Page 63 of The Library of Second Chances
Councilman Turner was the shark in the water no one ever saw coming. She studied Logan’s eyes now. He hadn’t seen it coming either.
Logan turned to keep walking, but she grabbed his arm to stop him.
“What? Why? Just because people don’t want to bring in cruise ships or casino boats?”
When he looked down at her hand on his arm, she dropped it back to her side.
He sighed. “No, because Councilman Turner has made the town an offer it can’t refuse. He’s willing to pay fifteen percent over the appraised value to buy the waterfront and marina himself.”
Her mouth fell open as she searched for words. What was he talking about? The town had never discussed selling the land, least of all to Councilman Turner. Was that even legal?
“Can he do that?” she practically shrieked. “Isn’t that a conflict of interest or something?”
Logan grabbed his forehead as he looked down. “No, he’s stepping down from the council to remove the conflict, effective immediately.” He threw up his hands. “It’s basically a breach of fiduciary duty for the town to turn it down at this point. It’s their duty to balance the budget and manage the infrastructure. If they don’t have another viable option, they’ll be hard pressed to take another path now. Legally speaking, I think they’ll have to put it on the open market and take competing bids, but he’s opened the door to that land being privatized. I’m not sure the city has any other option.”
In all the worst-case scenarios she’d imagined, this one had never emerged. What were they going to do? Councilman Turner and his company would throw up high-rises along thewaterfront without hesitation. He’d already done it a few miles away on the north end of the island where they’d once had unspoiled, natural land, and now he was coming for the historic downtown as well. She knew the town had ordinances that provided some parameters, but she couldn’t help thinking this was a doomsday scenario for the waterfront as they knew it.
And for Logan. She knew he’d needed a win. But what was making her really uncomfortable was the niggling feeling that the real loss here was hers. She didn’t want to tell Logan goodbye.
She followed as he began to walk again toward her car.
“What will you do?” She didn’t meet his eyes as she waited for his answer.
“I’ll find another city that needs me. That’s what I always do. Move on to the next town.”
When she’d first met Logan, he always sounded excited when he talked about moving from city to city, but something was different now. His words sounded empty. His tone defeated.
She didn’t know what else to say, so they walked in silence the rest of the short distance to her car. She hit the button to unlock it as they approached, then turned to face him, unsure what to say. How could it all be over just like that? No more hope for the waterfront. No more Logan Lancaster.
He smiled at her. Not the one-thousand-watt smile he flashed when he wanted things to go his way, just a small smile from a friend.
“Goodnight, Lucy.”
“Goodnight, Logan.” Before she could register what she was doing, she was reaching for a hug. The night held a finality she couldn’t shake.
To her surprise, he hugged her back, his arms locking them together, her shoulders fitting perfectly under his arms, and her head tucked into his chest. As she inhaled his now familiar scentthat struck the perfect balance between sweet and masculine, her eyes closed, and she wished they could stay just like that.
He leaned his head down against hers, and the moment was so raw and tender she could hardly breathe. The hug lasted longer than any normal hug between friends, and yet she knew that whenever it ended, it would be too soon.
When they finally parted, they stood there looking at each other for a long while, each trying to read the other.
His eyes shifted to her lips and her skin tingled at the idea that he might lean down to kiss her. She might have even leaned in the slightest amount before he cleared his throat and took a step back.
Embarrassed that she’d had such thoughts about Logan, she waved a quick goodbye and grabbed the handle of her car door. Starting the engine, suddenly in a hurry to get away, she put it in reverse and began backing out onto the deserted street.
Turning to where they’d been standing, she saw Logan was still there watching her leave, and she couldn’t help but wonder how much time they’d have together before he was gone for good.
Twenty-Six
Logan
He’d almost told her he was Gatsby’s Ghost.
Heck, he’d nearly kissed her. He hadn’t been able to take his eyes off her perfect pink lips, and he could have sworn she leaned in just the slightest bit like she wanted to kiss him too.
But he couldn’t kiss her, not without telling her the truth.
Could he tell her the truth? Should he? He’d been trying to play out possible scenarios in his head when she’d hugged him, but the feeling of her body practically melting into his and the smell of her coconut shampoo had clouded his head.
