Love.
The sexy, dimpled brunette made Logan do things—feelthings—that, not so long ago, he’d convinced himself were impossible. Because he shouldn’t get to experience that side of life. Not when her husband couldn’t.
Not when he looked at her and he wanted.
Not when she makes me crave.
At first, Logan had thought those early months would be the hardest. Seeing her tears, hearing her share details of the couple’s lost plans for the future. Hell, just beingnearher during that time had ripped his own grief-stricken heart to shreds.
But then things changed.
Natalie’s tears started to come less and less. Their conversations started to center more around the present, rather than always focusing on the past. And now…
Now I’ve turned into a full-blown masochist.
The very definition of the word fit him to a fucking T.
With each day that passed, he fell deeper and deeper. Every additional moment he spent staring back into those beautiful brown eyes more agonizing than the ones before it. And yet, here he was, jumping at the chance to put himself directly in the path of an unstable bomb just waiting to explode.
It’s you. You’re the bomb. And if you detonate…if you tell Natalie the truth…it could very well destroy you both.
Ignoring the silent warning in his head, he heard himself saying, “That’s cheating. You know I can’t resist your cooking.”
Her cooking. Her dimples. The light spattering of freckles he’d dreamed about kissing.
“So…is that a yes?”
With you, the answer will always be yes.
“I’ll be there in thirty,” Logan confirmed.
“Good.” Natalie’s triumphant smile was damn near audible. “I’ll start the lasagna.”
My favorite.
“See you soon.”
Twenty-seven minutes later,Logan had parked his truck along the curb in front of Natalie’s two-story home and was making his way up the quaint brick walkway. With his toolbox in hand, he studied the house Nat had used Hunter’s death benefit to buy.
The light gray, modern-farmhouse-style home was a mixture of sleek style and cozy comfort. Simple, yet warm and welcoming. Just like the woman who owned it.
Speaking of…
“Hey!” Natalie appeared suddenly. Propping the door open with one hip, she crossed her arms casually at her front.
Dark jeans hugged a set of curves he longed to hold. A plain white t-shirt stretched across a set of perfectly proportioned breasts his palms itched to feel. But it was the smile shining back at him that filled his chest with a warmth only she created.
Goddamn, she’s beautiful.
“Right on time.” Natalie moved out of the way to give him room. “Lasagna still has about forty minutes left, so I thought we could tackle the dryer while we wait.”
“Sounds like a plan to me.” Logan flashed her a grin as he stepped past.
The familiar scent of lavender and vanilla overpowered the delicious aroma coming from the kitchen. But like every other time he was around her, he pretended not to notice.
There you go, pretending again.
“Thanks again for coming over.” Natalie shut the door before taking the lead toward her small laundry room at the back of the house. “I know I said I’d call around, but work’s going to be keeping me pretty busy the next few weeks, so if youcanfix it, that would be a huge help.”