hattie calls out from behind them, and just as they're about to launch themselves at me, they stop. I carefully lower onto my knee and bring them in for hugs, one on each arm. "Hey, kiddos. I missed you both so much."

"We missed you, too, Uncle Wade," Sofie replies.

I close my eyes for a moment, breathing in their familiar kid scent of shampoo and vanilla. I didn't want to wait until Fridayto see them, so I texted Hattie after breakfast to see if I could drop in and say hi to them before school.

"Did you bring us a present?" Jax asks, grinning up at me with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

"Jax, honey, we don't ask people for gifts, we're just happy to see them."

His smile vanishes, and he turns to Hattie. "Shut up!"

"Hey," I snarl, making both him and Sofie flinch. I point my finger at Jax, and he gulps. "That's no way to speak to your mother."

Looking remorseful, he turns to her and says, "Sorry, Mom."

"Inside, please," she says, and once they're gone, she heaves out a deep sigh. "Just one finger, one sentence from you, and I get an apology on the spot. What's your secret?"

"Don't take it personally," I say, getting back to my feet. "I was a shit when Dad was away. It would take one of Dad's military buddies coming over and giving me the finger-growl combo to get me into line."

Hattie sags against the porch railing. "I thought I had a few more years until hormones turned them against me."

"Boys can start early."

"Boys are the worst." She jabs me sharply in the chest. "And so are grown-up boys."

"Ow. What did I do?"

"The money that mysteriously found its way into my cash register."

"Oh, that. It's a…Christmas miracle?"

Her eyes narrow. "It's April."

"Take it," I plead. "Don't make me give you the finger-growl combo."

"I'd like to see you try." Her expression softens. "Thank you. I'll pay you back."

"Absolutely not."

She throws her hands up in the air. "Ugh. Boys!"

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