Page 67 of Breathless

That’s the best idea I’ve heard all day, and the smile that sweeps across my face is genuine. Nothing sounds better than making more memories withLogan.

I tilt my head up to look at him, and he grins down at me before he tucks his sweaty face into the crook of my neck and licks me. I squeal and push him away, but I don’t get far before he starts to tickle me, not caring that his entire family is a few feetaway.

I love playful Logan. The expression on his face reminds me so much of when we were kids, and he and my brother ran around like cyclones, always getting introuble.

And if my emotions are any indication, I’m in so much trouble when it comes to Logan Carter, and I don’t evencare.

27

Logan

“Have fun on your picnic!”Tori waves at us as Ethansmirks.

“Yeah. Have fun on your ‘picnic.’” My brother uses air quotes, and I give him the finger behind Joey’sback.

Jo and I ride our horses out of the barn and down a path that leads behind the property. The horses amble along side by side as dusk settles over the horizon. Butterflies meander lazily in the breeze that smells of cedar and earth, and I take a deep breath, maybe for the first time allday.

Joey does that for me. Settles mesomehow.

My phone buzzes in my back pocket, and just like that, my calm disappears when I see Sam’s name flash on myscreen.

After I scan the message to make sure Zach’s okay, I turn it off and tuck it away. I’m tired of Sam sucking up my time and mental energy, and I vow to myself to keep tonight fun for Joey. She deserves that much. Hell, I dotoo.

Thankfully, Jo doesn’t sense my preoccupation. She sports a megawatt smile as though riding our old mare is the best thing to happen to her. It’s so easy to please her. Ever since she was little, she’s always been grateful for anything people do for her. Always appreciative andkind.

I don’t remember the last time she rode Cinnamon Pie, though Joey always stopped by to give her treats and brush out her mane. It bothers me that I can’t remember, that before now, I never made it a priority to do something for her I knew sheloved.

“Bitsy, why didn’t you ever ask me to take you riding? You know, before.” I don’t say the rest.Before you left for Florida.I don’t want to remind her of the decision she has to make next week, but I’m sure as hell hoping it involves stayinghere.

She shrugs, but doesn’t give me ananswer.

“You love riding. I’m sorry I didn’t offer to take you more often. I’m just curious why you never asked,” I saygently.

Another shrug. “It seemed selfish to ask when you spent such long days with the horses.” Her eyes meet mine, and the devotion there nearly knocks me off my saddle. “I know how hard you work. Guess I didn’t want to add tothat.”

Fuck. This girl kills me in the bestways.

We ride silently the rest of the way. I’m lost in my thoughts, lost in her shy smiles and calm spirit. A part of me wishes we could run away and not ever have to deal with reallife.

When we get to the creek, I secure the horses and toss a thick quilt under an old oaktree.

Her eyes widen when she sees the spread—dinner, dessert, and wine. “When did you have time to dothis?”

“I have to confess that my mom and Tori helped.” This morning I mentioned wanting to take Joey on a picnic, and Tori and my mother sprang intoaction.

Jo laughs, and that sound makes everything better. “This is amazing. Thank you.” Going up on her toes, she kisses me, and I take a moment to breathe her in. She smells sweet and familiar. Like home. I close my eyes and rest my forehead onhers.

I don’t know when this went from giving the relationship thing a shot to being all in, but I’m fully invested now. And it’s scary as hell. Because if I don’t work out my shit, I might lose the best thing that’s ever happened tome.

“Are you okay?” she askshesitantly.

“Yeah. Just a lot on my mind, but I’m glad we’re getting a chance to go riding.” I kiss her again and speak from the heart. “We’ll do this more often, Jo. You’re important to me, and I know I’ve taken you for granted for a long time now. I won’t anymore. I want you to know you’re mypriority.”

She tears up, and it guts me. I think back to that horrible argument with my father and wonder if things would be different today if he’d encouraged me to wait for Joey instead of telling me I was the last thing sheneeded.

Children aren’t supposed to hate their parents, but I’ve always hated my father for the things he said to me that day. The fact that those were the last words he spoke to me before he died makes it worse. Then there’s the guilt, the guilt that maybe I made him so upset when we argued he suffered a fatal heartattack.

The concern in Joey’s beautiful gray eyes does me in, and I give in. “After the wedding, I have some things I need to share withyou.”

---