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Al nodded his goodnight before guiding June from the room. She kept talking, but as their voices faded down the hall, Logan gave Joy a hard look of resentment and stood.
“I’m sorry,” she said, her expression full of contrition
as she rose as well. “I probably shouldn’t have—”
“It’s not something I share with people.”
“I don’t know why not. In fact, you might even be able to—”
“Mind your own business,” he cut in, not wanting to hear her suggest he play in bars again. People in this town looked down on him enough; no way he’d stand up on a stage and invite more judgment.
He strode through the kitchen and out the door. Halfway across the porch, he heard the door open behind him.
“Why don’t you share your music with anyone else? From what I heard the other day, you’re good.”
The matter-of-fact statement surprised him enough to make him pause. She’d said the same thing that day in the loft, but he’d brushed it aside in his anger. Now, he spun around to find her just outside the screen door, arms crossed in front of her against the chill of the September evening.
Past longing to hold her in his arms reared up—all the more powerful now that he’d had a taste of what it was like to kiss her. However, along with the desire came all the old insecurities, too. Putting himself out there with something so close to him wasn’t gonna happen. With the music, or her.
“Because it’s mine. No one can take it away from me, no matter how much money I don’t have, or how much I owe. No matter what else is going on, the music is mine.”
Shit.
He hadn’t meant to reveal that much. What was it about her that had him saying things he normally wouldn’t even admit to himself?
Silence fell in the wake of his heated statement, leaving him flayed wide open. She was right, that they couldn’t pretend with each other, and knowing that he didn’t stand a chance with her had put an edge on his words that he couldn’t smooth out.
Understanding filled her eyes as she stepped toward him. “Okay, I get it. I’m sorry.”
His chest tightened, and he didn’t quite know how to respond. He couldn’t say it was okay, nothing in his life was these days, yet he wanted to tell her maybe it wasn’t such a big deal.
The words stuck in his throat.
And then she was standing right in front of him. His pulse jolted when she flattened her palms on his chest, slid her hands up to the back of his neck, and pulled him down toward her. Her gaze met his for a brief moment before her lips touched his and that little spark of energy ignited on contact again.
No way in hell that’s static electricity.
His hands automatically went to her waist, but he kept them on the outside of her clothes after the trouble they’d gotten him in last time.
Her kiss was soft and sweet and didn’t last nearly long enough as she eased back a few seconds later. In the dim porch light, warmth skewed her hazel eyes to brown, and he flexed his grip on her hips in his effort to keep from pulling her closer.
Then realization dawned and disappointment surged as he flicked his gaze toward the house. “Is your grandma watching?”
“No. Maybe. I don’t know.” Joy glanced over her shoulder, then turned back to him. “I wanted to say thank you for coming over tonight, and for everything you’re doing for Gram. If I hadn’t screwed it all up, it would’ve been a nice night.”
Regret filled her voice, yet…he swore he heard a lilt of hope at the end. She didn’t move away, either. Her fingers played with his hair at the back of his neck, sending tingles down his spine as warmth curled through his limbs.
The unwavering steadiness of her gaze was all the invitation he needed.
Logan slid his hands to her back and pulled her against him to claim her lips. Forget soft, hello hot, and short was out the window. While he did retain some awareness of where they stood, he didn’t hold back. And just like in the loft the other day, neither did she. Her mouth opened beneath his, and she eagerly matched his enthusiasm stroke for stroke.
The sensual glide of her tongue against his sent his blood rushing through his veins and had him burying a hand in her hair to angle her head so he could deepen the kiss. A soft moan reached his ears, but he honestly didn’t know which of them made the sound.
When he needed air and had to pull back, Joy was equally breathless, her chest heaving against his. Self-preservation forced him to ease their bodies apart. He lifted his hands to smooth her hair back from her face, and leaned his forehead against hers. She offered a small, shaky smile as they each caught their breath.
He placed a final, soft kiss on her lips. “It was still a nice night. Thank you.”
He stepped away and turned for the stairs before the longing in her eyes made him go back for more. When he reached his truck, the sound of the screen door closing made him glance over his shoulder to see she’d gone inside.
