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Still, I’m guessing I have two hundred text messages from her—messages that will never be read because they are sitting in a dumpster somewhere.
“Lover boy bringing in a realtor, talk about betrayal.” She inches her face closer to mine, her lavender scent and gray roots filling my personal bubble.
I had always forgiven and forgotten when it came to Ben’s bad behavior. I’d write it off as stress or overprotection. But I couldn’t do that this time. I didn’t want to.
“You ought to consider an old-fashioned tar and feathering of his a—Ah.” Rachel straightens up. “Good morning, Mr. Levitz.”
“Hello, ladies. Olivia, how’s Rachel breaking you in?”
“Oh, good. She’s got me up and running.”
“Glad to hear it.” Principal Levitz nods, passing us by. “I’m a little hungry this morning.” He walks to the exit, patting his round belly. “I’m going to see if Lucille saved me a cinnamon roll.”
Rachel waves dramatically, her cheeks still rosy with emotion—talk about shades of guilt. The second our boss is out of sight, she smacks my desk and leans in as far as her small frame will allow.
I push my chair back. “What?”
Rachel’s brows are in motion again. “What about Logan?”
“What about Logan?” When did she switch gears on me?
“The two of you have chemistry.” Her shoulders roll up and then down, right in tune with those penciled brows. “Not to mention you’ve been spending a lot of quality time together. The whole town has seen it.”
“Friends, Rachel. What? People can’t just be friends here?” I don’t know what Logan and I are, but I do know that I’m not prepared for all of Rendezvous analyzing us.
“Of course they can, honey, but have you taken a look at the boy?” She winks, conjuring images of forearms and abs in my mind. “Not to mention yourself. You are a hot tamale, Miss Benson. Yep. The two of you”—she fans herself—“whew! Chem-is-try.”
A laugh bubbles from my lips. “Rachel, stop it!”
“I knew it,” she says, taking that delirious chuckle as confirmation.
I ignore her accusations the rest of the day. Even if she’s spot on. I pretend I am too adult to address them. But it does not help when Logan walks into the office at three o’clock to pick me up.
My eyes rove over him. Rachel asked if I’ve looked. So, I’m looking. As if I hadn’t before. Logan is different than any man I’ve known. He’s sure of himself, but humble—so deliciously humble. He believes the best of everyone—well, everyone but Benjamin. And his heart is beautiful, his goodness palpable. His jeans fit him oh so well and his button-up shirt is open at the top. He’s shaved, and something about that clean-shaven jaw makes me salivate a little.
I look at Rachel. Does she see what I see? She’s the one who asked if I’d ever looked at him. She’s grinning like a ninny, and I think she may be drooling too.
“Well, Logan Heyborn, imagine seeing you here,” Rachel says, finding her voice before I do.
“Hi, Rachel. How’s Leo?”
“Sweet as ever.” All of Rachel’s chatting and I’ve never heard of any Leo. I really need to ask my friend more questions. “He is the cutest thing you ever saw, Logan. He spun circles yesterday all for a raw hide dipped in bacon grease.”
Logan grins. “I’d like to see that.”
Dang it! He’s kind too. It might be the sexiest thing about him.
“Hey,” he says to me. “Ready?”
“Yep,” I prattle, picking up my purse and flinging it over my shoulder. We need to get on the road before Rachel starts talking about chemistry again. I tug on Logan’s shirt sleeve, purposely not looking at Rachel as I throw her a wave. “See you tomorrow, Rach!”
“How was your day?” he asks.
“I gave Andrew the college information. He said he’d look it over. It’s up to him now. But at least he has options.”
“Good.” He’s so insanely sincere. Where did this man come from?
Talking myself out of being attracted to Logan is never going to work.
