Page 24 of Wilde Sanctuary

Rhett ignored his cousin as he let down the truck’s tailgate to unpack the gear. Logan stuffed his keys back in his pocket with a sigh and came to help. He might have the reputation for being a bit of a loner, but would always pitch in to help his family. As long as he didn’t have to deal with too many people, he was happy.

The two men worked in silence like only those who have worked together for a long time can. They’d just grabbed the last of the gear from Rhett’s truck when he stopped and turned to Logan.

“Can I ask you something?”

Logan paused, hands tucked into his belt. “Sure.”

“Do you ever get lonely?”

Logan frowned, dropping his head down so the brim of his tattered ball cap obscured his face. “Yes… and no.”

“Care to explain?”

Logan grabbed the last box as Rhett packed away the straps and folded up the tailgate. Rhett knew not to push his cousin. A man of few words, he’d answer when he was ready and not a moment earlier. It was a trait Rhett usually appreciated, but right now, he was impatient.

Logan returned from putting the trunk away and pulled the door of the storage shed shut. His booted feet scuffed the worn concrete as he ambled back to Rhett.

“I like my life,” he drawled. “I had plenty of busy before…” he shrugged, a half smile on his face briefly before his face settled into its habitual scowl.

It had been such a long time ago that Rhett often forgot that Logan went to college on a football scholarship. That he’d even made the draft… and then given it all up to come back to Cape Wilde before even seeing a single NFL game. All because his family needed him.

If Logan wanted more from life, he’d go chase it.

“I like my life,” Logan said again. “I enjoy living in a place where I know what to expect. Where the seasons mean change but of a predictable type. I like living where I do.” He jerked his head towards the road out of town where the house he had painstakingly renovated over the past two years was on a wooded rise overlooking the ocean.

“I like my job. I love my family.”

Rhett nodded, and the two leaned against the truck. He tilted his head back, watching as a seabird circled overhead on the air currents, looking for its next meal. Rhett envied its simple life and its freedom.

“So you never get lonely.”

“I didn’t say that,” Logan smiled a rare smile. “I like a woman’s company. I’ve dated a time or two.”

Rhett’s mouth dropped open. “Who? When? How come this is the first I’m hearing about it?”

Logan barked out a laugh, clearly enjoying surprising his younger cousin. “I’m not someone who enjoys people knowing his business.”

“Yeah, I know,” Rhett mumbled, a bit embarrassed for having started the conversation.

“You started this conversation.” Logan elbowed him in jest.

“Are you a mind reader now?”

He smiled again and cuffed Rhett on the shoulder. “When someone asks a question like that, it’s usually because they want someone to ask them the same thing.” He shot Rhett a pointed look. “You in love with Charlie?”

Rhett choked, and Logan slapped him on the back.

“Ah well, never mind. You’ll see her soon enough, I bet.”

That stopped Rhett. “What?”

Logan gave his cousin a pitying look. “You’re not stupid, Rhett. You’ve been moping around for the last month. Before that, you were the happiest I’d ever seen you. All you could talk about was Charlie this and Charlie that.” He lifted an eyebrow. “It was kind of sickening, to be honest.”

Rhett pulled a face. “What do I do?”

“You make it up to her, idiot.”

“You just said I wasn’t stupid!”

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