Page 62 of Anything but Mine

“What’s it worth to you?”

Cam folded his arms on the ledge of the booth. “An hour with the kittens I just got in at the clinic and a steak on my deck.”

“Oh, kitties,” Nic crooned.

Bella squinted up at him. Cam had a very nice house on the lake with a wraparound deck. It was a good bribe. “Low blow, Harding.”

“I’m a desperate man.”

“All right. I’ll keep her busy.”

“You are a goddess among women.” Cam grinned at Nic. “You both are.”

“That’s better, Dr. Harding.”

Cam waved. “Have a good time. I heard Cole and Lindsey killed the opening act.”

“I heard that, too. I’m sorry I missed it.”

They waved and kept on moving. It took another twenty minutes to make it up to the barn since every person she knew was out for the festival. By the time they got to the security checkpoint music was pouring out into the woods. After they were waved through they headed for the back door.

The floor was packed. There was a line at the bar for the wine and beer that they’d been able to procure a license for at the last minute. Adam waved them over a glass of wine in each hand.

“Good timing.”

“How’s the show?”

Adam lifted both cups. “They just started.”

Nic took one of the glasses. He offered Bella the other, but she shook her head. She was too buzzy for more wine. She’d drank half a bottle to calm herself down earlier. No need to tip the scales.

On the stage, Logan was winding down one of his singles from All the King’s Men. He was wearing his usual all black. This time he was wearing a tight black t-shirt instead of a dress shirt. The V-neck showed a triangle of tanned skin. The same skin she’d kissed and stroked that morning.

He’d gotten a haircut sometime between the time he’d left her and the show, but shaving hadn’t been on the schedule. She was glad. She liked the almost beard. Her thighs definitely remembered just how amazing the scruff felt. She folded her arms across her chest to hide her instant reaction.

“Welcome to our first show at the barn. We spent a few hours trying to find a name for this place, but everyone calls it the barn.” Logan shrugged. “Can’t mess with that. Might as well go with the flow, right? In fact, that’s what I’m going to ask you to do tonight.”

The crowd cheered and Logan smiled. The crinkles fanning around his eyes deepened with his pleasure. He held up his hand. “All right. Enough. I’ve got tons of friends coming in tonight. Some you know.” He pointed to Emerson and Zeke.

Whooping catcalls made Zeke step forward and bow.

Logan grinned. “See, you can’t do that. He’s already way too full of himself.”

Zeke moved back to his mic. “Lo’s just jealous because I get all the ladies.”

The crowd got even more stirred up and Bella found herself smiling so much that her face hurt. Joy radiated off of Logan. He was in his element.

“Some new faces.” He held out his arm for Lindsey to come forward. “You met Lindsey York earlier. Cole’s going to come back out a little later to play with us.” He hooked an arm around Lindsey’s hips. “I’m going to let this angel sing.”

Lindsey went up on her toes and kissed his cheek.

Bella’s fists tightened under her arms. A quick flash of temper flared over her chest and neck. That wasn’t good. She had no reason to be jealous. The more she tried to tamp it down, the tighter her shoulders felt.

The moment Logan moved away from her, the feeling melted away.

No way was she going down that road. Especially not with Lindsey. She was sweet and funny and didn’t have any designs on Logan. Even if she did, Bella didn’t have a hold on him.

The lights went down and a single spotlight shone down on Lindsey making her blond hair even more angelic. A soft touch at the piano teased out a haunting song. Familiar lyrics to a powerhouse Faith Hill song soared into the rafters.

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