Page 31 of Two Sticky Nuts

“That’s really kind of you. Not everyone shows Carter empathy like that.”

I shrug.

Logan adds, “If for whatever reason he shows up here, and I haven’t found him yet, can you do me a favor?”

“Sure. Why not?” I sigh.

“Tell him our mother is dying. She’s been asking for him and doesn’t have much time left. A few weeks at most.”

My stomach falls to the floor. I’ve only known this man for a handful of minutes, but I feel his pain.

Wait.Carter told me his mom was already dead. The killer squirrel story. So Carter is a liar, too? I’m no longer surprised.

“I’ll tell him,” I say.

Logan leaves my house, and I can’t stop myself from watching him go. He seems so different than Carter—selfless, mature, serious. Yet, at the same time, he has a soft spot in his heart for his crazy-ass brother.

He’s also fucking hot.And drives a hundred-thousand-dollar car? Wow, that’s the same Mercedes Dick drives. But newer.

Logan suddenly turns and stares with the sort of intensity only a serious man exudes. “You’re a good woman, Mila. I can see why my brother wanted to kidnap you.”

He leaves and gets into his car.

Kidnap me? Dear God, I hope he was kidding. I shake it off and go get ready. Guess I’ll be spending my day getting an estimate for my car.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

I don’t hear from either brother the next week, but on Friday, there’s a check waiting in my mailbox. It’s for ten thousand dollars and includes a note from Logan.

Mila,

It was a pleasure meeting you the other day. If this doesn’t cover the damage, let me know.

Logan

He’s left his number at the bottom.

I go to my kitchen, pour a tall glass of white wine, pop a Lean Cuisine in the microwave, and grab my cell to call Logan.

“Hello?” his deep voice says, feeling surprisingly good bouncing around inside my eardrum.

“Hey, Logan. It’s Mila. I got your check.”

“Is there a problem?”

“It’s way too much money.” I explain that Carter only spent a few hundred at the store. Add in the plane ticket and repair estimate for my car, we’re only talking five thousand. “I really can’t take the rest of it. And honestly, I still think Carter should pay. It was his doing.”

“He’ll never pay you back, Mila. Just take the money,” he says firmly. “I’ll collect from him some other way.”

Not sure what he means by that, but I really can’t afford to be out of this much cash right now. “I’ll take what’s owed, but that’s it.”

“All right. If you insist. You can write me a check for the other five thousand and bring it tonight. Eight o’clock. Wear something nice.”

Hold on. Is he asking me on a date? No. That can’t be right. “Logan, can’t I just mail you a check?”

Silence.

I look at my phone, and the call is ended. He hung up.

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