Page 32 of Beary In Love

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LOGAN

Logan leaned against his truck, the afternoon sun warming his face. His bear stirred as Serena's scent drifted to him on the breeze before he caught sight of her. She walked down the street in fitted jeans and a light sweater, her hair caught up in that messy bun he found oddly appealing.

"Hey," he called out, straightening up. "Need help with your kit?"

"I've got it." Serena disappeared inside her house.

Logan drummed his fingers on the hood of his truck. Even after all this time, being around her made his skin prickle with awareness. When she emerged with her veterinary kit, he opened the passenger door.

"Such a gentleman," she teased, climbing in.

"Don't let it get around. I have a reputation to maintain." He slid behind the wheel, catching another whiff of her lavender-vanilla scent. "The raccoon's been asking about you."

"The one that kept trying to steal my stethoscope?"

"That's the one. Think he's got a crush on you."

"At least someone does." Serena's laugh filled the cab.

"Oh, I wouldn't say he's the only one." The words completely slipped out before he could stop them. Heat crept up his neck.

"Logan Steele, are you flirting with me?"

"Depends. Is it working?" He shot her a sideways grin, pleased when color bloomed in her cheeks.

"You're impossible." But she was smiling.

"Part of my charm." He navigated the winding road toward the sanctuary, hyperaware of her presence beside him. "Remember that time we went swimming at Miller's Pond?"

"When you pushed me in?"

"When you pulled me in after you, you mean."

"Details." She waved her hand dismissively. "Though I seem to recall someone squealing like a little girl."

"Bears don't squeal."

"This one did."

The easy banter continued as trees thickened around them. Logan found himself relaxing, remembering how natural it had always been between them. Before everything went wrong. Before she left.

But she was here now, wasn't she? And maybe that was enough for today.

Logan soon pulled into the familiar sanctuary's gravel driveway. He cut the engine once they reached the front entrance and quickly hopped out. He circled around to get Serena's door before she could reach for it. His bear preened at her small smile of thanks. The afternoon air carried the mixed scents of pine, animals, and her intoxicating lavender-vanilla perfume.

"Let me take that." He grabbed her kits before she could protest.

"I can carry my own equipment."

"Humor me." He led the way past the main enclosures, noting how the animals perked up at Serena's presence. Even the usually standoffish fox came to the fence to watch her pass.

"Someone's popular," he said.

"Animals can sense good intentions," she responded quickly. "Speaking of which, where's this owl you mentioned?"

"Treatment room." He shouldered open the door, setting her kit on the counter. "Found him this morning tangled in some fishing line. Wing's pretty banged up."

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