Page 28 of The Rookie
I avoided breakfast this morning and got by with tea and a granola bar because I wasn’t ready to face Logan just yet. Instead, I busied myself with emails and an overdue phone call to Les, though he didn’t seem all that surprised to hear I’m still in Colorado.
Jillian must have read my absence the wrong way, because she stopped by after breakfast was over with a thermos of hot coffee, already loaded with cream and sugar just the way I like. I guess it was her version of a peace offering. But I accepted her apology and the coffee. I know she meant me no harm. Her tea made me frisky, but that wasn’t technicallyherfault. I’m embarrassed and honestly, well,horrifiedthat I came on to Logan.
I’ve just gotten sucked into my social media feed when there’s another knock at the door. I’m not sure if it’s Jillian again, or maybe Logan, and my stomach twists itself into a knot.
I’m not quite sure I’m ready to face Logan after last night. But it’s obvious I’m here, because where else could I have gone? So I heft myself up and trudge to the door.
When I pull it open, Austen is standing outside, not at all who I was expecting. He’s every bit as tall as Logan, but a bit leaner and with more dark stubble along his sculpted jawline.
“Hey, um, what’s up?” I ask, leaning against the doorway.
He frowns down at me. “I heard about the incident last night ...”
The incident? Is that what we’re calling my molestation of his younger brother?
Oh God. This is worse than I thought.
“The, um, incident?” I stammer.
“Yes. My mom. Thetea.”
“Oh!” My face turns bright red. “That. Yes. You heard about that?” I squint at him, curious about what else he might have heard.
“Yeah, and for the record, I don’t condone what she did. I just wanted to say I’m sorry. She means well, but she just ... doesn’t really have any boundaries.”
I wave him off. “I’m fine. I promise.”
“Well, that’s good. I also wanted to let you know that Logan is going to be gone today. He’s visiting our younger cousin who’s away at Providence College, which is about two hours away.”
“Oh. Okay. Thanks for letting me know.” My relief is instant, but it’s followed by a weird nagging feeling that I’m the one who drove Logan away with my inappropriate behavior. “Anything else?”
“Yes. I’m supposed to tell you that you’re invited to Sunday dinner tonight. That is, as long as you’re still speaking to my mom after what happened.”
“I promise it’s okay. Your mom apologized to me, just so you know. It’s not a big deal. I know she meant no harm. And I asked if she’d give me some of that tea for when I go back to the city,” I say with a wink.
Austen chuckles at this. “Okay. Cool. Well, I guess I’ll see you tonight.”
“Six o’clock?”
He nods. “Yep. See you then.”
After I close the door, I lean against it.Sunday dinner?
A couple of thoughts hit me at once. First, who is this family? And second, why am I still here?
I didn’t expect to be here more than a day or two—just long enough to show Logan I was serious and convince him to agree to work with me. And I guess I’ve done that? But it’s been on his term, and now I have no idea where we stand. I’ve probably made things terribly awkward.
One last dinner with the Tate family, and I should probably leave tomorrow. Although going back to my life in Boston is about as appealing as eating dirty socks for dinner. But I have little choice, because as pretty and serene as it is here, I can’t hide from my life forever.
Even if Mama Jillian’s cooking will be sorely missed.
• • •
When I let myself into the house a few minutes before six, Logan is sitting near the fireplace with Austen and Matt, talking in low voices. Just the sight of Logan with his hair messy from his knit cap causes my stomach to twist. He’s so ruggedly handsome—which is apparently a lethal combination for my libido.
I slip off my boots and bypass the brothers quickly en route to the kitchen.
The serenity of Jillian’s kitchen is hard to explain. It’s like an alternate universe where strangers are suddenly friends and friends are like family. I can’t say I hate it. It’s nice to feel welcome somewhere, even if this is only temporary.
