Page 8 of Annika's Aurora

“Let’s go do something fun,” Jamierequested.

“What did you have in mind?” Logan asked.

He thought about it for a second. “Let’s find some place that has a zipline.”

“What?”Annikawasshocked.Logan and Jamie were adrenalin junkies,Annika, not so much, but she was a good sport and often tagged along to watch their adventures.

“I’m in!” Loganagreed.

“I’ll watch,” Annika moaned.

Present day

They had indeed found a place with a zipline. They’d even managed to talk Annika into trying it once. Logan could still remember the look of unexpected joy on her face as she zipped across the sky. It had been a perfect day. Lost in his memories, he fell into bed fully clothed and dropped off to sleep staring at Annika in that photo.

The nightmare came again. Logan wasn’t surprised, given where he was, but he was baffled that he hadn’t had the full dream as he usually did. Something had woken him.

He sat up and threw his legs over the side of the bed, running his fingers through his hair as he shook off the remnants of the nightmare. He heard another noise then, coming from the great room. He was off the bed in a flash. Someone was in the house.

His SEAL training kicked in as he crept silently to the door and opened it without a sound. Making his way quickly down the hall, he peered around the corner. Someone was in the kitchen. In the refrigerator.What the fuck.

He watched the intruder for a few moments, wondering what the person wanted in the Northrups’ house. He wasn’t about to let some vagrant steal fromhisfamily. He’d have to move quickly to take them by surprise and hope they didn’t have a weapon. From the light of the fridge, Logan was shocked to see the prowler was a woman. He’d have to rethink his takedown. Not as much strength was needed to take out a woman. But then she turned, and he saw a golden head of hair. He nearly gasped.

Annika.

It had been fifteen years since he’d last seen her, and she hadn’t changed much. Maybe a little taller, hair a little longer. Logan stood stock still and watched her move around the kitchen. With only the muted light over the sink illuminating the area, he couldn’t make out her features, and she hadn’t turned on any of the other lights yet. But he could still see she was just as beautiful, just as graceful as ever.

She winced as she reached into a high cabinet to grab a glass. His heart gave a painful lurch wondering if she was injured. Even after all this time, he still wanted to know everything about her. He still wanted to fix her hurts and protect her from harm.

Annika filled the glass with water from the sink. She turned toward him to take a sip and spotted him standing there. She screamed and dropped the glass, conveniently in the sink, where it shattered into dozens of pieces. He went to her then, hoping she hadn’t hurt herself on the broken glass.

“Annika.” He reached for her hands to check for cuts.

She slapped him.

Hard.

Across the face.

Chapter 4

Logan.Hewasstandingrightthereinfrontofher.

And she’d just slapped him.

She’d never slapped anyone before, and her hand stung. The ache in her shoulder had protested the sudden movement and was making its discomfort known as well. She stood frozen, eyes wide in shock, stunned that she’d hit him. The residual anger that had been stirred up when she’d looked through the photo album several hours ago had still been churning inside her. Seeing him so suddenly unleashed her anger.

“Are you hurt?” he asked. His deep guttural voice sent a ripple through her body. The tempting tones like a caress, heating her blood. She shivered.

“What?” her voice croaked. He indicated her hands with a gesture. “No. No, I’m fine.” Fifteen years and here he stood as if he belonged there. As if he’d never abandoned her.

She ran her eyes over him. He’d changed quite a bit. His dark hair was no longer buzzed short. It lay across his forehead in soft waves. He was bigger too. Not taller, just … more muscular. All that time in the Navy had given definition to his muscle mass. He wore a navy-blue t-shirt with a flying bird logo over his impressive pecs, the sleeves straining against his biceps. Dark cargo pants covered his long legs. He still towered over her.

Her scrutiny finally moved to his eyes … They were the same. And they were gazing at her with concern and uncertainty. Deep chestnut brown irises shrouded by thick lashes. Their intensity brought back things she wasn’t ready to feel.

Fifteen fricking years! “What are you doing here?”

“I … Your mom … I didn’t know you’d be here.”

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