Page 5 of If You're Reading This
Her work was displayed around the room. Hors d’oeuvres stretched across a table near one wall. Classical music played overhead. Everyone had worn their best clothing—tuxes for the men, and evening gowns for the women.
This wastheevent here in Fairbanks, Alaska.
“See anything you like? Art-wise, of course,” Duke clarified with a smirk.
But Logan knew good and well that Duke could see what was going on.
He ignored his question and instead said, “Thanks for coming tonight.”
Morgan’s photography was being honored with the Ansel Adams Innovation in Photography Award. The event was taking place about twenty minutes east of Fairbanks, Alaska, at a huge lodge often used for weddings and other special events.
City leaders, business owners, other artists, and many fans had shown up to see her work displayed.
She deserved every moment of the limelight.
“Andi and I are thrilled to be here.” Duke followed his gaze. “It’s good to see Morgan again.”
Logan turned his gaze back to her. His friends had only met her in person once while at Ranger Garrett and Simmy Samuel’s wedding.
Currently, Morgan stood among the other guests, her smile lighting up the room. Her dark hair fell well below her shoulders, thick and wavy. Her brown eyes appeared intelligent. Her figure petite.
And the little black dress she wore?
All he could say wasva-va-voom.
Not long ago, Morgan had let Logan and his friends with the Arctic Circle Murder Club use her secluded cabin when they’d been in a tight spot. She’d been away on an assignment anyway, so it had all worked out.
Logan knew his friends were curious about the woman, and he couldn’t blame them. He and the team had been through a lot together.
But he liked to keep his private life private.
Speaking of Morgan . . . she seemed to realize he was watching her, and she excused herself from her conversation with several local business owners. She glided through the crowd toward him.
Duke conveniently disappeared, leaving Logan and Morgan alone—as alone as they could be in a crowd of people.
“What do you think?” Morgan looked up at him, her eyes dazzling as they glimmered in the overhead light.
“I think it’s fantastic.”I think you’re fantastic.He didn’t say that last part.
But he wanted to. In a different life, he would. In different circumstances. If he were a different person who made different mistakes.
Morgan’s grin only widened, and she looped her arm through his and began walking with him through the crowd. Warmth spread inside him at her touch.
“I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you’re here with me tonight,” she continued. “And that you brought your friends.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it.”
“I have something I want to tell you,” she rushed.
His curiosity spiked. “I’m all ears.”
She chuckled and looked at him, a strange expression on her face.
He gave her a questioning look, unsure what was so funny.
She waved her hand in the air. “Sorry, I’m just being silly. But whenever someone says that, I try to imagine what it would look like if they really were all ears, and the picture that forms in my mind is utterly ridiculous. It’s so silly, but I can’t help myself.”
He smiled. That sounded like Morgan. As an award-winning landscape photographer, Morgan saw life through a different lens than most people. But she never took herself too seriously either. Despite all her success, she was surprisingly down-to-earth.
