Page 35 of Whenever You Call

We stayed at Logan’s lookout point for over an hour before he drove me home.

I didn’t feel the need for unnecessary words. Our silences were comfortable—at least to me—and with every minute that passed, it became obvious that Logan had been right. Iwasable to breathe easier beside him.

He made me feel safe. Like I didn’t have to be anything other than who I was with him. We may as well have been in the clouds together, and I’d have stayed there forever had it not been for the little girl back home asleep in her bed. As much as I’d enjoyed the great escape, I also couldn’t wait to sneak into her room and wrap her up in my arms to say goodnight.

First, I had to say goodbye to Logan.

The car came to a stop in my driveway, and I turned to take another glance at him with the outdoor lights illuminating his dark stubbled jawline, allowing me to appreciate just how ruggedly handsome he was.

Logan had it all: the looks, temperament, that unassuming charm, the ability to listen, the strength, and the body. Only one thing seemed to be missing, and that was his confidence. Even now, with one hand on the steering wheel and his eyes forward as though too afraid to look at me, he was unsure of himself.

There were a lot of things I could have said to build him up, and a big part of me wanted to give him that gift. To say thank you and tell him how much I appreciated him giving up his time and his energy for someone like me—someone he barely knew.

Instead, I leaned over the console and placed a hand on his face. Despite him flinching beneath my unexpected touch, I whispered, “Thank you, Logan. You truly are a gift.”

Then, I placed a soft kiss against his warm skin, and I turned to leave.

He never said anything when I climbed out of his car, and he never came after me as I made my way inside. I couldn’t ignore the knot of disappointment that twisted in my stomach as I made my way up the stairs to give my daughter a kiss goodnight, feeling lighter than I had done in months.

Lighter and somehow more alive.

All because of one man, his time, and his patience.

Maybe that’s all a woman in distress ever really needs from anybody.

Not things. Just moments.

The weekend arrived,and Bella played in our backyard with one of her school friends, jumping in and out of the pool with their floaties. Seeing my daughter with a huge smile on her face filled my heart. Hearing her laughter was a tonic to my soul. It had been a long time since I’d felt so light, and I basked in the heat of the morning sunshine.

After kicking back on a sun lounger, I picked up my cell, not thinking about what I was doing until I heard his familiar voice.

“Hey,” I said, feeling oddly shy.

“Hey,” Logan answered, his voice slightly raised over a lot of background noise that I couldn’t make out. “Hannah? You there?”

“Er, yeah, sorry. Just… you know… checking in,” I said, pressing a palm down on the confusing sensation of butterflies springing to life in my stomach. “I wanted to thank you for the other night.”

“You already did,” he said, and memories of that kiss on his cheek flared to life. It felt like the right thing to do at the time, but I’d spent hours lying in bed, agonizing over what I’d done, and wondering what he must have thought.

“It doesn’t hurt to say it twice.”

He huffed out a laugh that made my stomach clench again. I didn’t know what the hell was going on, but I wanted to end the call immediately and get a grip on my body.

“As long as it helped, that’s all that matters,” he said smoothly.

“It did.”

“Good.”

“So… found yourself a life yet?” I asked with a wry smile, aiming to keep things light between us, just as Bella’s friend Ivory jumped into the crystal blue water, creating a splash that touched the bottom of my bare legs.

Logan laughed properly that time, as though he didn’t have a care in the world. “Not unless being down at the Farmer’s Market counts as me finding a life, no.”

“Sounds like you’re looking in the wrong places. I’m not sure they stock those on the shelves.”

“Good point. Got any suggestions?”

“How about more of that Hollywood scene you tried the other night? Lots of single men seeking out new pals and hot ladies looking for the very thing you’re looking for.”

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