Page 33 of A Summer Mismatch
Walt took his NASA hat off and bowed dramatically to Amelia, making her giggle. “It would be my honor.”
“I brought a book about a tiger that chews off someone’s arm,” Polly said, matter-of-factly.
“Cool,” Leo replied, and the two found a couch to sit on.
Logan sidled up beside her as she surveyed the room to make sure everyone was occupied and behaving. She couldn’t resist breathing him in and holding the scent in her lungs. Man, someone needed to bottle his scent up and sell it, asap. His arm gently brushed hers, so softly, she didn’t know if he even realized it, but it sent a shock of fire up her entire right side.
“This is really awesome. I didn’t know you’d be the teacher running it.”
It shouldn’t have disappointed her, but she’d hoped he had known she was the teacher, and that he’d come to see her.Shake it off, Julia.
“I was talking to Grandma last year about how there are so many residents who don’t get any visitors at all, especially the ones who aren’t mobile enough to leave on their own, and I thought this would be a really fun idea to get the kids reading better, and also reach out to some lonely people.”
“It’s brilliant. And kind. Just like you,” Logan said quietly, but before she could respond, he continued. “Samantha, the activities director for The Palms, called”—she ignored the jealousy creeping up on her—”and asked me to bring some animals to The Palms to show off and talk about.”
”Is that something you do?”
“Yeah, the wildlife center likes to go out into the community and provide education. I’m sure the hope of gaining more donors is a motivation as well. There aren’t many animals we can bring, but the ones I can are always a hit.”
Logan’s gaze drifted over to where his grandmother stood with Grandma Winnie, talking with their heads bent together. So far, those two didn’t seem like they were heading toward a combustible chemical reaction.
“The Palms does a lot of really great activities,” Julia assured him. “Your grandparents are going to love it here.”
“I hope so,” he said. “I need them to.”
“Why?”
“So they stay nearby.” He cleared his throat and stared over at Amelia and Leo while he spoke. “My mom died last year, and it’s been rough for all of us.”
Julia placed her hand on his arm and made a disheartened sound. She couldn’t imagine losing her mom. Just having her gone for a couple of months had been hard to adjust to, though having Cameron close made it easier. And busier, but in a good way. “I’m so sorry.”
Logan placed his hand over hers, and it felt like when a piece of her story clicked into place. Exactly right. “It was unexpected, and I feel like we’re all still grappling with it.”
Their eyes met, and it was like careening into another world, one where she stood on the precipice of a cliff beside Logan, with her pulse racing at a breakneck pace. If they jumped together, would they fly or fall?
Someone took Julia by the arm and she blinked, pulled from her cliff-jumping world and into the library.
“Your grandpa is walking through the door,” Nancy whispered so only Julia could hear.
Grandpa Horace could not see them together. She searched the room and found him standing near the doorway, saying something to Katherine with a smile, and then heading toward Grandma. He hadn’t seen Julia and Logan yet, but it was only a matter of a few seconds.
“Here!” Julia whispered. She grabbed Logan’s other arm and shoved him behind the floor-to-ceiling damask curtains, then squeezed in too. The curtains were long enough to cover their feet, but anyone looking closely would see that that the curtains were not lying as flat as they should.
“Against the wall. Flatter,” she hissed, feeling panicky. Grandpa Horace could not find her and Logan together.
The curtains weren’t wide enough for her to stand beside Logan, so she stood in front of him and pressed herself as close to him as she could. Had Grandpa seen them? Were they quick enough?
Logan’s ragged breathing caught her attention. “Not that I don’t love this. A lot. But is everything okay?”
“My grandpa’s here.” Her heart beat so fast she was sure he could feel it, pressed against his chest. The combination of adrenaline and being so close to Logan was going to kill her.
“Oh.” His solid chest matched the pattern of her breathing. In and out.
She stared up into his eyes. It had been too dark the night they’d hugged at the beach to really see them. They were an olive shade of green, fringed with long, dark lashes that matched his short, groomed beard. She wondered if his whiskers were as soft as they looked. If they’d tickle her neck or chin if he kissed her.
He smelled like mint and sunshine, and if she wasn’t mistaken, his heart was racing just as fast as hers.
His hands gripped her waist. “I shouldn’t say this, but I think I’m glad your grandpa showed up.”
