Page 41 of Breathless

“I’m honored to be asked. Seriously! It’s no hardship to work on y’all’s hair.” If I’m being honest, I’m kinda glad the person they scheduled had to bail. “We need to talk about styles and do a practice session this week to make sure I know exactly what you want forSaturday.”

“You’re such a lifesaver.” Tori squeezes me in a python hug. “I can write you a check for everything when we gethome.”

I gasp. “You arenotpayingme.”

“Oh, yes, I am. I didn’t ask you so you could do it for free. You do great hair. I’m lucky to have you. I didn’t ask initially because I wanted you to relax and enjoy the festivities with us, but I’m in a pinch. I fully expect to pay you,though.”

“How about a discount?” Like a super-huge discount. I love this girl too much to make her pay full price. I’ve only known Tori two years, but she and Kat totally adopted me as one of their own. The fact that these two are now part of the Carter clan is one of the best things to ever happened to me. I love Logan and Ethan, but it’s amazing to have a few more girls around. “It can be my wedding gift toyou.”

She growls, and I laugh. “We’llsee.”

Kat nudges me. “How’s the new saloncoming?”

“Great. My cousin is painting the new location now.” I feel bad ditching her with so much work, but Dawn can’t be too upset I’m not there to help. I gave her nearly every penny I’d saved living with her to invest in the newbusiness.

“We were kinda wondering about the salon and how that would work with…” Tori tilts her head toward Logan and widens her eyesmeaningfully.

That’s a really good question. One that makes me ill if I think about it toolong.

I swallow. “You mean starting a new business in Floridawhile—”

Tori does a hip thrust. “Knocking boots with that farm boy inTexas.”

Heat sears up my neck. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. No one’s ‘knockingboots.’”

“Yet.” She starts humming that Luke Bryan song, and I hide my face because I’m too embarrassed to look at myfriends.

“Ladies.”

My heart skips at the sound of Logan’s deepvoice.

Before I can turn around, he drapes a tan, muscular arm over my collarbone and draws me tohim.

Tori sighs and gives me a conspicuouswink.

“Mind if I steal Jojo for a bit?” Logan’s chest rumbles against my back, and every cell, every molecule in my body surges tolife.

“Let me grabRambo.”

Tori waves me off. “I’ll watch him tonight. Go havefun.”

She and her sister give us enormous grins as Logan tugs me out to the beach. The sun has almost set, and he threads his fingers through mine as we walk along the dampsand.

I keep stealing glances at ourhands.

And those kisses earlier today in the ocean? Holy Hogwarts, that washot.

We walk for a while, the sound of seagulls and lapping waves the backdrop to our leisurely stroll. The entire time I try to control my breathing so I don’thyperventilate.

It was different when we were on the beach this afternoon surrounded by our friends, but walking alone with him along the shore at dusk, hand in hand, is another thingaltogether.

The butterflies in my stomach go kamikaze when his thumb rubs over mywrist.

This is Logan, I remind myself. I’ve known him my whole life. More than anything, he’s my friend first. We’ll figure out therest.

Finally, my heart gets under control as I accept that there’s nothing to be nervousabout.

Except that we might getnaked.

---