Page 78 of The Pumpkin Spice Cafe
If there was one thing Jeanie had figured out over the last week, it was that she belonged here in Dream Harbor. She liked being here and she liked herself here. She still hadn’t figured out exactly who New Jeanie was, but she knew she didn’t allow men, not even the sexy-farmer variety, to toss her aside like that.
Having gotten herself sufficiently keyed up inside her own head, Jeanie opened her mouth to let Logan have it. But he was already talking. Apologizing.
‘I’m sorry. I should have talked to you sooner.’
Jeanie crossed her arms over her chest.Well, that was true.
‘And I never should have left like that.’ He ran a shaking hand down his beard. ‘I’ve got shit to work through, I know that. The stuff with Lucy affected me more than I wanted to admit, and I was scared to repeat it.’
Lucy. Right, one more reason this thing with Logan wouldn’t work.
‘Look, Logan. I can’t be what you want.’
He flinched.
‘I tried. I thought I wanted to be this new person, that I could be this new person. And I am a little bit, but I’m also still the old me. I’m kind of a mess, and it’ll probably take me several months to unpack; and I overreact and overthink. I tried to be a sunshine-y ball of quirky calmness, some archetype of the perfect small-town café owner. I tried to be like Dot. But I’m not. I’m just me, and I like running this café.Mycafé. I don’t know what Lucy was like, but I’m not her. I’m—’
‘I don’t want her.’ His answer was sharp, fierce.
‘Then what do you want, Logan? Because I sure as hell can’t figure it out.’
‘You. I want you.’
Jeanie sighed, her emotions ricocheting between anger and hurt and hope. ‘I can’t—’
‘I want you exactly as you are.’ He stepped toward her, surrounding her with his outdoorsy scent and she almost caved. She almost buried her face in his sun-warmed flannel shirt and gave into his words.
He kept going, further weakening her resolve. ‘I want the Jeanie that almost decapitated me, I want the one who believes in ghosts, the one who talks to my chickens and runs through the rain to chase a farmers’ market tent. I meant it the other night, I like you messy, Jeanie.’ He stepped closer. ‘I like you every way. I like you in your buttoned-up blouses talking at town meetings. I like you when your hair is spilling down around you and you’re wearing that ratty old cardigan. I like wiping away your tears; and your laugh is my favorite sound.’
Jeanie swallowed the burn of emotions in her throat. ‘But you don’t trust me to stay.’
He blew out a ragged breath. ‘I’m working on that. But I trust you to tell me the truth and I’m ready to listen. If you love it here, then I want you to stay.’ He glanced away, giving Jeanie the chance to breathe away from the intensity of his stare.
Her heart was racing. Did she want Logan as a part of her new life here?
He brought his gaze back to hers and her breath caught. Of course, she wanted him, but she wasn’t letting him off the hook that easily.
‘Well, I’m staying.’
He nodded, his eyes wary like he didn’t want to assume her staying meant anything about them being together.
‘I solved the mystery without you.’
‘I heard.’
‘Norman wanted to buy the café.’
Logan’s eyebrows rose at that tidbit. ‘Really?’
‘He was upset that Dot didn’t sell it to him. That’s why he was trying to scare me away.’
Logan huffed, shaking his head. ‘I’m sorry you’ve been dealing with that alone.’
Jeanie shrugged. ‘Annie and Hazel have been helping out. I’m in the process of hiring some new people.’
‘I’m glad. Did you tell Dot?’
‘Not yet.’
